Chicago. The caption read: “The man I’ve loved for 10 years is getting married next month. I think I’m finally going to tell him how I feel. Wish me luck!” In one of her photos, I saw a familiar hand. A wedding band glinted on the ring finger. It was Aaron’s.
I didn’t hear from Aaron, but I did get a call from Ethan. “Guess who I ran into in Chicago?” “Ethan, I don’t care. Stop calling me from different numbers.” I started to hang up, but
then I heard the smugness in his voice. “Hailey, why do you think Aaron disappeared? He
doesn’t want to marry you. He can’t get over
the fact that you were in love with me. He’s only with you to get back at me. He’s not who you think he is.” “What’s your point, Ethan?” I
snapped, my patience wearing thin. “Hailey, at least no other girl has spent a decade
obsessing over me…” I sat up, my voice rising. “Ethan, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Five years later, and you still enjoy trying to drive a wedge between us. But let me tell
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you, no matter what, this is my choice. I made my bed, and I’m lying in it. I’m not going back.” Ethan paused. “I sent you something. You might find it interesting.” After hanging up, I received a video. In the dim light, a girl stood face–to–face with Aaron. He blew a smoke ring, his expression as nonchalant as ever. Amidst a chorus of hoots and hollers, the girl stood on tiptoe and kissed him. He didn’t pull away. The video ended there. I opened the girl’s social media profile. She’d updated her status: “How is this not a win?” The accompanying photo was of the two of them kissing. I felt nauseous, rushing to the bathroom to dry heave over the toilet. Then I remembered I hadn’t eaten all day. What was there to throw up? A wave of
stomach cramps doubled me over. I crawled
back to bed, curling up in a ball. I remembered
when Aaron and I first started dating. I’d
wanted to see the stars from the top of the
Empire State Building in the middle of the night. Without a word, he indulged my whim, driving
me there immediately. It was abill
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wrapped his arms around me, his warmth
radiating against my skin. He leaned in and whispered, “The moon is beautiful tonight, Hailey. Can I kiss you?” We’d never get that back. I drifted off, only to be jolted awake by noises in the living room. I was drenched in cold sweat, too weak to move. Suddenly, the
bedroom light flicked on. The glare blinded me.
I heard Aaron’s anxious voice. “Hailey! What’s wrong?”
