All Chapters of They Voted I'd Beg. I Left.: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The next day at ten fifty, I went downstairs to wait for them.The living room was empty.I called Mom. No answer. Lily didn’t reply either.At eleven ten, she posted a photo.She was in a white gown, standing between our parents. Rowan leaned against Dad, holding the bouquet I’d ordered.All four of them were smiling.The caption read: “Everyone’s here.”I stared at the photo for a few seconds, then called the bridal shop.The clerk sounded surprised.“Miss Claire, your sister moved the appointment up to nine. She said you knew. We thought something came up.”“They’ve already left?”“Just left. Your sister tried on two dresses for you. She said she’d show you the photos when she got back.”“What about my dress?”“It’s still here. When would you like to come in?”I looked at the appointment slip on the table. It had the time I’d confirmed three times.“No need to reschedule. I’ll reach out later.”At noon, Mom came back carrying a gift bag from the bridal shop.“Why are you still home?

On the day I left, Lily was already setting up her phone in the living room.“Claire, six o’clock tonight. Nobody’s allowed to be late.”She blocked the box on the table.“Round two of the surprise. Even better than last time.”Mom came out with fruit.“Don’t go too far this time. Your sister was really mad the other day.”She started laughing before she even finished.Lily spun the phone mount.“Relax. When has she ever stayed mad for more than two days?”Dad turned a page of the newspaper.“When she was little, she said she’d run away. She got to the end of the street and came back.”I was nine that year.They took Lily out for her birthday and forgot me at home. I had no key and no money, so I waited by the door until dark.All he remembered was that I came back on my own.Rowan came over to take my suitcase.“Come on. I’ll drive you to drop your stuff off.”“No need. I called a car.”Mom checked the time.“Moving in is fine, but remember to come back for dinner tonight.”“Before si

At six twenty that evening, Mom called for the first time.I'd just gotten off the train and was following the signs toward the east exit.Her message popped up right after."Where's the pie?"Then:"Your dad's waiting to eat."I stopped by the exit and texted her back."I've arrived at the project site. I'll be working here for the next year. Housing is arranged. I'm safe."The moment I sent it, the phone rang again.I didn't pick up.Noah was standing outside the exit, holding a black umbrella.He saw my suitcase and waved."Claire?""That's me.""Trip go okay?""Real smooth."He handed me a folding umbrella and asked if I wanted to eat first or go to the dorm.I glanced at my phone.Mom had sent over a dozen messages."What project?""Why didn't you ever mention this?""Don't scare people like this."The last one was:"Lily's still waiting for you."I put the phone back in my pocket."Let's go to the dorm first."The room was a little smaller than in the photos.A single bed, a desk

On the third day, Mom started contacting my old friends.She was very polite about it."Has Claire mentioned anything to you about where she's planning to go?"The friend asked her, "Didn't you see the message she sent?"Mom said, "I did. I just don't know exactly where she is.""Then she probably doesn't want you to know."Mom was quiet for a moment, then said she was just worried.The friend didn't give her the address.She didn't know it either.I'd only mentioned that project once, when I first got the invitation. After wedding planning started, I never brought it up again.Mom scrolled back through months of chat history and finally found the introduction to the program I'd sent her.I'd said:"My advisor recommended a research project. I might be away for a year."She'd replied:"The wedding date's already set. What's the point of all this?"Right below that was a link to a restaurant, asking me to book Lily's birthday dinner.Mom screenshotted that conversation and sent it to me

Rowan found the college where the project was based.My name was on the website, but not the site address.He called the office and asked if they could pass along a message.The assistant checked with me first."He says he's your fiancé.""Not anymore.""Do you want me to reply for you?""No need."She nodded and closed the door.That afternoon, I got an email from Rowan at a new address.The subject line was: I'm coming to find you.The body was long.He said he'd gone back to my room and seen what I'd left behind.He said he hadn't known before how much I'd done for the wedding.At the end, he said that if I'd just see him, the wedding could be postponed. I could choose the location and the format.I replied with three lines."The engagement is over. Not postponed.Don't come to the site. Don't contact my colleagues.From now on, only outstanding payments go through this email."After I sent it, I made a folder and moved his email into it.At the end of the month, I transferred the l