CHAPTER THREE

Lisa and Rachel stepped into their cozy apartment, the warm glow of the living room lamp enveloping them. Lisa collapsed onto the couch, exhausted.

Rachel settled beside her, handing her a glass of water. ‘Talk to me, Lis.’

Lisa took a sip, collecting her thoughts. ‘It's just...Mark. Hannah brought up that night, and it all came flooding back.’

Rachel's expression turned sympathetic. ‘I'm so sorry. I should have been more prepared.’

Lisa shook her head. ‘It's not your fault, Rach.’ She took a deep breath, letting her gaze wander around the living room. ‘I’m sorry, Rach. I didn't mean to break down.’

Rachel waved her hand dismissively. ‘Don't apologize. You okay though?’ Rachel asks, concern etched on her face.

Lisa forces a nod, attempting to brush off the emotions. ‘Yeah, just... memories, I guess.’

‘Talk to me, Lis,’ Rachel coaxes, her voice gentle.

Lisa hesitates, then unleashes a torrent of emotions. ‘I feel so stupid, Rachel. I was so blind, so naive. I let them walk all over me. The first was Mark,’ Lisa's voice whispered, barely audible. ‘He wove a web of lies, convincing me we were destined for forever. I was young, naive, and blinded by love.’ She paused, her chest tightening.

‘He took my virginity under false pretenses, leaving me shattered and confused. Gaslighting me into believing it was my fault, that I'd misunderstood our 'agreement’.'

Lisa's gaze dropped, her eyes welling up.

‘Then there was William, the charismatic artist. He promised to capture my beauty on canvas, but his true intention was to capture my soul.’ Her voice cracked.

‘He coerced me into intimate photos, assuring me they'd remain private. But they didn't. He shared them without my consent, leaving me exposed and humiliated.’

Lisa's thoughts drifted to the acquaintances who'd disregarded her boundaries.

‘And the others...the ones who didn't even bother to disguise their intentions. They saw me as a conquest, a notch on their belt. They used me, discarded me, and moved on.’ Her words trailed off, lost in the haze of memories.

‘Each experience chipped away at my self-worth, eroding my trust in men, in myself. I felt like a fragile vase, dropped and shattered into a million pieces.’

Rachel listens attentively, offering words of comfort. ‘You weren't stupid, Lis. You were young and trusting. Those men manipulated and exploited you. It's not your shame to carry. You can’t let them define you. Don’t let their actions silence you.’

Lisa's tears flow freely now, a mix of grief and relief. ‘I thought I'd moved past this,’ Lisa says, her voice cracking.

‘You have, Lisa. But sometimes, the past revisits us. We face it together, okay?’

‘I just feel so stuck. Like I'm reliving the same patterns.’

Rachel nodded thoughtfully. ‘I get it. But you're not alone. We've all been there.’ She leaned in, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. ‘Remember when I thought I'd never recover from that disastrous breakup?’

Lisa chuckled. ‘Oh yeah, the ice cream and wine binge.’

Rachel grinned. ‘Exactly! And look at me now – wiser, stronger, and with a better wine collection.’

Lisa laughed, feeling the weight lift. ‘You're ridiculous.’

After a minute of silence between them, Lisa's curious gaze met Rachel's. ‘Rach, is there something wrong with the dating culture? I mean, why is it so hard to find someone genuine?’

Rachel's expression shifted from empathetic to candid. ‘Lis, it's not the culture, it's the reality. True love, soulmates – it's all a fantasy. I should have told you this a long time ago, I just didn’t want to hurt your feelings. There’s no such thing as destiny _ soulmates, it’s all a myth.’ Rachel said gently.

Lisa's eyes widened, defensive. ‘You don't believe that, Rach. You're just saying it to make me feel better.’

Rachel leaned in, her voice laced with conviction. ‘I'm saying it because it's true. Think about it, Lis. True love might have existed at a time, but right now, our generation is all about instant gratification, superficial connections, self-interest, swipe-left relationships, and ghosting. We're not wired for meaningful relationships, Lis. We’re not built for commitment. Open your eyes.’

Lisa's face scrunched in skepticism. ‘That's not true. There are still good people out there.’

Rachel's tone turned matter-of-fact. ‘Good people, yes. But true love? No. It's a myth perpetuated by Hollywood and social media. We're sold a dream that doesn't exist.’

Lisa shook her head. ‘You're just cynical because of your past.’

Rachel's eyes locked onto Lisa's. ‘I'm cynical because I've seen it, Lis. I've seen how people treat each other like disposable commodities. I've seen the ghosting, the cheating, the lies. And so have you.’

Rachel continued, ‘Our generation is trashy, Lis.’ Her expression turned solemn. ‘I know you believe in fairy tales, Lis. You always have. But look around us. Look at our friends, our relationships. How many are truly happy?’

Lisa's gaze faltered.

‘Exactly,’ Rachel continued. ‘We're a generation of broken promises and fleeting connections. True love is a marketing ploy, a fantasy sold to us through rom-coms.’

Lisa pulled her hand back, a hint of frustration.

Rachel's voice softened. ‘I don't want you to get hurt again, Lis. You deserve better than some idealized notion of love.’

Lisa's eyes searched Rachel's face, seeking reassurance. ‘Rach, what if I want to believe? What if I need to believe?’

‘I know, Lis. But sometimes the hardest truth is the one we need to hear. True love isn't for our generation. We're too damaged, too selfish. But that doesn't mean we can't find happiness.

Lisa's gaze dropped, her thoughts swirling.

‘There’s more to you than this, Lis. Think about your accomplishments? Your job, your writing... You're killing it, Lis.’

Rachel grinned mischievously. ‘Come on, Lis. Let's go out, have some fun. Forget about true love and soulmates for a while.’

Lisa raised an eyebrow. ‘What kind of fun?’

Rachel's eyes sparkled. ‘The kind that doesn't involve hearts and flowers. Let's explore the city, meet new people, and enjoy ourselves.’

Lisa hesitated, unsure.

‘Rach, I don't know...I'm not really into casual hookups.’

Rachel waved her hand dismissively. ‘Not hookups, Lis, unless that’s what you want. Just...life. Experience. We can be each other's wingwomen. We can just have a good time. Maybe we've been looking at love all wrong.’

Lisa's mind whirled. ‘Are you saying I should just give up on love?’

Rachel's expression turned serious. ‘I'm saying, Lis, maybe we need to redefine what love means to us. Maybe it's not that fairy tale we've been sold. Maybe it's just...enjoying the moment.’

Lisa looked at Rachel, unsure. ‘I don't know, Rach. I need time to think.’

Rachel nodded. ‘Take all the time you need, Lis. But promise me one thing.’

‘What's that?’

‘Promise me you'll keep an open mind.’

Lisa nodded, her world tilted.