After Seven Years, I Let Him Go

Everyone thought Eddie and I would get married. After all, we had been together for seven years. But to everyone's surprise, I was the one who called it off. Everyone was shocked, Eddie included. A week ago, I discovered that Eddie had a special interest in a girl on his social media. This girl was his idealized love. I made way for his idealized love. Yet, he was full of regret. On Eddie's birthday, Dover had its first snowfall of the year. I stepped out of the cake shop. I stood in the snow as the wind swirled and the snowflakes danced wildly. The phone in my pocket rang; it was Eddie calling. “Xya, where are you? My friends are all here. It's snowing outside, let me pick you up. When you arrive, I'll introduce you to someone.” His gentle voice came through, just like always. For seven years, he was always gentle and patient with me. We never once had a fight. He knew my cycle better than I did. Every time, he would bring me a heating pad and brown sugar water without delay. Every password on his phone was my birthday. He introduced me to all his friends, telling them I was his girlfriend, and he announced it on social media early on. Holiday gifts were never missed. Even when he was busy, if I casually mentioned wanting to travel to Sanya, he would book the tickets the next day. If I craved an orange on a snowy day, he'd rush out to buy it, even if the snow was a foot deep. Eddie's affection for me seemed endless. I always thought this was a sign of his deep love for me, at least until a week ago. So, it was hard to believe that all those years of affection were just an act. “You don't need to pick me up; I'm almost at the hotel,” I said coolly, my voice a bit cold. Eddie didn't notice, as he was busy with his idealized love at the moment. By the time I arrived at the hotel, everyone was already there. The people in the room were all Eddie's friends, whom he had introduced me to. Except for the woman on Eddie's right. At first glance, I was stunned. She was undeniably beautiful, but her profile was eerily similar to mine. The two were sitting very close, and I didn't know what the woman was saying, but Eddie leaned in slightly to listen, his expression softer than I'd ever seen. “The sister-in-law is here, come on in. Eddie, come over!” Eddie's best friend, Lavell, shouted when he saw me enter. Hearing Lavell's voice, the woman next to Eddie suddenly became nervous and pushed him away, her beautiful face full of panic. “Sister, don't get the wrong idea. I just returned to the country and haven't seen Eddie in a long time. We were just catching up as friends, so please don't blame Eddie.” Her sweet voice chimed in. “Oh, and Eddie told me you're two months older than me, so I hope you don't mind if I call you sister?” Her explanation seemed innocent, but it quietly confirmed their connection. “Dejia, there's no need to be so flustered. Xya is very understanding and won't mind,” Eddie's slightly protective tone cut off the words I was about to say. Their intimate way of addressing each other made me feel like a third wheel. “Yeah, right. What woman could stand her boyfriend being so close to his first love?” “Xya, let me introduce you. This is Dejia, my childhood friend. She went abroad a few years ago and just got back today.” “Who’s your friend? I’m your dad,” Dejia immediately quipped after Eddie finished, playfully tapping his chest with a hint of flirtation. “Alright, alright, Dejia, this is Xya, my girlfriend, the one I told you about,” Eddie said, doting on Dejia, completely disregarding my feelings as his actual girlfriend. I stood there, feeling awkward. The air crackled with tension. Lavell noticed something was off and quickly tried to smooth things over. “Everyone's here, so let's get seated. Come on, sis, sit next to Eddie. He's the star today.” Just as I was about to nod, a voice ruined the mood: “Sis, I just got back and don't have many friends here besides Eddie. Can I sit next to him?” Her slightly tentative voice hushed the room. Eddie's friends seemed unsure of what to do. “That won't do. Eddie, it's your birthday, and your girlfriend should sit with you, not with us. How about this, Dejia? Why don't you sit next to her and get to know her?” Lavell's teasing voice broke the silence, but his joking words hit home for me. I turned to Eddie, waiting for him to speak up. “Eddie~ you know I don’t get along with other girls,” Dejia whined openly this time. Eddie turned to me, his handsome face apologetic. “Xya, Dejia only really hangs out with me. Could you…” “Sure, I don't mind where I sit,” I interrupted, understanding Eddie's intention before he could finish. Without a moment's hesitation, Eddie chose Dejia. The “just friends” excuse was a bitter pill to swallow. “And you, Lavell, could you stop teasing Dejia? She's different from other girls,” Eddie said, his face unusually serious, yet his tone was full of unrestrained defense for Dejia. So, the protection I believed was mine alone could be extended to someone else too. “Thank you, sis,” Dejia said with a face full of glee, dragging Eddie to sit down. As she pulled out her chair, she turned and gave me a challenging smile. I set down the cake, ignoring Dejia's provocation, and found a seat in the corner, my mood sinking to rock bottom. The meal tasted like cardboard to me. In sharp contrast to my inner turmoil, the atmosphere buzzed with energy, especially between Eddie and Dejia.Finally, the dinner dragged on to its end, and Eddie went to settle the bill. I was the first to step outside for a breath of fresh air. The snow was finally letting up, but the wind still howled fiercely, stinging my face. "Time to go home, Xya," Eddie called out to me after a while. I turned around, and the sight of Dejia trailing behind Eddie was like a slap in the face, shattering the calm I'd just managed to piece together. Maybe my stare was too blatant, as Eddie quickly walked over to me, blocking Dejia from my view. He unwound his scarf and wrapped it snugly around my neck. "The wind's strong today, why aren't you wearing a scarf?" His usual gentle tone carried a trace of reproach. His belated concern did little to ease my irritation. My eyes burned as I stared at him, words failing me. Eddie, are you this gentle with everyone? "Are we taking her home with us too?" I asked Eddie directly. "Xya, Dejia's just a girl, unfamiliar with this place, and it's late. I can't let her go back alone, so I'm giving her a ride," Eddie explained with a slight hint of apology. It felt more like a statement than an explanation. "Fine, let's get in the car," I said flatly. I walked to the car and opened the passenger door. But someone beat me to it. "Eddie, let's go, I'm so tired~ Huh? Why isn't sister getting in? ... Oh, sorry, sister, I'm used to sitting in the front. Eddie and I always sat like this before," Dejia's tired yet insincerely apologetic voice buzzed in my head. Dejia wore an apologetic look, but made no move to get up. "Xya, it doesn't matter where you sit. Just sit in the back. Dejia's used to it, she didn't mean anything by it," Eddie's voice of defense came again. That was the third time tonight. I silently slid into the back seat. On the way to drop Dejia off, I finally broke my silence and asked Eddie, "Eddie, does your promise of being together forever still stand?" "Why are you asking this all of a sudden? Of course it does. Is it because of Dejia that you're upset? Xya, Dejia is just a friend, don't misunderstand," Eddie explained gently, his words full of defense for Dejia. Really, Eddie? I wish it was just a misunderstanding. But how do you explain your special attention to her? The promise of "being together forever"—is that with Dejia always in your heart? Back home, I remained silent. "I'm feeling a bit tired today, I'll hit the shower first. Don't overthink things. Once this busy period is over, let's go skiing like you've always wanted," Eddie said, patting my head before heading to the bathroom. He tossed his clothes onto the sofa, and the glow from his phone screen stood out starkly. I picked up his phone, and the notification content hit me like a ton of bricks. It was a message from Dejia: "Eddie, I found some old photos of us. I really miss those days when we were young." And then came a picture. The photo showed two innocently familiar faces. The boy had a distinctive mole at the corner of his eye, while the girl's eyes held a captivating sparkle. It was Eddie and Dejia during their high school days. Eddie, in the photo, appeared fresh-faced and vibrant, wearing a smile I'd never seen before as he gazed down at the girl beside him. The girl, slightly turned, looked back at him with affectionate eyes, her profile uncannily resembling mine today. An indescribable warmth and harmony radiated between them. Messages poured in relentlessly, as if the sender never tired. I tortured myself by reading them one by one, most brimming with Dejia's nostalgia. Through these snippets, I stitched together the tapestry of Eddie's youth. Dejia had been with him throughout his entire school life. Sweet and innocent, such an important figure, no wonder she was unforgettable. But when I saw the last message, I flung the phone aside, feeling like I'd plunged into an icy abyss. I remembered how Eddie often said my downcast, sidelong glance reminded him of the past. I always believed he referred to the early days of our relationship, but it was this past he meant. Eddie and I met in college. When I was nine, my parents divorced, and the court granted custody to my mom. Growing up in a single-parent household left me sensitive and insecure, with my mom always stressing the importance of hard work and success. To break free from this life and make those who once scorned us regret it. I often made myself invisible, quietly existing in my own little world. During a university exam, I was falsely accused of cheating by a classmate, and my usually silent self was thrown into a panic. Confronted by the professor's questions and my classmates' accusations, I was speechless in my defense. That's when Eddie appeared. Unlike others who stood by indifferently, he stepped in and helped me out. He was a beacon of light, illuminating the darkness of my life. From then on, my gaze quietly followed him. Later, when Eddie confessed his feelings, I was overjoyed but feared it was just a dream. I asked him, "Why do you like me?" Why would you like someone everyone else despises? Eddie's answer is something I'll never forget. He said that liking someone doesn't need a reason, and that I was worthy of love. It turns out, the secret to being favored was to resemble her.