You hate her! We’ve been together for seven
years! She’s cut herself, overdosed,
threatened to jump… I’ve lost count! Does
she have some monopoly on pain? Am I
supposed to just accept this? Live with this…
this… threesome for the rest of my life?!”
Ashley watched my outburst, a triumphant
smile spreading across her face. She looked
<
like a gambler who’d just won it all, gloating
at the loser’s despair.
“Ethan,” she whispered, her voice laced with
a terrifying sweetness, “do you really not love me? Because if you don’t, I’ll jump.” She
loosened her grip on the railing.
“I love you!” Ethan finally shouted, the words
bursting forth like a dam breaking. “I love you,
okay? I’m crazy about you! Just come down!”
“I’m not marrying her! Are you happy now?!”
Our friends gasped, whispering among
themselves, captivated by the drama.
Ashley laughed, tears streaming down her
face. She reached out to Ethan. He didn’t
hesitate. He grabbed her hand. and she
<
Jumped down. They ran into the stairwell,
hand in hand, and disappeared.
The rooftop was crowded, dozens of our
friends and family staring after them, their
faces a mixture of shock and disbelief. I felt
their eyes on me, burning into my skin. I
wanted to run, to escape, but my feet were
rooted to the spot.
After a few awkward minutes, people started
making excuses and leaving, until only Chloe
remained. “Sarah, are you okay?” she asked
gently. “Don’t worry. He probably just… he
probably just felt sorry for her. He didn’t
mean it.”
“Just go,” I whispered. “I need to be alone.”
“Okay,” she said, biting her lip. “Don’t do
L
“Okay,” she said, biting her lip. “Don’t do
anything stupid. I’m right downstairs. Call me
if you need anything.”
Now I was completely alone on the windswept
rooftop. Strangely, I didn’t feel heartbroken.
Maybe I’d seen this coming all along. I just
felt… empty. Hollowed out.
I stayed on the rooftop, letting the wind chill
me to the bone, before finally going back
inside. A waiter hurried over. “Miss, your…
fiancé left his phone up here.”
My eyes, dry and burning, fell on the familiar
blue iPhone. “Oh… thanks.”
In all our years together, I’d rarely looked at
Ethan’s phone. We trusted each other. But
now… I needed to see what was inside.
<
I opened his messages. There was only one
pinned conversation. It wasn’t me. The profile
picture was familiar. Ashley. The contact
name was even more familiar: “Sweetheart
Troublemaker.” The world went silent. My
trembling fingers tapped the conversation.
The message history was long, stretching
back seemingly forever. The earliest
messages were from a year ago. Back when
Ethan was still annoyed with her.
“Seriously, stop calling me,” his first message
read. “I have a girlfriend. I love her. We’re not
going to happen. Get it through your head.”
Ashley: “But I love you.”
Ethan: “You’re insane.”
く
For a while after that, Ethan didn’t respond. It
was just Ashley, sending him one–sided
updates about her life.
“Saw a cute black kitten on my way to work
today. Pretty eyes, but not as pretty as
yours.”
“My boss is such a jerk. Gave me so much.
crap today. And for what I get paid, it’s
ridiculous.”
“My coworker went to Disneyland. Her
pictures are amazing. I wish I could go with
you…”
…and on and on. For a year, Ethan never
replied. I knew why he hadn’t blocked her.
She’d just use a new number and start all
gain It was easier to let her monologue.
く
into the void.
)
But then, after New Year’s, things changed.
Ashley: “Think I have pneumonia. Pretty bad.
Doctor said I should be hospitalized, but I
can’t afford it. Guess I’ll just go home and
die.”
Ten minutes later, Ethan replied.
“Are you crazy? Don’t mess with pneumonia.
How much do you need?”
Her first response from him in a year. Ashley
was ecstatic. “Six thousand dollars! What, are
you gonna lend it to me?”
Ethan didn’t say anything else, just sent her
the money.
Looking at the timestamp, I suddenly
remembered Ethan telling me he’d messed up
at work that month and lost $6,000 in
bonuses. We had a joint account; I’d told him
not to worry about it, that everyone makes
mistakes. He’d just stared at me for a long
time, then hugged me tight, refusing to let go.
I thought he was touched by my
understanding. Now, I realized it was guilt.
My fingers were numb as I scrolled further
down. Emboldened by his response, Ashley
started telling him everything, big and small,
from changing jobs and apartments to what
she ate for lunch. Ethan rarely replied, but
even a single word from him sent her into
raptures. Gradually, his replies became more
frequent.
Ashley: “It’s snowing! Make sure you bundle
Ethan: “You too.”
Ashley: “My boss docked my pay again. He
hates me, I swear.”
Ethan sent her $5,000. “Just tell me when you
need money. Don’t eat ramen all the time.”
Ashley: “I really wanna go to Disneyland. Will
you take me?”
Ethan: “Busy right now. Maybe later.”
Eventually, he started initiating conversations,
checking in on her.
“Is your boss still giving you a hard time? I
have an opening at my company. You should
apply ”
L
“Did you get a new dress for the holidays? I
can take you shopping.”
“Did you book your flight home? Don’t be
careless. Make sure you get a ticket.”
“Sweetheart, eat something. Is your stomach
bothering you again?”
Staring at these messages, my vision blurred.
He used to care for me like that. When did we
stop talking like this? It wasn’t that he didn’t
want to share anymore. He just had someone
else to share with. For ten years, Ashley had
slowly, insidiously wormed her way into his
heart, like a frog being slowly boiled alive.
The hotel lobby was bustling but the
messages drained all my strength. I couldn’t
stand anymore. A dull ache spread through
my chest. I sank to the floor, covering my
face, silently sobbing. It all made sense now.
His feigned annoyance with Ashley while
indulging her every whim. His willingness to
abandon me at the drop of a hat when she
threatened suicide. It wasn’t helplessness. It
was protectiveness. He loved her. He’d loved
her all along.
How could this happen? How could he betray
me after all these years? He actually loved
her. What was I? A fool? A placeholder in
their decade–long love story?
