Chapter 10: The Forgotten Key
Valentine's Day arrived quietly.
No roses yet.No music.Just a pale morning light creeping through the windows and a strange feeling hanging in the air.
Mathilda rushed out of the apartment early that morning. She was late, distracted, and restless. Her phone buzzed nonstop with messages she barely read. Her mind was somewhere else—on unanswered texts, on thoughts she couldn't shake.
She pulled the door shut behind her without looking back.
Only when she reached the bus stop did she freeze.
Her hand went to her bag.
Then her pockets.
Then her jacket.
Her heart dropped.
"My key," she whispered.
Mathilda turned her bag upside down, panic rising as lip gloss, receipts, and earbuds spilled onto the bench. No key.
She groaned loudly and sat down hard.
"Great. Just great."
Linda had already left earlier to get ready for her date. Mathilda knew she was busy, probably excited, probably nervous.
Still, Mathilda pulled out her phone and typed.
Hey, are you home?
The message showed delivered but not read.
Mathilda sighed and looked around. The day felt colder than it should have.
Minutes passed.
Her phone buzzed.
I'm out. What's wrong? — Linda.
Mathilda exhaled in relief.
I forgot my house key. I can't get in.
A pause.
Then Linda replied.
I'm not home. I'm getting ready near downtown.
Mathilda frowned.
What should I do?
Linda hesitated before responding.
I can send you my location. I have the spare key in my bag.
Mathilda stared at the message.
You're with him? she typed.
Yes. We're together already, Linda replied. Just come here and get the key.
Mathilda's chest tightened.
Okay, she typed back.
She stood up, brushing off her jeans, trying to ignore the strange feeling creeping into her stomach.
Linda sent the location.
Mathilda opened it.
Downtown.A hotel area.Near a restaurant.
She swallowed.
"Why so early?" she muttered.
Still, she called a ride and headed there.
The drive felt longer than usual.
Mathilda sat quietly in the back seat, watching the city pass by. Couples walked hand in hand. Red balloons floated outside stores. A radio played soft love songs.
Her phone buzzed again.
Let me know when you arrive, Linda texted.
I will, Mathilda replied.
She tried to distract herself, scrolling through old messages.
Then she opened his chat.
Her last message still showed seen.
No reply.
She frowned.
Busy, she told herself.
The car stopped.
"You're here," the driver said.
Mathilda stepped out and looked around.
It was a small, quiet hotel lobby connected to a café. Soft lights. Valentine's decorations everywhere.
Her heart began to race.
She walked inside slowly, scanning the room.
Then she saw Linda.
Linda sat at a small table near the window, dressed simply but beautifully. She was smiling—really smiling—the kind Mathilda hadn't seen in a long time.
And sitting across from her…
Mathilda stopped walking.
Her breath caught in her throat.
No.
Her eyes moved closer.
His posture.His jacket.The way he leaned forward while talking.
Her phone slipped from her hand and hit the floor.
Linda looked up.
Their eyes met.
Linda's smile vanished.
"Mathilda?" she said, standing up abruptly. "What are you—"
Mathilda's gaze never left the man.
The man turned.
Their eyes met.
Silence fell like a heavy curtain.
Mathilda felt the room spin.
"It's… you," she whispered.
The man stood up slowly. His face drained of color.
"Mathilda," he said.
Linda's voice shook. "You two know each other?"
Mathilda laughed suddenly—a sharp, broken sound.
"Know each other?" she repeated. "I've been FaceTiming you every night."
Linda's heart dropped.
She looked from Mathilda to the man, confusion turning into fear.
"What is she talking about?" Linda asked him.
He opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
Mathilda's hands trembled. "You told me you were busy. That you were taking things slow. That you cared about me."
Linda's chest tightened. "You told me the same things."
The truth hung in the air.
Heavy.Ugly.Unavoidable.
"I can explain," the man said weakly.
Mathilda's eyes burned. "Explain what? How you played us both?"
Linda felt dizzy.
She looked at Mathilda, guilt washing over her.
"I didn't know," Linda said quickly. "I swear. I didn't know it was him."
Mathilda turned to her, eyes blazing.
"You invited me here," she said. "You told me to come."
"Because of the key," Linda replied, her voice breaking. "I never imagined—"
Mathilda shook her head. "So you're on a date with my man?"
Linda flinched. "I thought he was mine."
The man stepped back, overwhelmed.
"I didn't think you'd ever meet," he admitted quietly.
That was the final blow.
Mathilda felt something snap inside her.
She laughed again, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"So this is what Valentine's looks like," she said bitterly.
People around them began to stare.
Linda reached for Mathilda's arm. "Please. Let's talk outside."
Mathilda pulled away.
"You didn't steal him," Mathilda said coldly. "But you still chose him."
Linda froze.
"I haven't chosen anything," she whispered.
Mathilda grabbed her phone from the floor and walked toward the exit.
"Keep the key," she said without turning back. "I don't want anything from you."
Linda stood there, shaking.
The man tried to speak.
Linda turned on him sharply. "Don't."
Her Valentine's date had turned into a nightmare.
And Mathilda walked out into the cold, heart shattered—not because she forgot her key…
But because she unlocked the truth.