A Lie without a Trace

The blade slipped from my hand and hit the floor with a sharp clatter. My mind was a mess, but the sting at my wrist dragged me back to reality.

"Hello? Earth to Yvonne? Girl, you used to reply instantly."

I still did not text back, so Louise called me. "Miss me, girl? I bet you're excited to hear about my return!"

She sounded jovial. My cold, hard fingers were wrapped around the phone, and I barely managed to squeeze out a reply. "That's… wonderful."

Louise noticed that something was off with me. "What's wrong? Is your depression acting up again? Honestly, Solomon calls this taking care of you? Oh, I'm going to bite his head off when I get back. I'm not letting you suffer, not on my watch!"

She still cared for me just like she used to. It was thanks to her that I managed to survive my darkest days. I could not believe she was the traitor. I did not want to believe it.

So, I forced a smile she could not see. "It's not. It's just… work's been wearing me down. You're landing tomorrow? I can pick you up."

Louise declined profusely. "Please, you don't have to. You should get a lot of rest. Someone's picking me up anyway."

After we hung up, my heart was still pounding.

A moment later, the bedroom door swung open. Solomon had returned. "Left the car ke—what happened to your hand?"

He noticed the blade that was on the ground, and his frown deepened. "Never an easy day with you, Yvonne Shaw."

He pulled my hand closer to him and dabbed Betadine over the wound. Once that was done, silence followed, but he was the first to break the ice.

"I know your condition's making you oversensitive, and you fear losing me. I can't blame you for your actions, but please, for once, trust me. You know I physically can't lie."

He gazed into my face intently. "Remember what happened over the last six months? You barged into my meeting and cost me my project, then you stalked me so much, you scared my client into canceling our partnership. I can forgive that, but then that happened. How much longer is this going to go on?"

His phone was on the desk. It buzzed. Solomon took a look and stood up. "I'm picking up my boss at the airport tomorrow." He showed me the message. "I just got the text. See? I'm not lying."

I slowly closed my eyes, and a sense of powerlessness crept into my heart.

…

The next day came, and I hesitated over my options for a long time, but eventually, I followed him to the airport.

Solomon waited for half an hour in the waiting area, and then a middle-aged man approached him. "Mr. Horton, you're finally here. The company's ride is already at the exit. Please, come with me."

My heart thumped again. So he really was picking up a client. Just when I thought I could rest easy, Solomon suddenly hurried back toward the arrivals hall.

My entire body tensed again.

A familiar figure zipped through the throng and jumped into his arms. "Miss me?" Louise smiled brightly.

Solomon wrapped his arms around her as though he were holding something precious. "I have. Promise me you won't leave? I don't want to hide it anymore. I'll tell Yvonne about us when I get the chance."

Louise was hesitant. "But she's my best friend. I don't want to hurt her."

Solomon tightened his hug. "What about me? Are you going to watch me take allergy meds for life? You're going to let this relationship stay underground forever?"

Louise went quiet. She hung her head low, and the rims of her eyes turned red. "I don't, but I want you to think about Yvonne."

Solomon let out a sigh and kissed Louise's forehead. "It's alright. I'll give her time to accept it. It's her birthday next weekend. We'll throw her a party and then tell her afterward."

My heart sank into an abyss, and a wave of pain clutched my body so hard that I could not breathe.

It was true—Solomon did fall in love with someone else, and that someone else was my best friend who saved me from my darkest days.

This relationship was not big enough for the three of us. I would rather do without it. Then my mother texted me. "Have you guys settled on a date for the wedding, Yvonne?"

I breathed deeply. Then, I wiped my tears and texted back, "The wedding's canceled, Mom. I'm coming home soon."