Chapter 7
1199 Words
It wasn’t until I hit send that I realized what I had just done.
I waited for Ryan’s reply, but nothing came. It felt like the message had vanished into nothing, even though I knew Ryan never missed a text.
The health scare ended breakfast before it even properly began. Everything after that blurred together. I could hear Mom’s voice upstairs asking Dad if he needed to go to the hospital, and Dad insisting he was fine, even though none of us believed him. The house went quiet in a way that felt wrong.
Before I went back upstairs, Eddy pulled me into a hug.
It surprised me. He wasn’t one to hug first.
“I’m sorry your birthday started like this,” he said quietly. “This sucks.”
“It’s okay,” I told him, and I meant it.
“Dad’s health matters more.”
He nodded and let me go.
Once I got to my room, I climbed into bed and pulled the covers over my head. I decided not to think about anything. I just shut down.
When I woke up again, the room was dim. Evening light filtered through the open curtains. I sat up slowly, disoriented, and then noticed the tray on my desk.
Food. Chocolates. Snacks I liked. A drink Chris always bought for me.
He must have left it there while I was asleep. I picked up my phone. Still nothing from Ryan.
I lay back down and closed my eyes.
Sunday passed with my family hovering, like they were afraid to leave me alone. Dad apologized repeatedly for ruining my birthday. Mom planned lunch at my favorite restaurant. Gifts appeared from relatives who hadn’t even called yet. Everyone tried so hard to fix something I didn’t care about.
I didn’t give a damn about my birthday. It wasn’t ruined.
What was slowly eating me alive was Ryan’s silence.
That night, after my family spent the whole day trying to make up for something they couldn’t fix, sleep became impossible. I stared at the ceiling, wide awake, letting the hours crawl by. By the time morning came, I was already dressed.
Thanks to my new car, I didn’t need Eddy. I drove myself to school and arrived early, before most people showed up.
I waited by the lockers like I used to before we were… us.
Ryan arrived just before first period and walked straight past me. He passed without a glance. Without acknowledgment.
It felt exactly like before we started dating. Like we were back to being strangers. Enemies.
There was no doubt left to wrestle with. He was angry.
I waited until recess. Every class dragged on. Every minute stretched. A few minutes before the bell, I sent him a message.
Can we meet? Our usual spot.
Then another.
Please, Ryan. I want to talk to you.
I got there before him and sat on the bench, waiting.
Eight minutes later, I heard his footsteps. I knew the timing because I had been checking my phone, restless. Ryan stopped in front of me. He didn’t sit. His hands stayed in his pockets, his eyes fixed on me in a way that felt unfamiliar.
I stood, suddenly unsure how to start.
“Ryan… did you get my text?”
He ignored the question.
“Say something,” I whispered. “Please.”
He exhaled slowly. “You asked me to come. Go ahead. End it properly.”
My breath came shallow.
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” I said quickly. “Your family bought the land my dad was planning a project on. He had an attack, Ryan. How was I supposed to tell them about us? I couldn’t. I just… I couldn’t.”
“Who said it was going to be easy?” he snapped. “You knew the line we were crossing when you agreed to this.”
He shook his head. “I kept begging for us to come clean. There was always a reason to wait. Always a better time. And the moment you ran out of excuses, you sent me a breakup text.”
“Ryan–”
“Don’t,” he cut in. “Do you think this is easy for me?”
He stepped closer. “Your father planted a mole in our company. Stole a trade secret. We took losses because of it. And I was still ready to damn the consequences and tell them about us.”
I stared at him.
“You know why?” he asked. “Because I love you. I was ready to fight. But I guess I chose the wrong person.”
“Please don’t say that,” I cried. “You’re hurting me.”
He looked at me steadily. “Are you planning to tell your family about us anytime soon?”
I couldn’t answer.
The silence said everything.
He let out a low, bitter laugh. “That’s what I thought.”
“I didn’t mean for this to be permanent,” I rushed. “You’re leaving for college soon. I can apply too. Same school. We wait it out. Things will calm down and then…”
He stared at me like I had grown horns.
“You know there are two things I hate,” he said slowly. “Lies. And cowardice.”
He met my eyes. “And of all people, I fell for one of them.”
My chest hurt. Breathing became difficult.
“Liora,” he said quietly. “You’re a coward.”
The tears came fast.
For a second, I thought he might reach for me. His hand twitched.
Then he stopped himself.
“If that’s all,” he said, stepping back, “I’ll take my leave.”
He turned, then paused.
“This isn’t temporary,” he added. “You wanted this. I’m respecting it. We go back to how things were. You don’t know me. I don’t know you.”
He looked over his shoulder. “Delete my number.”
Then, softer, almost like an afterthought, “I’ll leave the cake in your locker. It’s still a gift.”
And he walked away.
I cried.
I didn’t try to stop it. I cried until my throat burned and my voice gave out, until someone pulled me into their arms.
For a second, I thought it was Ryan.
Then I looked up and saw June.
“I messed up,” I sobbed. “I messed up so bad.”
She held me. “I know.”
“I tried,” I said. “It wasn’t easy.”
“I know,” she repeated. “I really believed in you two.”
“Please,” I begged. “Help me talk to him.”
She pulled back, her eyes full of pity.
“Even if I wanted to… it’s too late.”
“What do you mean?”
Her voice was quiet. “Ryan’s leaving for England. He’ll finish the semester online. He already got admission.”
It took a moment for the words to sink in.
Ryan was leaving the country. Any chance of fixing us disappeared in that instant, and the realization undid me all over again.
- Writer
