Chapter 7

I cut her off, cold. "Because you have to go look after Freddy again, right?"

Lisa faltered for a second, then admitted it, though she immediately started making excuses again.

"I do have a responsibility to look after him! Our families have been close for generations. I can't just ignore that bond!

"Adam, why can't you just have a little sympathy for how hard this is for me? I always thought you understood me better than anyone. How did we get here? I am so exhausted."

Same , every time. Responsibility, old family ties, sympathy, how hard it was for her, how tired she was.

As if she were the one who'd spent this whole relationship holding it together, constantly compromising, constantly getting overlooked.

I didn't want to have another pointless argument with her. It wasn't going anywhere, and it was draining me for nothing.

"You're right, you are tired." I nodded. "So you don't have to be, not anymore. Goodbye."

When she saw I was still walking away, something in her finally cracked. "You keep this up, and when I get into graduate school and you don't, don't come crying to me!"

Even now, at the very end, she still thought my worth came down to whether or not I got into a program, and she was completely convinced I could never measure up to her.

I didn't even bother turning around.

Regret?

The only thing I regretted was not waking up to all of this sooner.

I had my dream university offer in hand, and a bigger world waiting for me.

Her threat sounded like a kid waving around a toy sword, trying to intimidate a traveler who was already halfway out the door.

How laughable.

A few days later, my visa came through without any issues, and I started packing and handling my paperwork to withdraw from school.

Lisa still seemed to think I was just sulking. She kept hinting, through mutual friends, that she and Freddy were getting even closer, clearly hoping it would make me jealous.

I brushed all of it off without a second thought.

…

On the day I left, I sat waiting at the airport gate.

My phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number from back home. I meant to decline it, but I accidentally answered instead.

"Hello? Is this Adam?"

It was one of Lisa's closest friends.

I frowned and was about to hang up when she spoke again.

"Finally got through to you. Where are you right now? Listen, Lisa is really upset. She's out drinking with us right now, and her face looks awful."

Loud music and voices carried through in the background.

Her tone was obviously teasing, egging me on. "If you don't come charm her back soon, I swear Lisa's going to end up going home with Freddy tonight! Everyone's just waiting to see what happens! Hahaha!"

A burst of suggestive laughter came through the phone, other voices joining in to stir things up.

"Oh," I said flatly. "Then I wish them a lifetime of happiness together. They really do sound perfect for each other."

There was a sudden silence on the other end, like she hadn't expected that reaction at all.

I added, "I'm at the airport about to head through security, so I won't be able to make it over to watch. Let them know I said to have fun."