When the Tables Turn

The days blurred into weeks, and Jalissa couldn't remember the last time she felt like herself. Gina's couch became both her refuge and her prison. Every morning, she woke up to the same sinking feeling in her chest—a mix of heartbreak, anger, and despair.

She tried to keep herself busy, but it was like walking through quicksand. Each step felt heavier than the last. She forced herself to go to work, but her mind wasn't there. The coffee shop, once her steady anchor, now felt like a cruel reminder of everything she had sacrificed for Ethan's dreams.

And then, one Friday afternoon, the final blow came.

Her manager pulled her aside after her shift, his expression apologetic. "Jalissa, I hate to do this, but we're cutting hours. We've got too many part-timers right now, and... well, we have to let you go."

She blinked, the words hitting her like a physical blow. "Let me go? But... I've been here for years."

"I know," he said, his voice low. "It's not about performance. It's just... business. I'm really sorry."

Jalissa nodded numbly, grabbing her things and walking out. The world outside seemed too bright, too loud, too indifferent to her pain.

By the time she got back to Gina's apartment, Jalissa was a mess of tears and frustration. Gina tried to comfort her, but Jalissa waved her off and retreated to the couch.

She scrolled aimlessly through job boards on her phone, but the listings blurred together. Every rejection email she'd received over the past few weeks played on a loop in her mind. She felt stuck, broken, and completely directionless.

A few days later, Jalissa dragged herself to the grocery store to pick up a few things for Gina. She kept her head down, hoping to avoid any familiar faces. But as she rounded the corner near the cereal aisle, she froze.

It was Ethan's friends—two of the guys she had met at the bar that awkward night weeks ago. They were laughing about something, but their smiles faded as soon as they spotted her.

"Jalissa," one of them said, his tone cautious.

She forced a tight smile, gripping the cart handle until her knuckles turned white. "Hi."

The taller of the two, Marcus, rubbed the back of his neck. "Hey, um... how have you been?"

"Fine," she said curtly.

There was an awkward pause before the other guy, Trevor, blurted, "Look, we just want to say... we had no idea Ethan was going to pull that crap. If we'd known—"

"It doesn't matter," Jalissa interrupted, her voice sharper than she intended. "It's done."

Marcus nodded, his expression heavy with guilt. "For what it's worth, we think what he did was messed up. Using you like that... it's not right."

Jalissa swallowed hard, her throat tightening. "Thanks," she said quietly, before turning her cart and walking away.

Her chest ached as she headed to the checkout line. Their words replayed in her head on the drive back to Gina's, a cruel confirmation of what she already knew: Ethan had used her.

That night, Gina suggested something unconventional. "You ever listen to Dr. Simone's show?"

Jalissa raised an eyebrow. "The relationship expert? Isn't she, like, super blunt?"

"Exactly," Gina said, grinning. "She doesn't sugarcoat anything, and I think you need that right now. Call in. Talk to her."

Jalissa hesitated, but something about the idea stuck with her. Later that night, after Gina had gone to bed, she sat in the living room with her phone and dialed the number for Dr. Simone's radio show.

"Welcome back to The Love Line with Dr. Simone," a smooth, commanding voice said over the airwaves. "We're here to tackle your toughest questions and help you get your love life—and your life—back on track. Who do we have on the line?"

"Um, hi," Jalissa said, her voice shaking. "My name's J."

"Hi, J," Dr. Simone said warmly. "What's on your mind?"

Jalissa hesitated before diving in. "I just... I'm feeling lost. I was in a long-term relationship, and I gave up a lot for him—my education, my time, my energy. And then he just... left. He moved on with someone else, and now I'm stuck trying to figure out what to do with my life."

Dr. Simone was silent for a moment, letting Jalissa's words sink in. Then she said, "First of all, J, let me say this: what he did to you was wrong. He took advantage of your love and your sacrifices, and that's on him—not you."

Jalissa felt a lump rise in her throat. "But I feel so stupid. How did I not see it coming?"

"Because you trusted him," Dr. Simone said firmly. "You loved him, and you believed in the future you were building together. That doesn't make you stupid—it makes you human."

Jalissa wiped a tear from her cheek, the weight of those words hitting her hard.

"But now," Dr. Simone continued, her tone sharp, "it's time to stop focusing on what he did and start focusing on you. J, do you have dreams? Goals? Things you've always wanted to do but put on hold for this man?"

"Yes," Jalissa said quietly. "I wanted to finish my degree. I wanted to build a career for myself."

"Then it's time to do that," Dr. Simone said. "You've been pouring all your energy into someone else's dream for too long. Now, you need to pour that energy into yourself. Let your success speak for itself. Let your glow-up be your revenge."

"But what if I fail?" Jalissa asked, her voice small.

"Then you fail," Dr. Simone said bluntly. "And you pick yourself back up and try again. Because the only thing worse than failing is not trying at all."

Jalissa sat in silence, letting the words sink in.

"Listen, J," Dr. Simone said, her voice softening. "You're in the rebuilding phase right now, and it's going to be hard. But I promise you, if you stay focused on your goals and take it one step at a time, you'll look back on this moment as the turning point. The moment you took your life back."

"Thank you," Jalissa whispered, her voice cracking.

"You've got this, J," Dr. Simone said. "Go show the world what you're made of."

Jalissa hung up the phone, a strange mix of emotions swirling inside her. She felt raw, exposed, but also... lighter. For the first time in weeks, she felt a flicker of hope.

She wasn't there yet, but she was ready to try.