ater, the bo

on room, studying for a midterm,

stumbl

left eye, and her bottom lip was split and swollen. She was crying, but t

on the couch watching Net

ppened to you?" Lauren shr

ms, wailing. "My boyfriend.

ing a steady, cold rhythm. I didn't

r voice sharp with anger. "You ne

He was so sweet in his texts... but when we met up... he sa

birthmark with a

wasn't the girl in the pictures. H

of pure venom. "The girl in the pictures," she repeated slo

hloe... you said you' d never been on a dating app.

aven't," I said calmly. "I don't k

video and thought Becca was lying to him! You did this! You g

it was a misunderstanding! I told him you were my bi

pon against me, painting herself as the victim of my petty jealousy. In my f

asn't my f

s face, at the very real injury. A part of me, the old Chloe, felt a

said, my voice devoid of sympathy.

d. "What? No! I can't!

s, of course, there's more to the story. Unless you were the one who lied t

ish, you said. That's a strong word. It implies a delibe

d. My cold logic was cutting th

saying, Chloe?

s. Becca made a choice to lie to this man. His reaction was horrible and criminal,

lence. Becca' s sobs had stopped. She was just staring

was no longer the gullible fo

lete. He had marked her face, just as