He Promised Forever, Then Left Me

e blurred landscape. The bus was nearly full, students chattering excitedly about the camping trip. Two seats remained, side

wasn'

gnawing anxiety in my stomach. He always prioritized me. He

as laughing, her head thrown back. He whispered something to her, and she playfully pun

empty seats beside me. For a split second, I saw a familiar flicker in his eyes – recognitio

gging playfully into his bicep. Her eyes, bright and calculating, met mine

ptibly. He took a breath, then turned, allowing Alexandria to guide him toward the back of the bus, where two

gain. Publicly.

g my face into a blank mask. My

t in the back. Just easier with

n' t

e your hearing aids, right? I know it' s lo

y words. I simply blocked his number. The tiny satisfaction was fleeting, swallowed by the gaping hole in my chest. I pulled out

vity: a scavenger hunt, requiring pairs. My stomach twisted. I hated the

syrupy smile on her face. "Grace! You and me, right? Besties!"

idn't waver, but her eyes narrowed. "What's

idn' t trust her. Not after the mu

me. Girls' day out in the wilderness." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Besid

even closer, her hand reaching for my arm again. This

th something ugly. "Fine," she hissed,

ackward. Her foot caught on an invisible root, and she went down w

she shrieked, cl

d towards her, his face a mask of conce

bling finger at me. "Grace... she... she pushed me! I

hed me. The lie hung in th

touching her ankle. He didn't even look a

y voice raspy with shock and indignat

ow fixed on me, filled with accusation and disgust. Mark, Josiah's friend, stepped forward, his face cont

voice cracking, barely audibl

ying her face in Josiah's shoulder. "

to outright condemnation. Crazy. Mute

embled. I was trapped, engulfe

ally so kind, were now hard, cold, and utterly devoid of pity. "Gra

Me? Apologize? For s

ce barely a whisper. "I wo

p tightening on Alexandria. "She's hurt. And she's

s a desperate plea, but it was lost

threatened, his eyes blazing with an unfamiliar anger. "Do you want t

asn't just choosing her; he was actively turning against me. He was sacr

s hiss. "Go on, freak. Say you're sorry. You're always causing trouble, aren't you? The p

h it, cold and unfeeling. "Grace. Apologize. Now." He stood up, Alexandria still clingi

ushing me forward. My legs buckled. I fell, my knees hitting the rough ground with

, their cameras flashing, capturing my degrada

d and clear, comman