the corner, a ghost in a world I used to own. For seven years, I' d been Ethan, the low-prof

her. F

sing star of the N

e. Her eyes were fixed on Leo, her flamboyant best friend. They stood before

ld when I saw t

, holding a prop marriage certificate. They were smiling, a private

heart condition. He had only a few years left. That lie had given him a permanent

ragic. So beautiful. Their love

engagement, felt like a joke. A

me. She saw the

"You're being unsupportive. This is my ar

s of sacrifice, of putting my own ambitions on hold, of funding

ut my phone. My fi

y mother'

xt was

. I'll marry So

it

seven years of my bohemia

er artistic vision. I didn't listen.

ice sounded strange, distant.

nking she had placated m

e's waist. He gave me a condescending look. "It's a dee

The happy couple. The a

erfect pictur

r eyes widening slightly. It was probably a

ery owner," she said, pulli

n't loo

a single thought

s o

arriage." Then I deleted every photo of Chloe

uzzed. A reply

month. Sophia is thrill

A weight I didn't even know I was

finall