THE LIE BETWEEN US
585 Words
The Lie Between Us
Ava didn’t go to the meeting.She cancelled it without guilt.She wasn’t in the right headspace,and pretending to be fine was a luxury she couldn't afford today.Her mind kept going back to Ethan’s words—“I didn’t cheat.”
That wasn’t what she expected to hear.She had lived off that belief for five years.It was the only way she managed to survive the betrayal.She hated him for it,fed off it,built a new life around that story.
Now he was saying it never happened.
She stared at the ceiling of her hotel room like it had the answers.Her phone rang—Mia.
“Hey,” Ava said,voice low.
“Hey yourself.You sound like someone ran over your mood.”
Ava smiled weakly.“Can we move dinner to tomorrow?”
“Sure.You okay?”
“Yeah.Just tired.”
“You sure this isn’t about him?”
Ava sat up slowly.“You knew he’d be here?”
There was a pause.“It’s London,Ava.He never left.”
Ava sighed.Mia added,“You don’t have to face him alone,you know.”
“I already did.”
“And?”
“He said he didn’t cheat.”
Another pause.“Do you believe him?”
“I don’t know.I want to.I hate that I want to.”
Mia lowered her voice.“Then maybe it’s time to ask him the real questions.Stop running.”
Ava hung up without replying.She needed air.
Outside,London dripped with rain as usual.Ava walked with no real direction—just away from her thoughts.Her heels tapped on wet pavement,echoing her heartbeat.
She found herself near South Bank,that quiet spot by the river where she and Ethan used to sit after his late shifts.It used to be their escape.
And as if summoned by memory,he was there.Leaning against the railing,jacket soaked,looking out at the grey water like he was searching for something he’d lost.
Ava didn’t stop walking.Her feet just carried her to him.
He looked up.Surprised.But not shocked.
“You always liked the rain,”he said.
“I liked the silence,”she replied.
He nodded.“Some things don’t change.”
“Apparently,some lies don’t either.”
“I told you,I didn’t lie to hurt you.”
“Then why, Ethan?Why push me away?Why pretend you didn’t love me?”
He turned fully to her now.Face tight,eyes stormy.
“My father was in debt.Big debt.Bad people were involved.They threatened anyone close to me—including you.”
Ava blinked.
“What?”
“I was being watched.I had to make you walk away.Quickly.Hurtfully.So they’d leave you alone.”
“You could’ve told me!”
“No,I couldn’t.They tapped my phone.They followed me.I couldn’t risk them turning on you.”
Ava’s chest felt hollow.“So everything—us—was a lie?”
“No,”he said firmly.“You were the only real thing I had.”
Tears stung her eyes.But she didn’t let them fall.
“You ruined me,”she whispered.
“I saved you,”he said.“You just never saw it.”
The wind picked up.The rain blurred her vision.
He reached for her hand,but she pulled back.
“I don’t know if I can forgive you.”
“I’m not asking you to.I’m just telling you the truth this time.”
She stared at him,at the man she once trusted more than anything.
And for the first time in five years,she wasn’t sure whether to hate him or hold him.
- Writer
