Almost but not forever

Chapter 29 The Truth Comes Out

Lily already felt something was wrong before Ethan even called. The silence between them had stretched longer than usual that week, and even when they did talk, it felt careful, like both of them were avoiding certain topics without saying it out loud. Still, she didn’t expect what came next.

That evening, Ethan called her later than normal. His voice sounded different the moment she answered.

“Lily, I need to tell you something.”

Her stomach tightened immediately. “What is it?”

There was a pause on the other end, long enough to make her sit up properly.

“It’s about me and Chloe.”

Lily went quiet without even meaning to.

Ethan sighed. “We’ve been… seeing each other properly for a while now. I didn’t plan for it to happen like this, it just did.”

The words didn’t register at first. It felt like her brain refused to accept them.

“What do you mean seeing each other?” she asked softly, even though she already understood.

“We’re dating,” Ethan said finally. “I should have told you earlier.”

Silence.

That was all Lily could give him.

Not anger. Not questions. Just silence.

Ethan continued, sounding uncomfortable. “I didn’t want you to find out like this. I know it’s a lot.”

Lily forced herself to speak even though her voice felt far away. “It’s fine. I’m happy for you.”

She hated how easily the lie came out.

“Are you sure?” Ethan asked.

“Yes,” she replied quickly. “Of course.”

But inside, everything was breaking apart.

Ethan let out a small breath of relief. “Okay… good. I was worried.”

They talked for a few more minutes, but Lily barely heard anything after that. Her responses became automatic, short, empty. When the call finally ended, she stayed frozen in place, staring at her phone like it didn’t belong to her.

Then it hit her properly.

Chloe wasn’t just a friend.

Ethan had chosen someone else.

And she had been standing in the same place all along, hoping for something that was never fully hers.

That night, Lily didn’t cry immediately. She just sat in silence for a long time, replaying everything in her head. Every message. Every call. Every moment she had convinced herself there was still a chance.

Only when she finally lay down did the tears come quietly, like she had been holding them in for too long.

And for the first time, she stopped telling herself she was okay.

Because she wasn’t.