All Chapters of I Erased You From All My Tomorrows: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

Once the group shots were wrapped up, everyone started taking their own photos.Susie Langdon and Paul Ramos stuck together. They looked so good side by side. It was like they were made for each other.Joanna Boyle held up her camera and waved me out of the way. "Zach, move over a bit. You're blocking the shot."I stepped aside without a word.The three of them took pictures for two straight hours, trying every pose in pairs or in threes. And through it all, none of them asked me to join in.I left the field and went back to the classroom to pack my stuff. On my way out, I overheard a few girls gossiping."Susie and Paul are totally the campus dream couple. They look so good together.""Joanna's super cute too, and she's got a bubbly personality. But don't you think Zach seems totally out of place with them?""I don't know why he keeps trying so hard to fit in with them. I heard they didn't even ask him to be in any photos with them today."Holding a heavy stack of books, I fr

Chapter 2

Paul had tagged me. "Hey, Zach, don't overthink that post. Susie just lost a bet to me, and that's all."I didn't bother replying. I turned to Dad instead. "Dad, I want to further my studies overseas."He looked up, surprised. "Really? I thought you and Susie were going to find a job in Belxon after graduation."That had been the plan. Until Paul's birthday party, when I happened to see the letter Susie had written him. That was when I realized that the only reason she wanted to go to Belxon was because of him.Joanna was planning to go there too. She said the three of them could look out for each other.They'd spent so much time discussing among themselves. They didn't even remember I was sitting there until the end.Susie had added casually, "Zach can come too. The more, the merrier."They had made their plans around Paul, and I was just an afterthought.I forced a smile and said to Dad, "I've changed my mind. I don't want to go to Belxon anymore."My presence wouldn't make

Chapter 3

I suddenly remembered how many times Paul had damaged my things, only for Susie to wave it off for me.Once, Paul accidentally tore up my application for an academic competition. Susie crumpled it up and tossed it into the trash. "Don't worry about it. Zach can just get another copy from his teacher."Another time, Paul ruined my shirt with ink that wouldn't come out. Susie just laughed and said, "It's fine. It actually looks kind of artsy. You can still wear it."Later, Paul lost the pen Dad had given me. Susie stepped in front of him with a frown. "What's the big deal? You've had that pen for three years. It was time to get a new one."Whenever I was even slightly upset, she'd always soften her voice and say, "Come on. You're not like him. You're the mature one. Don't make a fuss over it."Over time, it seemed she'd simply gotten used to forgiving Paul on my behalf.Sure enough, when Paul kept dwelling on the ring, Susie sent another message. "Zach is understanding. He isn't as

Chapter 4

I said nothing.Back then, I used to post little snapshots of my life with Susie on Instagram, and Prof. Harrington would always like them.But after Susie and Paul became close, I could barely find a picture of just the two of us in my gallery anymore. It was either a group shot with all four of us, or I was behind the camera taking pictures of the three of them. And Paul was always right in the middle.Realizing Susie still wasn't getting the hint, Prof. Harrington shook her head and told them to wait outside.She kept me behind and said in a serious voice, "Zach, if a relationship isn't making you happy and is only wearing you down, you need to step back and think about whether it's still worth holding onto."Through the glass door, I saw Paul say something and crack up laughing. Susie looked over at him, a faint smile spreading across her face.I watched them for a moment, then sighed softly.I smiled at Prof. Harrington. "I know. Thanks, Professor."When I stepped outside,

Chapter 5

Susie froze for a moment, then laughed. "Mr. Garner, what are you talking about? That's impossible. Why would Zach go abroad?"Dad fell silent for a moment, and somehow, that silence gave Susie a bad feeling."It's true. Zach went abroad. I was surprised that he didn't tell you." Dad's voice was calm, almost politely distant. "He called me before he left and said he'd made up his mind a long time ago."The smile on Susie's face stayed fixed, but the light in her eyes faded. "Mr. Garner… You're joking, right?"Dad sighed softly. "I have no reason to joke about something like this. Zach has never liked causing trouble for anyone. But once he makes up his mind, nothing can change it. Susie, you… Take care of yourself."The call ended. The dial tone pierced her ears like a needle.Joanna was the first to snap. "What is Zach doing? Is he messing with us?"Her angry voice echoed through the empty parking lot, like I'd made fools of them.Paul frowned too, his voice full of frustratio

Chapter 6

It felt like the floor had just dropped out from under Susie, leaving a void in her chest.She instinctively called me and held the phone to her ear."I'm sorry. The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable."She called again but still couldn't get through.Joanna looked at her and couldn't bear to watch. "Susie, you..."Susie ignored her and kept calling me, hitting redial again and again. Every call brought the same automated message.Then, it hit her that I might have blocked her. The realization cut into her chest like a dull, rusted blade.I had always replied to her messages right away and never hung up on her. But now, I'd blocked her.Paul looked at her pale face, his lips parting as if he wanted to say something. In the end, he only muttered, "Susie, let's get to the hotel first. Zach just needs some time to cool off. We can talk to him later."Susie didn't move.She stood at the entrance to the parking lot as travelers came and went around her. Above

Chapter 7

During my first week at college, Derek talked me into going to an international student party.I didn't want to go at first, for I never felt comfortable at such gatherings.Back home, when Susie took me to similar parties, I would sit in a corner while she and Paul became the center of attention.Joanna would occasionally notice me and ask, "Zach, why are you so quiet?" But before I could answer, Paul's laughter would draw her attention away.Over time, I got used to staying quiet, hiding my thoughts, and being the person who could be easily overlooked.This time, though, things were different.At the party, a few students were talking about a movie I'd happened to see. I opened my mouth to say something, then swallowed the words back down out of habit.A girl named Linda Jarvis was sitting beside me. She noticed it, so she turned toward me and asked, "Zach, were you about to say something?"I hesitated."Go ahead. Tell us," she said with a warm, genuine smile. "Nobody's goin

Chapter 8

Somehow, I'd gotten used to Susie's indifferent attitude too.I was used to having things decided for me, being overlooked, and being the understanding boyfriend who never caused trouble.Steam from the hot chocolate rose in front of me, blurring my vision."What's wrong?" Linda asked.I shook my head and smiled. "Nothing. I… I really like it here."The days went by faster than I expected. My classes were intense, and the coursework was heavy, but I liked having so much to keep me busy.Every morning, Derek would throw a pillow at me and yell, "Zach, get up! We're going to be late for class!" Then, we'd scramble to get ready and run to class with a piece of toast in our mouths.Sometimes, Linda would wait for us at the corner with three coffees in hand. The moment she saw us running over, she'd hand us our coffee and tease us, "You two are the last ones again."I'd be gasping for breath, but I couldn't help smiling.My life was lively, genuine, and full of warmth. I felt nee

Chapter 9

Susie reached for my hand.I took a step back and pulled my hand away, looking at her calmly. "Don't touch me."She froze, her hand hanging in midair."Zach?" She looked at me in confusion, as though she didn't recognize me anymore.I stood there in silence, deliberately keeping my distance from her.The excitement slowly faded from Susie's face, replaced by a look of helplessness I rarely ever saw on her.Her voice softened, almost pleading. "Zach, I was wrong. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken you for granted. I should have treated you better."I know you're angry. I know you're blaming me. It's all my fault. Come back with me, okay? Let's go to Belxon. We can start over."A leaf fell down onto her shoulder, yet she didn't brush it away.I looked at her bloodshot eyes. I felt neither the satisfaction I'd expected nor any reluctance to let her go.There was only a quiet sense of calm, as if I were looking at her through a pane of glass."Susie," I said, my voice flat, as if

Chapter 10

That afternoon, while I was going through research papers at the library, Paul's name flashed across my phone screen.I didn't want to answer, but I figured he might have an emergency, so I picked up.He sounded anxious. "Zach, is Susie with you?"I didn't answer his question. Instead, I asked, "What's wrong?""What's wrong?" Paul's voice sharpened. "Do you have any idea how much work she dropped to go looking for you?"Do you know how many messes Joanna and I have had to clean up for her? Zach, if you're upset, we can talk it out. But is this really how you want to punish her?"I listened quietly and found it ridiculous."Paul, weren't you the one who always wanted me out of the picture?" I asked.Silence fell on the other end.A moment later, Paul stammered, "I… I didn't…""You know whether you did or not." My voice remained calm. "But it doesn't matter anymore. She's yours now.""Zach! You…"I hung up.…That night, I told Derek about Paul's call like it was a joke. He

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