Brooke Davis looked over the pictures and possessions that had once represented happiness, love and endless joy. Anger and unexpected sadness gripped hold of her already broken heart threatening to tear her to shreds. She hated those images, those deceitful lies. Her eyes watered as she picked up a silver framed photo and scowled at it. It was a picture of her, her Julian, and her sons: Joshua and Jason, all were smiling. She growled, what lies!

Brooke hated them all with a passion. She was fuming with all the suppressed hatred, anger and pain—she hated that they all were happy together without her—that they were happier with his new woman! She had lost him; he was getting remarried now to her! How could she go on now? He was supposed to be here forever and always! That was what he had promised her! What a fucking lie, her head sneered. He had also promised you that you'd always have him and your sons! And look how that turned out!

They were all lies; all those years of marriage were lies, all those memories are lies! Her pain lashed at her. She was now all alone. She had no one. Her son was now a teenager, her youngest was eight and both had decided that it was best that they went with their father—her husband—well soon to be ex-husband in two more hours. While Brooke had been cleaning and making their house a home—he had been trailing behind that spoiled selfish skank's skirt! Peyton had been her best friend since their glory days in high school—her only friend that she had kept in touch with over the years. They were so close and she betrayed her in the worst way.

Just the thought of her with her family—making them happy in a way she couldn't—killed her! The thought hurt her even worse, like gas to an already raging flame. Brooke knew she was bitter. She couldn't deny that. She had no one while Peyton had everything she had once possessed and left her with nothing. Without her family, she had nothing; no life, no happiness. She felt lost. The tears ran freely down her cheeks, the sobs wrenched from the pit of her stomach, her heart felt crushed—like it was dashed in a million pieces! It hurt like hell! It felt like it had been forever since it happened, when they had walked out on her. But in reality it had been nearly a year since they left her on her own, for their new life.

Flashback: 12:30 a.m, September 1, 2007

Brooke felt a chill settle over her as she cleaned the house. She frowned, nothing was different she assured herself, she was doing her normal routines. But it frustrated her that she couldn't place what was wrong—it had been hours and she was still trying to figure out what was wrong. She had tried to ignore the sensation but found that she couldn't. So she tried to figure what could be wrong in her life. The boys were now well fed and went to bed for the night, just like always. But something was different. That was when she realized that Julian hadn't come home yet.

When she looked at the clock, it was near midnight. Where could he be? Brooke wondered. She sighed and waited at the table, knowing he would come home soon. So she busied herself with sprucing up the kitchen, wiping down counters and sweeping the floors, when he came through the door. She smiled and tried to greet him with a kiss but he brushed her aside.

She felt as if he bombarded her as soon as he sat at the kitchen table. He looked at her and started to act strangely—saying things like he felt boxed in, that he needed to be free. She had no idea what he was talking about or where the hell this had all come from but she had a sinking feeling she was about to find out. She was now drying a dish when he suddenly said something so shocking she dropped it. She thought she had heard wrong but one look from him told her that he meant what he had said.

He looked at her as if she no longer mattered to him, which crushed her but she swallowed the pain and continued to put the dishes away. Maybe he truly didn't mean what he said, he still loves me…denial told her, trying to comfort her. Then when he said those three dreaded words again everything stopped—her pulse, her breath, her heart… she went cold.

"Brooke I'm leaving you."

"W-what?" she asked shakily, unable to catch her breath.

"You heard me. I want a divorce."

"A divorce? A-are you serious?!" she asked, her hand to her chest.

"Yeah I'm serious. This is really hard for me but I think we should go our separate ways."

"But why? Haven't I been a good wife to you—?"

He stood to his feet, looked at her and shrugged. "We—how do I say this—we no longer click Brooke. There isn't anything between us anymore."

Her heart was breaking as she looked at him, standing there so careless about what his words were doing to her. She sighed shakily, "Wait a minute here! Where did all this come from?! Just yesterday we were happy— we—we were happy—"

"That's your problem Brooke—you're always looking to the past. I mean look at this house! I always feel as if I'm walking into the late fifties!" He then sighed, raking his hands through his thick dark hair. "Look. I'm sorry. Please don't make this hard for me—"

"What? What am I supposed to do? I'm supposed to make things easy? I'm supposed to just listen to you?!" she shouted.

"I can't do this anymore. I have to leave." He then sighed, "For both of our sakes."

She shook her head, "Do what?!" she demanded hotly. "What the fuck are you doing? We were hap—!"

"We weren't. I wasn't. I tried to pretend everything's all fine and dandy—but it's not. It hadn't been for a long time. So I decided that I'm tired of pretending that it is."

She then started to cry as his words sunk in; he was really leaving. "No! You can't leave—we still have so many more years to be together—Julian… please don't go!"

"C'mon Brooke—" he started but she cut him off.

"No—I love you. I can't—I won't live without you!"

He looked at her coldly. "You're going to have to."

The tears were blinding her; she could hardly see his expression. "Julian—our marriage is not over! Not yet. Don't give up on us. We can work out everything… honey—don't you think our marriage deserves a fight? A love like ours doesn't come along very often—we can start all—"

"No, Brooke. We can't work out anything—besides it's too late to fight now. Look, you won't keep me here! We're over!"

"How could this happen? You're giving up on us, just like that?"

"Just like that."

She shook her head, "No! You're not leaving me! You're not leaving me!"

"Like hell I'm not!"

Brooke wanted to hit him, the pain escalating. Instead she grabbed his arm to keep him from walking out on her. "No, don't you dare walk away from me Julian Baker! Now talk to me. What's changed?"

"I changed Brooke. I want different things now. I want a new future and I'm sorry—that future doesn't involve you."

"No don't say that. Please, baby, don't turn me away…" she cradled his face in her hands, her eyes searching his coffee colored eyes. "I belong with you! I belong to you! You know that—"

"Look—we're no longer compatible—"

She narrowed her eyes. "Yes we are." She sighed and let him go. "Please tell me what can I do to make you stay?"

He shook his head, his eyes looking a little somber. "Nothing, I'm sorry Brooke but at this point there's nothing much neither of us can do. It's over. Let's just accept it and move on."

She didn't want to admit defeat yet; her stubborn pride wouldn't allow it. "No, I don't believe that. Don't say that! We can do anything—we stayed together all these years against all odds—we can do anything! Please I love you! I adore you! I'll do anything for you—"

"Then sign the divorce papers."

She then looked at the rolled up papers in his hand and she went colder. "You already had them drawn up?"

"Yes, I did."

She shook her head, her hands gripping the counters edge. "I will not sign those! We love each other—"

He sighed and put the papers on the table, the pen right beside it, and his eyes impatient. "Brooke it's over. I'm in love with someone else."

Her heart turned to ice. "Y-you're in love with someone else?" she stuttered, shaking with all the pain and anguish. "Who is she? What's her name?" she demanded shakily.

He nodded, "Yes, I'm in love with someone else. I've been in love with her for quite some time."

"Who is she, damn it!" she demanded hotly, having a very bad feeling that she didn't really want to know.

"Peyton and I have been in love for years and I'm tired of keeping it a secret from you and everyone else."

Her heart stopped as the words left his mouth. "N-Peyton?" she tested softly, "You're leaving me for Peyton—my best friend?! You—you utter bastard!" she screamed, wanting to kill him. "What does she have that I don't?"

"Everything! She has everything! She has talent, beauty and personality—"

She balled up her hands to keep from hitting him, "You're describing a fucking beauty contest! What I want to know and what I had asked 'why are you leaving me for her!' What does she have that I don't?"

"Like I said Peyton has talent, dreams and ambitions! You don't have any of those! You made me and the kids the center of your life—"

"So you're leaving because I loved you too much? Is that it?"

Just when he was going to answer the kids walked in. Joshua was holding Jason's hand, their expressions identical; as if saying, what are you two fighting about? "Mom, Dad…what's going on?" Joshua asked, looking from one devastated parent to a barely controlled one.

Brooke cleared her throat and smiled to her son, albeit a fake one—the one that said everything's alright between us. "We're just having a discussion here…"

Her youngest, Jason sat at the table and looked up at her with confusion. "That's a pretty loud discussion! Were you arguing?"

"What's going on mom?" Joshua asked; as if saying, I know what's going on so tell me straight out. "Why are you crying?"

"I—it's nothing." She stuttered, and then repeated in a more chipper tone, "its nothing so why don't you boys just go back upstairs to bed so your dad and I can continue our conversation. We promise you that we will try to keep our voices down. Alright?"

Julian looked at her, his dark brow arching in a way she once thought charming. "You were yelling."

The look she shot him said; if I could get away with it I would chop your nuts off and feed them to you! "I was not yelling! You—"

Jason asked softly, "Mommy?"

"Yes dear?"

"Why is Daddy leaving? Is it true that dad's in love with A.J's mommy?"

The sound of her innocent son's voice saying the awful situation was too much but she contained all her grief. "You shouldn't have eavesdropped honey!" she said, brushing the silken strands of his hair back.

"Your mother's right."

His dark brows furrowed adorably, "But I couldn't help it! You were yelling so loud!" he said defensively.

She took a deep patient breath; each breath she took grew more painful. "You still shouldn't have eavesdropped sweetheart! It's rude and impolite to eavesdrop on others conversations—"

Joshua then stepped in, "Hold it! You two were yelling! How, then, is it eavesdropping when you were screaming everything out?"

"They're right Brooke. You were yelling." He said in a cold mocking manner.

She shot him a narrow glance; if looks could kill he would be lacerated and bleeding at her feet! "You were too Julian! So don't you dare try to blame it all on me—?"

"Me? You were the one who was—"

"You know what, never mind that. Enough is enough!" she said with gritted teeth, then face both of her boys. "Now, Jason and Joshua go back upstairs and get into your beds so your father and I can finish our discussion—"

"It is finished Bro—"

She shot him another deadly glare, "Not yet it's not! Now boys do as I say!" she snapped.

"Fine," they said in unison and marched right upstairs.

She watched them disappear upstairs and when she was sure they were gone she then turned and looked at her husband. "Oh so when it comes to you, you want to turn the blind eye? See, that's part of the reason I'm leaving you—"

Her heart frosted over more and then broke into pieces. "And here I thought you were leaving because you were in love with Peyton. If you want to leave then fine—I won't stop you. You can go! You're no longer any of my concern." She then chuckled ironically, "You know—you promised me you'd never leave me—now look at you, you coward! Instead of working it out with me you—"

"Horseshit! I just don't want or need to be with you anymore."

She smiled and shook her head. "Have you considered our sons? No? Of course you didn't. You were too busy getting your rocks off with my best friend to care what this would do to them!"

"That's not fair—of course I care for my sons—"

She cocked her head to the side, a sneering smile on her lips. "Like you know anything about being fair—But you're right. It is over! But you are not taking my kids—Jason and Joshua are staying with me—"

"Actually I am—taking my kids. They're coming with me and they will remain with me and Peyton."

Her eyes bulged out unattractively at that, "The hell they are! They're not going with you and that skank!"

"They are. After all—We think it's the best thing for them—"

"We—as in you and her—raising our children?" she asked, utterly baffled, then shook her head, "You discussed this with her and not with me? How dare you? How dare you—she is not their mother—she doesn't and shouldn't have a say in this—I do!" she continued to shake her head, "No—absolutely not! What about me—"

"Not everything is about you Brooke! Peyton and I are going to get married—rather you like it or not! And she loves those boys like they were her own—besides the kids want to be with me. Just ask them!"

"No, you're not taking them from me—over my dead body you'll take them—"

"Is that what you want—because that could be arranged?"

Brooke looked at him with disdain then hissed, "You cold hearted bastard!"

The boys had stayed on the staircase listening to their parents bickering, Jason was crying and Joshua decided that they both did indeed want to live with their father. So Joshua said so, breaking up their argument over them.

"What was that? I thought I told you two to go to bed—"

"But it's true mother—if dad's really leaving then… we want to go too. We want live with him. I'm sorry mom but I want to be with dad and so does Jason."

She closed her eyes and wanted to scream; not you too! Instead she felt so stung she snapped, "You're seventeen you don't know what you want!" it was like her entire world was crumbling down around her feet. "Jason—sweetheart is that really what you feel?" inside her head was mantra of; Please say no…please say no!

He nodded bashfully, "Yes mama I want to go with daddy."

Her eyes closed once more, it was as if the last of her breath had evaporated from her lungs. The people she loved with her everything and so unconditionally, so wholly was now abandoning her. She began hyperventilating and her eyes squeezed shut; trying to close off the ugliness that were unfolding, her tears falling to the floor like raindrops, the pain excruciating.

"Mom—I'm sorry—but—"

"You're breaking my heart and you're sorry?"

"Look Brooke, we don't have much time for this. We have to go Peyton's waiting for all of us at home so we can settle the kids in their new rooms—"

"Oh my God! You're ruthless!" she then scoffed, "Home? No what you had here was a home! God Julian—" she then swallowed her sobs, "if that's what you guys want then—you want to leave then damn it—I can't stop you—as long as it's what you want."

"It is." Joshua said, hating seeing his mother like this. He was about to change his mind and stay when his father spoke.

"Go to the car Josh, and take Jason with you."

"Yes sir." He then grabbed Jason by his hand and walked out the kitchen and out of the house.

"Do you think mom will be ok?" Jason asked a worried expression on his face.

Joshua looked back at the house then said, "Mom will be fine. In fact she probably needs a break from us anyway."

"Why would she need a break from us—she loves us?" Joshua just shrugged and got into the car with his brother.

Meanwhile Julian was gloating how he won their sons without even convincing them to go. She wanted to kill him, really wanted to stab his guts out but she refrained herself. "What did I do to make you hate me so much?"

"You kept me from my true love for years. I could've been happier… the only thing I don't regret about our marriage is our sons. And they're coming with me."

"Julian… I hate you! I hate you! I hope you die!" she screamed in all her pain. "Just go. Just leave me alone." Her pain was evident in her voice.

"Brooke I didn't mean—"

"Dammit leave me!" she screeched, "Just go!"

"Alright, I need to go home anyway. Goodbye Brooke, I really do wish you well." with that he left her in the kitchen, clutching her chest. She sank to the floor and let go of all the sorrow that had built up the entire hour. She was sobbing hopelessly. She was feeling raw, she felt numb, alone and afraid. Most of all she felt unbelievably cold. She felt colder than she'd ever been in her life. She went to the front room and looked out the door to watch them go—then realized that they had already left. At that moment she knew she would never see them again.

She couldn't think, couldn't feel—all she could do is stare at the door, where he left. She sank to the ground, unable to feel anything. Her tears dried on her face, her body shaking with the deep sorrow. The pain was so excruciating she went numb. Nothing was real, but the pain of numbness.

End of flashback…

Brooke was now curled up on the couch, remembering those painful moments over and over again. All she had done since then was cry over what was lost to her and mope around feeling depressed. She had lost some weight since then too. Because when she ate—which was rarely—she would throw it all up. Her life was going down a downward spiral and was utterly out of her control, she had realized miserably. Everything seemed worse somehow—she didn't know why.

Maybe because she was shut out of everything… like when her eldest son—Joshua had gotten married, and Jason had his ninth birthday a few months ago. From what she heard from unintentionally cruel neighbors—it was quite the blow out, both the wedding and the birthday party. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she stared aimlessly at the walls. But most of all—the happy couple had just got engaged. The thought made her physically ill. She felt numb again. She got up and went to her desk drawer and got the letter opener and sliced her arm—she smiled a little as the blood trickled down her arm and down her fingertips—it felt good.

Brooke was a woman deeply scorned. Everything she had was ripped away from her and there was nothing she could do. When they got divorced she wasn't strong enough mentally to fight for her kids and so he was awarded full custody. She cried all that night. Everything now felt so fresh to her—and then she realized everyone was moving on with their lives—why didn't she? Why couldn't she? She could. She hated this life she was forced to live.

Brooke was going to break out of this self-loathing life she led.

She looked at the picture she had just not so long ago put down and shook her head, while scowling at it. "You almost killed me. You did. But little do you know that I'm not going to let you! I'm going to live damn it! I'm going to stop being your victim… starting today. I'm so tired of living like this! I'm not going to keep living in the past and drowning myself in all those memories of us. I can't just keep sitting here and feel sorry for myself because of what you did!" she smiled for the first time in what felt like ages. "No I'm going to do much more than that. I'm no longer just going to lie here and take what you dished to me. I'm much better than that."

With that in mind she looked around the perfect family room—with all of its pictures and school projects—the art pieces, the clay models—and then there was the perfect glass bird that Julian gave her for their twelfth anniversary. She had an overwhelming urge to trash the place—it was still neat and it mocked her as if saying; look at how perfect you're life was—not anymore, so why am I still intact? Your husband isn't here to remark on how the place is nice—the urge won out. She screamed and gritted her teeth as she threw every single; picture, art piece and figurine down on the marble floors—no longer caring how neat her house was. So she trashed all of the rooms, especially the master bedroom—where they had made-love so many times before. She let out a choked sob as she was stabbing pillows, their bedspread—everything until she until she was breathless. She couldn't take it anymore—what she really wanted was to soak the place in gasoline and light it up!

Once she did what she needed to, she focused her attention on moving on. She couldn't stay here; there were too many memories and plus she just trashed the place. She smiled and took a deep breath. "If they can move on then so can I!"

Therefore, she went upstairs to pack her suitcase to start her new life—a life that would be awesome without them. She smirked all the while planning her next move—she was going to start a new project. Instead of project: Family, it was now project: Music career. It had always been a secret dream of hers, ever since she was in chorus in high school—but since she and Julian had gotten married straight out of high school—she couldn't really pursue her dreams. However, she could now. No more will she allow that asshole and his bitch-of-a-fiancé to haunt her; conscience and life— nor be a welcome mat for; self-hatred, pity, or any other depressing name. She was moving on