Chapter 1

Three minutes after I saw the Instagram post, a text from Gabriel popped up.

“I got protection charms for you two at a local church out here. See you soon.”

I wiped my tears and typed with a trembling thumb.

“Why are you with Tiana?”

Silence stretched for a long time before he requested a FaceTime call.

But it wasn't Gabriel's face on the screen.

Tiana beamed back at me, glowing.

"Hey, Daniella! You saw our pictures, right? Don't they look amazing?"

"The second Gabriel texted me, I caught the fastest train out here," she rambled cheerfully. "He's your boyfriend, after all. Of course I had to help you look out for him!"

Gabriel stepped into the frame, looking at her with pure fondness.

"Yeah, yeah. Thanks to our busy bee for flying all the way out from New York."

A sharp pain pierced my chest, radiating through my entire body.

I demanded, "Gabriel, why did you get down on one knee for someone else? I'm your girlfriend!"

Tiana froze, turning to him with a helpless whine. "Oh, see? I told you she would make a scene."

Gabriel frowned, his voice dripping with impatience.

"A photo at the highest peak has to look romantic, Daniella. As my girlfriend, you didn't even come with me.

“You should be reflecting on your own shortcomings instead of throwing a tantrum."

For the last ten years, I had followed him across every sky and ocean in the world.

I had pushed through agonizing period cramps just to fulfill his vision of 'eternal romance.'

I had walked away from a stable career just to backpack across the globe with him on a dime.

But now I was pregnant.

I couldn't risk our miracle baby. I had skipped out only once, and he called it a tantrum.

I wanted to throw all my sacrifices in his face, but before I could speak, Tiana let out a bright laugh.

"Don't say that, Gabriel. Daniella is carrying the literal symbol of your love, after all."

Gabriel scoffed.

"Every woman gets pregnant. I've never seen anyone act as fragile as her. I wish you were my girlfriend instead..."

He pinched Tiana's cheek, his eyes full of warmth.

"Back in high school, you were willing to skip the SATs just to chase the Northern Lights with me."

Tiana blushed, playfully swatting his hand away.

On my side of the screen, it felt like being struck by lightning.

The year of the SATs, Gabriel and Tiana had completely vanished.

No one knew where they went.

I had stayed up all night searching for them, so sick with worry that I ruined my own exams.

While I was panicking and crying, they were stargazing together.

"I'd never be your girlfriend," Tiana teased. "You have Daniella now. Dreams are just dreams; this is reality."

Gabriel smiled, gently tucking a stray hair behind her ear.

"Then just be my dream girl for the rest of my life."

They spoke their sweet, intimate words without a single care that I, his actual girlfriend, was listening to every word.

When the call ended, I collapsed onto the floor.

A sharp cramp flared in my stomach, as if warning me not to leave him.

But I could no longer find a single reason to stay.

After a long time, I gritted my teeth, reached for my phone, and texted Gabriel:

“If you still want this baby, be back within three days. Otherwise, we’re done.”