Good Luck Graduating Without Me

The first day of classes fell on our third anniversary, but my boyfriend Eugene Hale told me he was behind on his lab work and couldn't celebrate with me. Worried he was pushing himself too hard, I made him dinner and brought it to campus. As I passed the athletic field, I spotted him holding a bouquet of flowers and asking my best friend Cassidy Nixon to be his girlfriend. The students crowded around them broke into a chant. "Say yes! Say yes! Our golden couple is finally getting their happily ever after!" Eugene and Cassidy wrapped their arms around each other and kissed. The crowd erupted in cheers, and our faculty advisor stood nearby, grinning from ear to ear. Then someone spotted me. "Seriously? Who was keeping watch? How'd nobody see his jealous girlfriend coming?" The students rushed to block my path. "They've spent three years trying not to act on their feelings. They're finally together, and you're not ruining this!" "Exactly! Cassidy kept quiet for three years just to spare your feelings. Can't you think about her for once?" Even our advisor joined in, trying to convince me to accept it. "Cassidy's dad is a big name in the field. He could do so much for Eugene's research career. Think about his future, not just yourself." As they piled on the accusations, I laughed until tears filled my eyes. They had made themselves clear. I was done with Eugene. And I was done anonymously funding their class projects.