The days that followed had a rhythm. Morning lectures, library hours, catching up on coursework. But threaded through the monotony was a presence Emily had begun to enjoy: Jake.
His confidence wasn't arrogant it was smooth, relaxed. The way he talked, the way he listened, how he asked about her village life like it was something fascinating rather than simple it made Emily feel seen in a way she hadn't since arriving at university.
They had started chatting regularly. Walking from lectures, grabbing cheap coffee, teasing each other about everything from music taste to snack choices. Jake made her laugh truly laugh and it had been a while since anyone had done that.
One rainy afternoon, they sat on the stone steps behind the arts building, sharing an umbrella and a warm cup of hot chocolate he insisted tasted better than coffee.
"Do you ever miss it?" he asked. "Back home, I mean."
Emily nodded. "Sometimes. But… it's also nice being somewhere new. Like I get to figure out who I am."
Jake smiled at that. "Well, I like who you are already."
Her cheeks warmed. She ducked her head, brushing hair behind her ear. She didn't want to assume anything, didn't want to read too much into it. But his voice, his smile, the way he looked at her, it made something stir in her chest.
She didn't know if it was the start of something real. But she wanted to believe it could be.
.....
That was before everything shattered.
She was walking past the side of the student union building when she heard voices. Laughter. Guys talking, not realising they could be overheard.
One voice unmistakably Jake's said, "Almost there, lads. She's already halfway in love with me."
Emily froze mid-step, heart thudding.
Another guy chuckled. "Seriously? You think you'll win the bet this week?"
"Easy. One more night like today and she'll fall for anything," Jake replied. "Told you country girls are too easy."
There was laughter, followed by the soft clink of a drink bottle.
Emily couldn't breathe.
It felt like the wind had been knocked out of her, as if someone had punched her in the chest. Her eyes burned. Her hands trembled.
Jake. Jake. He was playing a game. Everything every word, every smile had been part of a cruel bet.
She didn't wait to hear more. She turned and walked, fast and blindly, tears blurring her vision.
...….
Back at her small accommodation, she slammed the door shut and collapsed onto the bed.
Tears came quickly, freely. Her heart felt raw. How could she have been so stupid? So naive? She had let her guard down, let someone in, believed she mattered and all of it had been a joke.
The words kept playing in her head: "Country girls are too easy."
She hated herself for falling for it. For letting her feelings take root.
By nightfall, the weight in her chest had become unbearable.
She needed something anything to quiet the storm in her mind.
...…..
She walked to a nearby shop, barely remembering the steps it took to get there. Her coat was too thin for the chilly air, her face still wet from crying.
Inside, she grabbed a couple of cider cans and a small bottle of vodka. The shopkeeper barely glanced at her as she paid.
She didn't know what she was doing only that she couldn't be alone with her thoughts tonight.
She wandered to a quiet park near campus, the trees tall and silent under the streetlamps. She sat on a bench, opened the bottle, and drank.
The first swallow burned, harsh and unfamiliar.
The second went down easier.
By the third, her legs felt light. Her mind started to drift.
The stars above blurred. The park was empty, save for the rustling of leaves and the soft hum of streetlamps. She tilted her head back and laughed a hollow, bitter sound.
She felt numb.
Finally.
....
She didn't notice them at first three men approaching from across the path. They looked like students, older maybe, or recent grads. She didn't care.
"Hey," one of them said, smiling too wide. "You okay there, sweetheart?"
Emily blinked at him. Her mind was slow. Everything felt underwater.
"Y-you talkin'… to me?" she slurred, holding the bottle loosely in one hand.
"Yeah," another said, stepping closer. "You're out here alone? That's not safe."
Emily laughed again, bitter. "Doesn't matter."
"Oh, it matters," the first guy said. "Come on, we're heading to a party. You should come."
"Party?" she echoed.
"Yeah," the third one said, eyeing her up and down. "You'll have fun. We've got better stuff there."
They offered hands. Friendly, coaxing.
Emily didn't resist when one gently tugged at her arm. Her head lolled slightly. She tried to stand, her legs weak and wobbly. They steadied her.
She smiled, dazed. "Okay…"
She didn't see the look they exchanged behind her back.
Didn't hear the sharp click of a car door opening nearby.
Didn't feel the full danger closing in.
Only the cold air, the spinning night sky and their hands guiding her toward the shadows.