Chapter 6: THE TURNING POINT

Chapter 6.

The Turning point.

Stella slumped onto her bed after shutting the door on Patricia. Her mind raced, her heart a storm of emotions she couldn’t contain. She wanted to scream, cry, or maybe even laugh at the absurdity of it all. How had her life unraveled so quickly?

The room felt suffocating, its walls closing in as if to echo her despair. Her gaze drifted to the mirror again. This time, she dared to look at her reflection. Her face was pale, her eyes puffy and rimmed with red. Her once vibrant self seemed like a distant memory.

"Is this what love has done to me?" she whispered to the silent room, her voice trembling.

The loud buzz of her phone broke her trance. She hesitated before picking it up. It was her mother. Stella froze. Should she answer? She wasn’t sure she could hold it together, but ignoring her mother would only raise suspicion.

"Hello, Mama," Stella said, trying to steady her voice.

"Stella, my child, how are you?" Her mother’s warm voice was like a balm, but it also brought a wave of fresh tears to Stella’s eyes.

"I’m fine, Mama," she lied.

"You don’t sound fine. What’s wrong? Have you eaten today?"

Stella swallowed hard. "I’m okay, Mama. Just a little tired from work."

Her mother paused, sensing the lie. "Stella, you know you can talk to me. Whatever it is, I’m here for you."

That was all it took for the floodgates to open. Stella began sobbing uncontrollably, unable to keep the pain bottled up any longer.

"Mama… he’s gone," she managed to say between sobs.

"Who’s gone? What are you talking about, my child?"

"Richard. He—he’s engaged to Patricia," Stella cried, her voice breaking.

There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Finally, her mother spoke, her tone calm but firm. "Stella, listen to me. Wipe your tears. You are my daughter, and you are stronger than this. No man is worth losing yourself over, do you hear me?"

Stella sniffled, her mother’s words cutting through her anguish like a lifeline.

"I know it hurts," her mother continued, "but this is not the end. God has a plan for you, my child. One day, you will look back and realize that this heartbreak was a stepping stone to something greater."

Stella nodded, even though her mother couldn’t see her. "Thank you, Mama."

"Take your time to grieve, but don’t stay there too long. You are worth more than this pain."

After the call ended, Stella felt a sliver of strength return. Her mother’s words stayed with her, replaying in her mind like a mantra.

She stood up and looked at her reflection in the mirror once again. Slowly, she picked up a pair of scissors from the vanity table and cut her hair. She stared at the new image before her and, for the first time in days, felt a small sense of control.

"A different me," she whispered to herself.

With a deep breath, she began cleaning her room. One by one, she picked up the crumpled tissues, straightened her bed, and opened the windows to let fresh air in. As she worked, she made a silent vow to herself.

"I will not let this break me," she whispered. "I deserve better, and I will find it."

As the night deepened, Stella sat on her bed, her mind wandering. She remembered Patricia’s parting words: "I love Richard, and we both love each other."

A spark of determination flared within her. If Patricia thought she could waltz into her life and steal her happiness, she had another thing coming. Stella wasn’t sure what her next move would be, but she knew one thing: she wouldn’t let them win.

Not like this.

The next morning, Stella woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. Her heart still ached, but she was ready to face the world again.

It was time to take her life back.