The Stolen Comfort"

Trapped at home by a raging storm, a familiar cramp seized my stomach C my period had arrived unexpectedly early.

I pushed through the discomfort, heading to the utility closet. My plan was to grab the pads and pain relief tea Id stashed away, but when I pulled open the door, I froze. The shelves were bare, completely empty.

A million questions flooded my mind, wondering where everything had vanished to, when my phone buzzed with a notification. It was a social media post from Lily, Liam's childhood friend.

The photo showed her beaming, clutching an entire unopened box of sanitary pads and a pack of pain relief tea.

The caption read: "So grateful to my amazing 'big brother' for bringing warmth and comfort just when I needed it most! Seriously a lifesaver!"

Below that, she'd added: "Ladies, if anyone needs supplies, just message me! These are free to a good home!"

I stared at that post for what felt like an eternity.

I couldn't wrap my head around it.

Why was it that every single time she and I needed help,

he always, without fail, prioritized her?

It wasn't until two hours later, when he returned with the empty cardboard box, that I finally snapped out of my daze.

He saw me sitting motionless on the sofa and frowned, a hint of annoyance in his expression. "It's already dinner time. Why haven't you cooked anything?"

I ignored his question, meeting his gaze directly. "Did you see the message I sent you?"

After realizing my period had started,

and all my supplies were gone,

I'd messaged him,

asking if he'd moved them somewhere else.

He'd never replied.

I waited a long time, assuming he was busy.

It was only when I accidentally clicked on my social media feed

that I discovered, in this critical moment, hed given all my pads to Lily.

And together, they had "selflessly" given away my belongings to people in need.

"Yeah, I saw it. So what? You had so much stashed away, you wouldn't use it all at once. This is an emergency, everyone's stuck inside. What's wrong with giving things you don't immediately need to people who do?"

His face was etched with impatience, and I suddenly felt utterly exhausted.

The dull ache in my lower abdomen sharpened into an agonizing cramp.

If it werent for the leftover pads from last month in the bathroom,

I truly wouldnt know what to do.

Clutching my throbbing belly, my face pale, I told him, "My period started. You need to figure something out and get me some back."

A peculiar expression flickered across Liam's face.

"Grace, you're unbelievable. Everyone else has their period, and now you do too? Can't you be more understanding, like Lily? She knows how to help people in need, why are you so selfish?"

Selfish? Me?

Last month, when I stocked up during the big sale,

Lily had seen me carrying a large box of pads.

Shamelessly, she'd looped her arm through his and scoffed, "Big brother, your girlfriend's demand is huge! Only you could handle someone like that."

She'd yelled it out in public, without a shred of decency.

I'd gotten angry and told her to shut up.

But she just kept on, "Oh, look, your girlfriend's all flustered!"

Liam looked helpless, but instead of stopping her, he'd adopted a magnanimous air and told me, "Lily's just boisterous, her heart's in the right place. Don't take it to heart."

I looked at Liam, whose eyes were now tinged with a faint anger, and said flatly, "Liam, let's break up."

"What did you say?" Liam's eyes widened in disbelief, a ridiculous expression on his face. "Grace, you're breaking up with me just because I gave Lily some pads?"

"Yes, I"

Before I could finish, there was a knock at the door.

Lily's cheerful, bright voice drifted in from the hallway.

"Big brother, what good food are you making in there? Hurry up and invite your old man in for a taste!"

Before we could even open the door,

she'd casually entered the security code and walked right in.

Seeing the tense atmosphere,

the smile on her face quickly faded.

"Big brother, did you upset Gracie? I told you before, women get angry easily! Whether it's your fault or not, you have to apologize right away!"

Hearing her words, it felt like a needle had pierced my heart.

Liam and I had been together for three years.

Every time we argued, I was always the first to back down.

I didn't want trivial things to harm our relationship.

But half a year ago, when Lily returned from studying abroad,

after our arguments, he started to apologize and try to cheer me up.

I thought he'd finally grown up.

But it turns out, his apologies were because hed listened to Lily.

Yet, before that, I'd cried and asked him, "Can't you just try to comfort me?"

He'd looked annoyed and retorted, "It's not my fault, why should I apologize or comfort you?"

Just like now, hearing Lily's words,

he frowned deeply and retorted coldly, "I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?"

Then, his gaze fell on me,

tinged with a slight disappointment.

"Grace, why do you always compare yourself to Lily?"

"Last time she was in a car accident and hospitalized, and suddenly you said you were in a car accident too. This time her period started, and now yours has too? Can't you think before you lie? Is playing the same trick over and over fun?"

Half a month ago, when Lily called him crying late at night about a car accident,

Liam and I were still out shopping.

When he got her call, his expression instantly tensed. He said, "Lily needs me right now. You go home first, I'm going to check on her."

Then, ignoring my pleas for him to stay, he turned and quickly left.

He didnt know that shortly after he left,

two rough-looking guys emerged from an alley.

They held me up with knives.

In my fear, I gave them everything in my bag.

But they thought it wasn't enough, and their lewd gazes fell on me, trying to drag me into the deserted alley.

Filled with terror, I struggled with all my might.

I finally managed to break free and ran, only to collide with an oncoming car.

Luckily, the driver stopped in time, and I only suffered a minor concussion.

As I stumbled out of the observation room, feeling dizzy,

I saw a familiar back carrying a lightly scraped Lily out of the hospital.

When I got home, I told him Id been in a car accident and wasn't feeling well.

But he looked at me with a strange, distant gaze. "Lily had a car accident, and you had one too? What a coincidence. Grace, there's a limit to how much you can sensationalize things."

Even now, he still didn't believe me, thinking I'd lied to get his attention.

Before, I would have tried to defend myself.

Now, I just felt tired.

I quietly watched him.

Before I could speak, Lily said with a look of sudden realization, "Oh, so you're arguing about the pads! Gracie, you should have said something sooner. Otherwise, I wouldn't have given all the extra ones to the neighbors."

"I only have enough for myself right now. If you want some, I'll go get them for you right away. Just don't be mad at Liam."

Hearing that, I was unexpectedly infuriated.

All those things were mine.

How did they become hers in her mouth?

And she was offering to "bestow" them upon me?

"Those were originally mine. If you want to return them, return all of them to me."

Liam looked at me disapprovingly, his eyes full of accusation. "You know perfectly well those things were given to the neighbors. How is Lily supposed to give them back to you? You're clearly trying to make things difficult for her!"

"If she can't return them, then pay me back the original price." I silently opened my payment QR code and handed it to her. "That's three hundred and twenty dollars in total. If you don't believe me, I have the receipt. Do you want to see it?"

A flicker of anger crossed Liam's eyes, and he said in a low voice, "Grace, I think you've lost your mind! You'd better stop this, don't keep acting out!"

With that, he took Lily and walked out of the house without looking back.

But if hed had even a sliver of concern for me,

he would have noticed the bloodstain spreading on the sofa where I sat.

I endured the cramping pain in my lower abdomen, trembling as I stood up.

The tears I'd been holding back in my eyes silently streamed down my face.

The habit of stocking up on pads was something Liam had taught me.

The year we first got together,

he was away on a business trip, and my period started unexpectedly.

I sat alone in the bathroom, remembering the days my mom would make me use toilet paper because she couldn't afford pads.

I had no choice but to improvise with paper again.

That time, I got a serious infection.

When Liam found out, he was both angry and heartbroken. His eyes red, he told me, "Next time something like this happens, you have to tell me. Grace, you're not alone anymore, you have me."

From then on, even if I forgot to keep some at home, he would regularly buy them for me.

I hadn't understood before.

Why, after Lily came back, everything changed.

Now, I finally understood.

In his heart, I would always be second to Lily.

After Liam left,

he had nowhere else to go.

So he stayed at Lily's place.

That night, lying in bed, I was about to tell my best friend about breaking up with Liam,

when I accidentally clicked on Lily's social media.

She had updated her status three minutes ago.

The photo showed Liam, wearing a Pikachu apron, busy in her kitchen.

I couldn't hear what she said, but he turned and smiled in response.

His gentle, relaxed smile was captured perfectly by the camera.

The caption read: "Look at the apron my big brother is wearing! Doesn't it suit him? He didn't want to wear it at first, but I coaxed him, and he agreed! I can't believe how easy he is to win over!"

Neighbors who were also friends with me commented below:

"Oh, Lily, if a man doesn't truly care about you, no amount of coaxing will work! The easier he is to win over, the more he loves you!"

"Exactly! My husband was like that when he was young. I'd say one thing and he'd be hooked. Now love has turned into kinship; I could be hanging myself and he'd think I was just exercising."

Reading those comments, I couldn't help but recall my first argument with Liam.

It was raining heavily, just like today.

He had promised to pick me up from work.

But I stood outside the company for two whole hours, and he never showed up.

Later I found out,

on the day he stood me up,

he was with Lily, watching a movie.

When I found out, I threw a huge fit.

Liam angrily stormed out and didn't come back for a week.

I didn't want to lose him, so I swallowed my pride and apologized.

It took a week of coaxing before he finally agreed to come home.

Compared to my desperation back then,

Lily's words made all my genuine efforts in the past seem like a ridiculous joke.

I silently exited her social media and got up to pack Liam's belongings.

The apartment we were living in now was rented by me.

I've always been sensitive and insecure since childhood. I didn't want to use Liam's money, nor did I want to live in his house.

So when he suggested moving into his place, I flat-out refused him.

Looking back now, my choice then was the right one.

Otherwise, I can't imagine how embarrassingly I would have had to move out of his house.

I put all his things into cardboard boxes.

Then, meticulously, I wiped away every trace he had left in this home.

Once I finished, I went to bed, finally content.

The next day, good news spread through the residents' group chat.

People could now gradually use the stairs to go down

to the second floor to collect relief supplies.

I had terrible period cramps last night and couldn't sleep.

My face was pale and lifeless, so I thought I'd let others go first.

I'd go down a bit later, to avoid the crowds.

But when I finally felt well enough to go downstairs, there were only a few supplies left.

Liam and Lily had somehow become volunteers.

They were distributing the supplies.

When it was my turn, Liam's eyes darkened. He took half of the vegetables and necessities from the bag and said blandly, "You live alone now, you don't need that many vegetables. Let's give these to someone who needs them more."

Hearing his self-righteous, unapproved arrangement, I instantly snapped with laughter.

"These were already pre-portioned. Did I agree to your arrangements?"

"Gracie, even though these were pre-portioned, you reported two people on the list. Liam is staying at my place now, so his share should go to me."

Lily feigned generosity, lecturing me.

It sounded reasonable, but the vegetables hed picked out were all Lilys favorites.

What was left were the ones I disliked.

I pursed my lips. My throbbing abdomen wouldn't allow me to argue with them here.

I took the bag she handed me and turned to leave.

But then, Lilys startled cry came from behind me:

"Oh my god, Gracie, why is there so much blood on your pants?!"

At her words, disgusted and scrutinizing stares converged on me from all directions.

I felt exposed, utterly mortified, frozen in place.

"If you were on your period, you should have said something sooner. How could you do something so embarrassing just to spite Liam?"

I was shaking with anger, I couldn't take it anymore.

I turned and walked towards her. In her surprised gaze, I lifted the bag of vegetables and swung it at her.

Before she could react, I raised my hand and slapped her across the face.

Gritting my teeth, I said, "If someone hadn't been a thief, stealing my things to play the hero, would I be like this?"

Liam quickly reacted. As I was about to raise my hand to hit her again, he grabbed my arm and scolded, "That's enough! What does your public humiliation have to do with Lily? Why do you always blame your mistakes on others?"

Id hit her, and I'd forgotten about him.

I smirked faintly, and with my free hand, I slapped him across the face.

"Get lost. Anyone has the right to scold me, but you don't!"

With that, ignoring his anger, I shook off his hand and walked away.

Back home, I changed my clothes.

I took all his belongings and dumped them at Lily's doorstep.

I thought after this, hed realize I was serious about breaking up and wouldnt come looking for me again.

But to my surprise, when I woke up the next morning,

and opened the fridge to make breakfast,

everything inside was gone.

Not only that, but the rice and noodles on my pantry shelf were also gone.

Before I could even react, my phone in my pocket started vibrating incessantly.

I tapped on the furiously messaging residents' group chat, and I felt myself trembling with anger.

Liam and Lily had just posted pictures of fresh vegetables and rice and noodles in the group.

And they had asked the administrators to tag everyone,

telling them that if anyone in the building needed supplies, they could get them for free from apartment 503.

The neighbors in the group chat were full of praise for their righteous actions.

I, however, pulled out my phone and quietly called the police.

The group chat continued to buzz.

"The couple in 503 are truly exemplary young people of our time! Such selfless acts deserve commendation. After this storm passes, we must ask the property management to award them a banner of recognition!"

"Exactly! When you two get married, Auntie will definitely give you a big red envelope to thank you for your selfless contribution!"

"Resident of 502, aren't you a reporter? You absolutely must report on the good deeds they've done, so everyone can see the true kindness that shines through in times of hardship!"

Lily was gloating over this, wondering how to respond,

when the property manager suddenly tagged her in the group.

"Ms. Chen, Mr. Lin, please come to the second floor as soon as possible. Someone has reported you for breaking and entering and theft. The police are on their way."