the destination of the job I had given up for him. It was a one-way ticket. I went to the courthouse and filed the pa

ion of curated lies. I dumped it all into black trash bags. The apartment, once filled with shared memories, began to feel like my o

one buzzed. It was a notification from a news site. The headline read: "Miller Co

mpletely recovered. Chloe clung to his arm, her face a mask of smug triumph. They looked like a happy couple. The

Just a cold, detached affirmation that I had made the right ch

g him, crying, begging for an explanation. My silence must be confusing him. In his

expecting anyone. I looked through the pe

oor, my expres

p and down, taking in my simple t-shirt and jeans. "I was j

y voice flat. I made

in her eyes. "Liam is so worried about you. H

't need t

guilty. He just... connected with me on a level he never did with you. It was

nce unnerving her more than a

space. "He still talks about you sometimes. He says you were swee

I asked, my tone genuine

what he needs." She leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "He's

to show me that she had completely re

ng back and putting my hand on the do

t she put her hand out to stop

ose me. He was tired of you. You should just dis

ly registered. It was like watching a

ce rising. "He said you were a sensitive little artist who c

from a deep, contained rage. She was parroting his words, the same words that h

in the eye. "Get awa

e had finally gotten a reaction. "Se

e lock sounding final. My hand was still shaking. The calm I had