Mohini
While taking photos at a scenic spot, I move around three or four times to find the best angle.
I point the camera at my girlfriend, Ruby Sutton, and loudly repeat three times, "Look here!"
But she seems not to hear me, staring at something in the distance instead.
Then, my friend, Joel Ziegler, clumsily takes out his phone and calls out to her.
"Look at the camera!"
Ruby quickly poses and gives the camera a loving smile.
A young couple sees the photo on Joel's phone and starts teasing them.
"Wow, your girlfriend must really love you. You can see it in her eyes in the photo!"
Joel's ears turn bright red, and Ruby clears her throat awkwardly.
I look down at my camera and see that I only captured a third of her face. It looks like a photo taken by paparazzi.
Since we were kids, they'd habitually ignored me, assuming I had no opinions of my own.
When we were teenagers, they'd always excitedly choose where to go, taking it for granted that I would come along.
Now that we're grown up, the two of them decide to study medicine, expecting me to agree and enrolling me in a medical program.
Later, they become the "ER's top duo" at the hospital. Yet no matter how hard I work, I can only become a nurse.
When I look up, the two of them are already walking side by side toward the next spot to take photos.
They probably assume I will follow.
Instead, I turn around and walk in the opposite direction.
All this time, I have always been the one trailing behind them.
But there comes a day when I no longer want to keep up.