He Favored Her, I Left for Good

Chapter 6

A wave of bitterness hit me out of nowhere, and I called Caleb again.

This time, it rang forever before he picked up. "Babe, I told you, I can't—"

"I got pushed down the stairs today. My back's wrecked. I need surgery."

Silence. Long enough that I thought the line had dropped. Then his voice came back, careful and measured.

"Babe, I know we haven't seen each other in a while.

"But this paper, it's a big deal. You know how it is. You're making this up, right?

"Look, don't pull stunts like this. You know I hate that."

Before I could even get a word out, he hung up.

I let out a bitter laugh. If I didn't know any better, I might've actually believed him.

Might've even asked if he was eating right, if he'd been to his checkups.

He knew damn well about my back. He knew it was from that accident back in high school, knew any hard hit could mess it up again.

But he didn't even ask. Didn't check. Just assumed I was lying to guilt-trip him.

And then I remembered all those Discord chats.

The times he was "too busy" to text me back? He was out having dinner with Sienna after their weekly lab meetings.

He proofread her papers. Saved her seats. Even went on a trip with her for a few days.

She brought him meals. Bought him matching couple rings. Hell, she even bought him underwear.

The fight was over before it even started.

I thought he was in it for the long haul, just like me. Thought we were building something that'd last.

But I was wrong.

All the signs were there. I just didn't wanna see 'em.

I was the only one still living in that lie.