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The Other Side of Goodbye

The Other Side of Goodbye

Short Story · Romance
By:  Crispy Couch PotatoCompleted
Language: English
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9Chapters
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Synopsis

Best Friend

Bias

Mistress

Tragic Love

Winning Back the Wife

Melodramatic

Cheating

For the 13th time, an AI-generated photo pops up on my feed, showing my best friend, Gwen Spalding, and my boyfriend, Andrew Gunnell, wrapped in each other's arms. Gwen's still a mess after getting dumped so suddenly, so I assume she's mixed Andrew up with someone else again. Then a comment stops me cold. "I was there. Joyce tried to brush it off before and claimed the picture was AI-generated, but let's see her deny this! Besides, look at them. A guy as hot as Andrew belongs with a knockout like Gwen. They look way better together." Attached to the comment is a candid photo of Gwen and Andrew wrapped in each other's arms, in the exact same pose as the picture on my feed. I screenshot the comment and send it straight to Andrew. Instead of explaining himself, he turns it around on me. "You know exactly why I didn't tell you. Gwen's in a really bad place right now. What am I supposed to do, stand back and watch her ruin her life? "The second I show her even a little kindness, you get jealous. Joyce, you really haven't changed at all." Before I can answer, he hangs up on me. I pull up Gwen's social media feed again, and this time, I notice what I missed before. Her first post is from the new restaurant I've told Andrew countless times I want to try with him. The second is from the movie we made plans to see a month ago. I keep scrolling. Everything I'd been looking forward to doing with Andrew, every plan he'd backed out of with one excuse after another, is right there in Gwen's photos. My vision blurs with tears. I reach into the trash, pull out the five-year exchange agreement for Caldria I tossed away moments ago, and sign my name. Once I'm gone, they won't have to lie to me anymore.

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9 Chapters
Chapter 1
When I got home from work, I found Andrew Gunnell's keys by the door. Figuring he'd forgotten them, I called to ask if he wanted me to bring them over.The moment the call connected, a burst of noise came from the other end."Andrew's in the bathroom. If you need something, just tell me. I'll let him know."It was Gwen Spalding.A chill ran through me, but I forced myself to stay calm. "Can you ask him if he left his keys at home? I can bring them over.""No, he has his keys."She paused, then seemed to realize what I was talking about. "Oh, you mean that keychain? I replaced it for him a while ago."My grip tightened around my phone until my knuckles went white.Andrew and I had bought that keychain one month into our relationship. We'd spotted one we liked at the mall, but it was way too expensive for us back then.I could tell Andrew was embarrassed, so when I saw an almost identical one at a street vendor on our way home, I pointed to it. "Andrew, let's get this one. It lo
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Chapter 2
After sending the breakup text, I started packing.I'd struggled with severe insomnia for years. I could barely sleep unless Andrew was beside me.For years, he'd always made sure to come home early because of it. But tonight, he broke that routine for Gwen.Maybe I was more exhausted than I realized, because halfway through packing, I sank onto the couch and fell into a deep sleep.I woke to the soft click of the front door closing. When I opened my eyes, Andrew was standing right in front of me, a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead. Out of habit, I reached up to wipe it away.Before I could touch him, he caught my wrist and pinned me against the couch. But as he leaned closer, I caught the unmistakable scent of perfume on him.It wasn't mine. It was Gwen's favorite.Maybe only moments earlier, he'd been this close to her too, just like in that candid photo."Joyce, you're seriously breaking up with me over some ridiculous suspicions you've convinced yourself are true?"I lo
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Chapter 3
Andrew's lips parted, but before he could say anything, his phone rang.He glanced at the name on the screen, and his expression immediately softened. Then he turned and stepped out onto the balcony to take the call.I didn't have to ask who it was. I already knew he wouldn't be coming back after that call.So I kept packing. I packed through the night, and by the time dawn broke, several large suitcases were stacked on top of each other in the living room.As I looked around the nearly empty apartment, something finally hit me. Almost everything that had made this place feel like home was something I had bought.I used to love talking to Andrew about decorating our place. Whenever I mentioned something I wanted to get, he would always say yes. Then he would forget about it.A few days later, when I brought it up again, he would just say, "Sorry, Joyce. I forgot."After enough times, I stopped asking and simply bought whatever we needed myself.Now, seeing how empty the apartme
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Chapter 4
I didn't text Andrew back. I walked past everyone and took a seat in the corner.Then a commotion suddenly broke out across the room. Somehow, Gwen had gotten her hands on an old porcelain jar."Gwen, what's that? It looks really old."She ran her fingers lightly over its surface. "I dug it up under that old tree in the alley behind the school. No idea who buried it there."The room immediately erupted in curious chatter."You dug it up? Think there's something valuable inside?""Open it! Let's see what's in there!"The mention of that old tree instantly brought it all rushing back.After Mom died, I couldn't bring myself to bury her ashes for a long time. In the end, Andrew stayed by my side while I buried them beneath that same tree near my backyard.I'd been trembling in his arms that day when he promised me, "Joyce, I'll take care of you for her. For the rest of my life."Only Andrew and I knew where Mom's ashes were buried. And somehow, he'd even told Gwen about that.G
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Chapter 5
Andrew stayed by Gwen's bedside while the doctor finished checking her over. Only after the doctor assured him that Gwen was fine and that her headache was just from stress did Andrew finally relax.He glanced down at his phone. My chat was still pinned at the top, the thread filled with texts he'd sent me. He'd started with explanations and reassurances, then moved on to promises.He swore that once all of this was over, he would take me to the restaurant I'd been wanting to try and the movie I'd been wanting to see.But no matter how many messages he sent, I never responded.Andrew frowned, his thumb hovering over the call button. He was about to call when Gwen gently tugged on his sleeve."Andrew, I'm still a little dizzy. I want a sandwich from that place outside the hospital."He hesitated.Then he decided not to call. I was probably still angry about last night and giving him the silent treatment. Calling now would only make things worse. He could wait until I cooled off b
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Chapter 6
Andrew hurried back to the apartment with the peach cobbler in hand.He was sure I was just angry. I could be stubborn and hard to read, but in the past, all he had to do was soften his tone and sweet-talk me a little. No matter how bad our fights got, we always made up.This time would be no different. He'd already decided he would apologize properly when he saw me. From now on, he would be more patient and never let Gwen come between us again.But the moment he opened the door, he froze.The apartment was empty. Every trace of me was gone.The peach cobbler slipped from his hand.Andrew's eyes widened. He rushed into the bedroom, then tore through the rest of the apartment, checking every corner.Not a single thing of mine was left. I was really gone.When the landlord sent him those photos earlier, Andrew had assumed I'd only thrown out his belongings. It had never crossed his mind that I might actually mean it when I said I was leaving.But I had. I'd walked away from the
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Chapter 7
Suddenly, Andrew saw all those so-called coincidences for what they really were. Every little thing Gwen had done to turn him against me had been deliberate.He stared at her, his expression turning cold even as tears still filled her eyes. "Say that again. Who exactly broke up whose family?"The look in his eyes made Gwen's heart race, but she still forced herself to stick to her story. "Joyce's mother, of course. She was the other woman—""Enough."That had been her last chance to tell him the truth, and she had wasted it.Andrew cut her off, and the last trace of warmth disappeared from his eyes. His gaze turned ice-cold, heavy with regret.The sight of his pale, shaken face finally sent Gwen into a panic. She reached for him. "Andrew, I'm not lying! Please, you have to believe me.""Don't touch me!"Andrew recoiled before she could reach him, disgust flashing in his eyes."Gwen, you make me sick. Get out of the apartment I shared with Joyce. If you don't, I won't let this
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Chapter 8
As we talked, I learned his name was Stephen Swanson and that he was only visiting Caldria for a short while."I've gotten pretty familiar with the area. Exploring alone gets a little boring, so if you want, I could show you around," he said."I'd like that. Thanks."I figured I could treat him to dinner afterward as a thank-you for finding my phone. I never expected that one outing to turn into so many more.Stephen took me along the coast, through charming old neighborhoods, and to quiet scenic spots away from the usual crowds.Then we realized we lived less than 15 minutes apart. After that, he started giving me rides to and from work almost every day.Every now and then, curiosity got the better of me, and I'd ask him about it."Have you always lived abroad? I've never once seen you work. You're not secretly some rich guy out here playing at being normal, are you?"Every time, Stephen would just give me the same faint smile. "Nothing that exciting. My family's pretty ordina
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Chapter 9
Andrew's words suddenly made everything fall into place.No wonder Stephen's name had sounded so familiar. Back home, the Swansons were one of the most powerful families in the country and the wealthiest family in the capital. Stephen was their sole heir.So he really had been lying to me all along.Stephen lost his composure. He immediately tried to explain, but I backed away from both of them."Stay away from me. Both of you."For the next two weeks, my life was completely turned upside down.Andrew and Stephen seemed to be locked in some kind of silent competition, showing up outside my office every single day like clockwork.Before long, even my coworkers started teasing me that the two of them were more punctual than half the people who actually worked there."Joyce, seriously? Two gorgeous guys waiting for you every day? You've got men lining up for you."I said flatly, "If you like them that much, take your pick."During another therapy session, my therapist said, "You
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