He Treated Me As Her, I Cut Ties

Chapter 3 Lipstick

The follow-up appointment came around again. I sat outside the doctor's office with my test results clutched in my hands, and his words still echoed in my ears.

"Your creatinine levels are up again. You need to take the new medication on schedule, and you can't afford any emotional stress. Have someone with you when you pick up the prescription. Your body can't handle another episode."

My phone screen lit up and faded. I hesitated for a moment but finally dialed Miles.

The phone rang four times before he picked up. His voice was sharp with impatience.

What is it? I'm with Carrie. We're heading to Anne's grave.

I kept my voice low. "Miles, the doctor says someone needs to show me how to use the new medication in person. Could you come with me to pick it up first? I'm scared something will happen if I go alone."

The line went quiet for two seconds, and then a cold laugh came through.

"Scared of what? You've picked up prescriptions by yourself before. You've got Anne's kidney keeping you alive, so you're not that fragile. Carrie's different. She can't do this without me. She's too afraid to go to the cemetery alone."

I tried to tell him the doctor said I might faint, but the line was already dead.

I braced one hand against the wall and pulled myself to my feet. My vision went black at the edges.

The dizziness grew worse while I waited in line. In the last second before everything blurred, all I saw was the pharmacy window sliding a box of medication toward me.

When I came to, Gianna was wiping my face, her eyes red and swollen. She had a receipt crumpled in one hand, and her voice cracked as she shoved it in front of me.

She said, "Miles never went to the cemetery. He took Carrie out to dinner and bought her a bracelet."

I stared at the receipt, and something in my chest clenched so tight I couldn't breathe.

Miles' car sat in the driveway.

Gianna pointed at the passenger seat. "Look at the lipstick on his passenger seat. When have you ever worn a shade that bright?"

A smear of red stood out against the cream-colored leather, impossible to miss.

I walked through the front door, and the sound of laughter hit me before I even made it to the living room.

Carey was sitting next to Miles on the couch. The bracelet dangling from her wrist was impossible to miss.

I stared at Miles. "You didn't go to the cemetery yesterday, did you?"

My voice was shaking. "You took her out to dinner, bought her a bracelet, and lied to me about visiting Anne's grave. How could you do that to me?"

Miles frowned and glared at me. "You've been checking up on me? Kate, when did you become this petty? You're tracking my every move now? Anne would be so disappointed if she could see you right now."

I laughed, but the tears came with it. "I'm the petty one? You take another woman on dates, lie about it, and leave her lipstick on the car seat, but I can't even ask a single question? This kidney inside me came from Anne. How could you do this to her?"

He glanced at me with cold indifference, then turned to Carrie, and his voice softened in an instant.

"Carrie, pack a bag and come stay here. We have a spare room, and I don't want you going back and forth. It's not safe."

Then he turned back to me, his tone ice-cold. "Kate, learn to be more understanding. Carrie was Anne's friend, and you should show her some respect."

I stared at him. "Understanding? This is our home! You're moving another woman in, and I'm supposed to be fine with it? What am I to you?"

A sharp pain shot through the surgical scar across my abdomen.

Miles said nothing. He turned and walked out with Carrie.

I rushed into the bedroom, threw open the closet, and started shoving clothes into a suitcase.

My hands stopped when I reached the ones Anne had picked out for me herself. The tears came before I could fight them.

Gianna came in and tried to calm me down, but I shook my head. "Gianna, I can't take it anymore. He doesn't even care whether I live or die. What am I still doing here?"

Near midnight, I heard the front door unlock. Miles came home with Carey.

Carey's voice floated in from the living room, soft and sugary enough to make my skin crawl. "Miles, your place is beautiful. It feels so much better than my apartment."

Miles laughed under his breath. "Then stay. From now on, this can be your home too."

I leaned against the door, my nails digging so hard into my palms that they nearly broke the skin.

Then Carey shrieked outside. "Oh my God! Why is Kate packing? Did I make you uncomfortable by coming here?"

Miles knocked on the door. "Kate, what are you making a scene about now? Carrie just moved in. Don't embarrass her."

I did not open the door. I only said quietly, "Miles, give this home to whoever you want. I'm done staying here."

Silence fell outside the door for a few seconds.

Then Carey's soft, trembling sob drifted in. "Miles, maybe I shouldn't have come. Maybe I should just leave..."

"Leave for what?" Miles' voice softened. "I'm here. No one gets to kick you out. If she wants to pack, let her pack. Once she cools off, she'll stay."

I sat beside my suitcase and stared at Anne's photo. All at once, every ounce of patience I had swallowed felt like a joke.