"Overwhelmed"

The next few days were a blur for Sophia as she was called in for not one, but two emergency surgeries that required her immediate attention. She barely had time to sleep, let alone think about Julian and the intense encounter they had shared. Her focus was solely on her patients, and she threw herself into her work, trying to push aside the feelings of unease that lingered in the back of her mind. But Julian didn't take kindly to being ignored. He called and texted her repeatedly, demanding to know why she was avoiding him. Sophia tried to explain, but her messages were brief and inadequate, and Julian was not satisfied. When she finally had a spare moment to call him back, he was furious. "What's going on, Sophia?" he demanded. "You've been dodging me for days. Is there someone else?" Sophia was taken aback by the accusation. "No, Julian, it's just work. I've had two emergency surgeries and I haven't had a chance to breathe." But Julian was not convinced. "Don't lie to me," he said, his voice cold. "I know you're hiding something. And I'll find out what it is." Sophia felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that Julian was not going to let her go without a fight. But she had bigger concerns - she had missed her window for emergency contraception, and now she was worried that she might be pregnant. As the days went by, Julian's behavior became increasingly erratic. He would show up at her apartment, demanding to see her, and Sophia would have to let him in or risk a scene. He would take her to secluded spots, where he would force her to have sex, reminding her that she was his. It was degrading and humiliating, and Sophia felt like she was losing herself in the process. She started to avoid her friends, afraid of what they might think or say if they found out what was going on. But her friends were not oblivious. They noticed that Sophia was distant and preoccupied, and they started to worry. Rachel called her, concerned. "Sophia, what's going on? You've been avoiding us for weeks. Is everything okay?" Sophia hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She didn't want to burden her friends with her problems, but at the same time, she desperately needed someone to talk to. "I don't know, Rachel," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just really overwhelmed. Work has been crazy, and...and other stuff." Rachel's voice was sympathetic. "We're here for you, Sophia. Whatever it is, you can tell us. We'll support you no matter what." But Sophia just shook her head, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She knew that she couldn't tell her friends the truth - not yet, at least. All she could do was hope that she could get through this difficult time without losing herself completely.