No refunds

He was exhausted. Working double shifts was slowly taking its toll on him. He could barely remember those things that brought him joy in such a way that he loved being alive. Loved being himself. Falling for her was such a whirlwind affair that it had pushed his life into fast forward mode. Initially the rush of being in love made everything seem burdenfree. But slowly her need for him to be something he wasn't, started to wear on him. Her unfullfillable greed for more and more things landed him in the position of having to work overtime every week. He would be physically so depleted after getting off work, that being present was impossible. He either fell asleep or simply tuned out. It had been a long time for him to experience pleasure. Of course that only also neglected her demands for attention. It wasn't long before she looked for it elsewhere. He was good enough to keep to provide for her financial security. He tried to stay ignorant. But as life will have it, the truth will have to be faced sooner or later. It made him sick to know that she laid in another man's arms. Or was it men? He didn't allow his mind to linger on those things. They were ruinous for his well being. When he first found out, he thought he would have a break down from the sheer betrayal. He had no idea how he managed to pull himself through the realization that everything had been a lie. But then he had to admit to himself that it was him who had seen her in a whole different light. Too blinded to see what she was really about. Her cheating ways were a blessing in hindsight. It shook him awake to the fact that everything he had been doing since meeting her, were things he didn't enjoy. People say love will make you do crazy things. But it isn't love that makes you do those things. It's love that will bring you to your senses, if you only listen to your heart. And he finally did just that. He finally listened to his dying heart that kept crying out to him. He kicked her out. She was trying to take things with her, but he would only let her take what she came with. It wasn't to be vengeful. He sold or returned the majority of those things that he could, to help him get out of debt. So he wouldn't have to keep working those crueling double shifts for much longer. He even broke the lease on their place. Paying the penalty fee was still cheaper than maintaining the place. He moved into an efficiency apartment instead. If he kept his money tight, he would be out of debt in less than six months. He already knew what he wanted to do once he would have the spare time for it. He would pursue his dream of becoming a journalistic photographer. He had no doubt in his success, now that he had come to his senses. It was near the end of one of his double shifts when he received a call from his friend. His now ex-girlfriend got caught breaking into their old place with a male companion. She wasn't aware that he had moved out, since she believed that he wanted to continue living as lavishly as she had pushed him to. Little did she know that the new renter was a high-ranking military official who had a personal collection of guns. Startled by the home invasion, he opened fire and fatally shot the male companion. The bullet exited the male companion's chest, grazing her face, as she was sneaking in behind him. Her beautiful face would be permanently disfigured. Shocked, but not completely surprised, he stepped out to absorb the news. How ironic, he thought, that she lost what she valued most over nothing. ~•~•~•~•~•~•~• a beautiful milieu Image Megan https://www.instagram.com/mrichters/