Moira took off her shoes at the door. All she could think about was taking a bath and being alone. The apartment was really quiet which was weird. She hung up her coat. Started walking to her bedroom thinking about the warm water and the smell of lavender.
Then she heard a noise.
It was a moan coming from upstairs.
Moira stopped moving.
She thought of Sorcha, her cousin.
Sorcha was always getting involved with men. Nothing ever serious.
Moira stood still. Listened as another sound came from upstairs.
Her chest felt tight.
Before she knew it she was moving upstairs.
Each step felt heavier.
The noises were getting clearer. She could hear laughing and whispering which made her stomach hurt.
The door was a little open.
Moira pushed it open
What she saw made her stop moving.
Graeme had his forehead against Sorchas forehead.
They were breathing together their hearts beating at the time.
His hand touched her face. She shivered.
Every look every touch was like electricity.
Graeme said "I've wanted this for long."
Sorcha was in the bed with Graeme, Moiras Graeme.
Moiras mind stopped working.
Her chest hurt sharply.
For a second she could not believe what she was seeing.
Then it hit her this was real.
She said "No this is not happening" in a whisper.
Graeme looked at her. His face did not change.
He did not look shocked or guilty.
He just looked calm.
Moira stepped back.
She said "What are you doing?"
Sorcha sat up slowly she was smiling.
She said "Moira do not start."
Moira said "Do not start that is my boyfriend."
Graeme breathed out like Moira was the problem.
He said "It is not that deep Moira."
That made Moira feel bad.
She stared at Graeme.
She said "Not that deep?"
Graeme rubbed his face he looked annoyed.
He said "You are overreacting it just happened."
Something inside Moira broke.
She said "You cheated on me with my cousin how can you say it just happened?"
Sorcha leaned back on the pillows.
She said "Relax we did not plan to hurt you you are overreacting."
Moira laughed,. It was not funny.
She said "Overreacting?"
Graeme looked away.
He said "You were not making me happy anymore."
It was quiet for a moment.
That was the moment when everything inside Moira stopped.
Her hands were shaking.
Her breath was uneven.
She said "So that is it that is what I am to you someone you can replace?"
No one answered her properly.
Sorcha shrugged.
She said "Life goes on."
Moira felt something in her chest.
She stepped back then again like the room was strange, to her.
Her eyes were blurry.
She did not even know she was crying until she could not breathe.
Without saying anything she. Walked out.
Down the stairs.
Out of the room.
Out of the life she thought she had.
Behind her their voices were getting faint. The words stayed.
Not enough replaceable forgotten.
She walked into the hallway she was shaking hard she had to hold the wall.
For a moment she thought she saw something moving at the end of the hall a shadow where no one should be.
She blinked.
There was nothing.
She said "I am losing it" in a whisper.
Then she ran.