Cheating

Elaine slowly blinked her eyes open, the hazy fog of sleep dissipating as consciousness seeped in. For a moment, she lay still, her mind struggling to piece together the fragments of the previous night. Her head throbbed slightly, As her surroundings came into focus, she quickly realized she was not in her own bedroom. The walls were adorned with unfamiliar artwork, Confusion mingled with a touch of panic as Elaine attempted to make sense of her situation. She raised her head to see Richard starting back at her. Elaine blinked her eyes thinking it was a dream but he was still there staring back at her with folded arms leaning on his shirtless body. The realization hit Elaine like a sudden gust of wind, causing her cheeks to flush with embarrassment. A wave of regret washed over her as she remembered the events leading up to this moment. The emotional distance that had grown between her and Richard had fueled her decision to step out of her comfort zone, seeking solace in the arms of an