One Night, One Mistake
The air in the suite felt thicker than the night air outside. Amara was frozen by the door, her breathing quick and shallow like she had just sprinted. Every part of her wanted to escape, but her body wouldn't move.
Leonardo took off his jacket and hung it carefully on a chair, moving slowly and confidently, as if he was completely in charge of the chaos within her.
"You seem anxious," he noted, his deep voice cutting through the stillness.
Amara gulped. "I don't belong here."
"Perhaps"" he replied calmly, "but you are here."
The confidence in his voice sent a chill down her spine. She looked away, walking to the window and gazing at the glittering Lagos skyline. From this height, the city appeared calm and serene, nothing like the turmoil she felt within.
"Why me?" she suddenly asked, her voice wavering. "You don't even know me."
Leonardo approached her slowly, taking his time with each step, until he stood next to her in the reflection. "I don't need to know everything about you to see you, Amara. The sorrow in your eyes, the passion you've tried to conceal... it captivated me from the first moment I laid eyes on you."
Her throat constricted. No one- not even her husband-had ever talked to her like that. She felt bare, unprotected, yet somehow secure.
"I'm married," she murmured, almost to convince herself.
"I know," he replied gently. "And still, you're here."
His words pierced through her weak barriers.
She should have gone home hours earlier. She should have rejected him at the restaurant. But now, she found herself shaking under his gaze, longing for the closeness of someone who viewed her as more than just a responsibility, but as a woman.
As he reached out and softly touched her arm, she didn't flinch. His warm hand provided a steady comfort that she hadn't experienced in a long time.
"Just say the word if you want me to stop," Leonardo said quietly.
Amara opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her quietness spoke volumes.
His hand moved to grip hers, and he slowly guided her towards the middle of the room. She went along, her hesitance diminishing with every step.
The night turned into a mix of sensations, quiet secrets, and quick kisses. For the first time in a long while, she felt wanted -not as a wife playing a part, but as a woman appreciated for who she really was. The loneliness she had kept hidden started to break free, flowing into the comfort of his embrace.
Yet, with each moment of intimacy, guilt tugged at her thoughts. She could nearly hear her husband's voice and picture his disapproving stare. But when Leonardo embraced her, the idea of her marriage felt far away, like an echo she no longer wished to pursue.
"Amara," he whispered into her hair, his breath cozy against her skin. "You deserve better than the life you've accepted."
Her heart tightened. Do I? she thought. She had spent ages telling herself that her loveless marriage was sufficient, that her quiet sacrifices mattered. But now, with Leonardo's words resonating deeply within her, she wasn't so confident anymore.
As the night continued, time seemed to stand still. For those couple of hours, Amara allowed herself to overlook the outside world -the lies, the hurt, the void in her marriage.
She allowed herself to get lost in the risky comfort of a guy she hardly knew, but he made her feel more alive than she had in a long time.
Still, she understood that morning would eventually arrive.
And along with it, the repercussions.
The city lights shimmered outside the window, but for Amara, everything had narrowed down to the soft sound of Leonardo breathing. Each word he said and every look he threw her way slowly broke down the barriers she had put up around her heart.
She attempted to fight it, to recall the promises she had made, but the pain inside her had lingered for too long, hoping that someone-anyone-would see it.
"Why are you looking at me that way?" she asked quietly, her voice shaking.
Leonardo leaned in, keeping his eyes fixed on her. "Because I recognize the woman you've lost touch with. Strong, beautiful, full of life. You don't even see it, do you?"
Tears welled up in her eyes. She quickly shook her head, attempting to cover her face, but he softly raised her chin, making her look at him.
For a brief second, Amara felt like she might fall apart. But instead of crumbling, she allowed herself to relax against him, even though her mind was still filled with doubts.
When his lips touched hers, everything outside faded away.
The guilt lingered at the back of her mind, but it was overwhelmed by the flood of warmth and longing she felt.
It was a foolish move. It was a mistake. But it was the first moment in a long time that she felt somewhat alive.
So, she quit overthinking.
She allowed herself to let go.