GRAVITY | R. DIAS

• 31 •

February 18, 2024

The moment Martha woke up with no clothes on next to a very naked Rúben, she had jumped out of bed, thrown on some clothes, fled her house with Dante and had somehow driven all the way down to London.

So this is how she ended up in front of her brother in law's gate on a Sunday afternoon. Arsenal and Tottenham had both played yesterday, so she was fairly certain that her sister would be home today. She gets out of the car to ring the bell and a minute later her younger sister's concerned voice can be heard through the speaker. "Martha thank god you're alright. Erling and I were super worried. Why didn't you pick up your phone?"

The older Olsen sister realises that in her rush to get out of her house, she had forgotten her phone. "I fucked up Anna. Can I come in?"

Anna immediately presses the button to let her sibling in. After opening the gate she walks to the front door and waits for Martha to drive up the driveway. She's never seen her sister so distressed before, making her worry. What could've happened yesterday to make her drive all the way from Manchester to here?

"You shouldn't worry so much kjære?" Martin says, seeing his girlfriend worriedly pacing at the front door. He puts his arm around her waist and softly rubs over her belly. Anna gives him a light smile. She knows she shouldn't, but clearly something happened to her sister.

When Martha has finally parked her car, Dante jumps out the moment the door opens. He immediately runs towards the couple standing in the doorway. Both of them greet him enthusiastically. Martha follows swiftly and upon seeing her younger sister tears start forming in her eyes. Anna notices and pulls Martha in a tight hug.

Martin now understands why his girlfriend is so worried. He has never seen his sister-in-law like this. Martha always seemed like the more level headed and less stressed of the two siblings.

A silent sob escapes past Martha's lips, making Dante look up to his owner and pushing his nose in between the two sisters as a sign of comfort. Anna and Martha let go of each other.

"Hey Martha," Martin greets. "Maybe it's better if I take Dante to the garden, so you two can talk in peace," he says and Martha nods.

They all walk inside. Martin walks towards the garden with Dante and the girls get settled on the couch in the living room.

"I fucked up Anna," Martha says again the moment her body hits the soft fabric of the couch. "I did the one thing I swore to never do,"

"What happened Mar?" the younger sister asks.

"I-I slept with Rúben," Martha whispers. This is the first time the words roll over her lips since waking up. It really hits her hard. She became her own worst nightmare, the other girl. "Fuck Anna, I really slept with him. I feel so bad," she starts crying again.

Anna pulls her sister back in her arms. "Don't blame yourself Mar, Rúben is as much at fault here as you, even more so. How exactly did it happen though? You were so set on keeping your distance,"

"At Nathan's party. We both had a bit too much to drink and it just happened," Martha explains with a heavy heart. "I'm never drinking again,"

"So what are you going to do now?"

"I don't know really. All I do know is that it'll be better to distance myself from Rúben,"

Anna nods understandingly, but also has a slight feeling Martha won't be able to keep this promise. Her sister had tried to stay away from the man since the day she met him, but it always seemed like Rúben would find a way back into her life. So it's likely that this will happen again.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" the younger asks.

Martha sighs, "It has to. He has a girlfriend."

"What if he breaks up with her and decides that he wants to be with you?"

"I don't know Anna," Martha says while fidgeting with her fingers. "Do I really want to be with someone who cheated on his girlfriend? What if he does the same thing with me?" The older questions and Anna can only agreed with all of her sister's doubts about Rúben. "I still can't believe I did this," Martha starts sobbing again. "I've been cheated on so many times before and now I've caused Rúben to cheat on Emma,"

Anna shakes her head. "Stop blaming yourself Martha, Rúben's the one who cheated. You tried your very best to keep him away from you even if you had a clear attraction to him. You're not the one at fault here," Soothingly Anna rubs her sister's back. She can clearly see that Martha feels really bad about the whole situation and she understands that. Her sister has gotten her heart broken multiple times, now she's the one to cause someone else's heartbreak.