All Chapters of The 30-Day Proxy: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

After quitting the "Proxy Girlfriend" group chat, I stopped replying to any of Tyrus' messages.That night, I remembered the fifth-anniversary gift I had arranged to be sent to the restaurant I booked.It was an album documenting our five years together from my five years of dating Tyrus. The first page held the memory of him shielding me from bullies when I was seventeen.The last page held a message I had left for our fifth-anniversary dinner.[Tyrus, here's to the next five years.]I rushed to the restaurant, hoping to retrieve the album before they arrived.But when I pushed open the door, Tyrus and Claire were already sitting at the table I had reserved.Claire was sitting across from Tyrus, wearing the anniversary necklace he had given me a few years back.On the table were the set meals I had ordered in advance. The candles and flowers had already been arranged.Beside them lay a room key to the hotel suite upstairs.The restaurant manager, Roland Kirk, stood awkwa

After the wedding ended, Claire came to me on her own.She dropped the act of just playing along with Tyrus.She said that three years ago, when the whole proxy girlfriend thing first started, it was she who reminded him to change to matching profile pictures.It was also her idea to extend the proxy arrangement.She deliberately took over my dates with him, posted suggestive photos of the two of them on social media, and helped herself to my things."I just wanted to know whether he'd really choose me if I kept taking your place."She pulled up a chat record from a few months ago.[After the thirty days are up, do I still have to give the girlfriend spot back to Lay-lay?]Tyrus replied, [No need.][If she doesn't come back, you stay.]I forwarded the screenshot to Tyrus.[You knew she was trying to take my place?]He promptly called me. "I knew.""Then why did you let it keep going?""Isn't this better? I'm just making sure you understand that not everything goes your

Tyrus stood in the empty living room, calling my name multiple times.No one answered. He rushed into the bedroom. My half of the closet was completely empty.My documents, skincare products, and everyday medicine on the nightstand were all gone, too.Even the potted plant I had kept on the balcony for five years was missing.The only things left were the gifts he had given me: the matching watches, the anniversary decorations, and the fridge magnets from our trips together.I left behind everything that proved we had spent five years together.Tyrus picked up the booking confirmation from the moving company.The date on it was from twenty days ago.In other words, I had already started planning my exit before he even announced Claire was taking over.He assumed I had gone quiet because I was sulking, waiting for him to cave first.But I had not been waiting. I had been apartment hunting, sorting through my things, and quietly exiting his life bit by bit.Tyrus kept call

On the third day, Claire came to see me personally.She placed the anniversary necklace on the table.The pendant had been polished very thin.The name that had once belonged to me was completely gone.All that remained was this.[Tyrus & Claire, Day One]Claire stared at the necklace for a long time before letting go."Tyrus told me to give it back. He said it's yours."I put the necklace into a box.I did not thank her.Taking back what was mine did not require a thank-you in the first place.Claire sat across from me and did not leave for a long time."Lay-lay, if you just tell Tyrus you're never coming back, he'll go through with our engagement."He won't set a date right now."And he won't let me move in."I found it absurd."I already gave you the permanent girlfriend spot a month ago."If Tyrus won't go through with it, that's between the two of you."Tears welled up in her eyes. "But you're still the one he loves."I shook my head."What he loves is me get

After leaving Tyrus, I realized I still carried a lot of old habits with me.When I disagreed with a colleague, I would instinctively apologize first.When a friend changed plans at the last minute, I would feel uncomfortable but still habitually say it was fine.Even when I was ordering at a restaurant and the server asked what I wanted, my first reaction was still to say, "Anything's fine."Tyrus had spent three years making me believe that every conflict was my fault.As long as I did not cave in first, he would change his profile picture, take Claire's hand, and take away even more of what belonged to me.So I grew more afraid to speak up, more afraid to say "no."On my first weekend after moving into my new place, a colleague, Patricia Lance, invited me out to dinner.She asked me, "Pizza or barbecue?"I said instinctively, "Either one's fine."She just laughed and pushed the menu back to me."Tonight's about celebrating your promotion."So, we're getting what you want