Their Favorite Toy

into my phone screen like I'd signed up for some relentless punishment. I could almost hear them la

insults, all delivered by strangers who believed they had me figured out. They loved to hate me. They knew nothing abou

ts casual cruelty. "Liam could do so much better. Imagine throwi

Let's cal

my little bubble of social shame. And no matter how many times I refreshed the screen or tried to

maybe I just wanted to prove I could still be normal, still walk outside and pretend like e

same headlines that haunted me. I kept my head down, but paranoia crawled up my spine. Every stare felt like it lasted a beat too long, every whis

which was a relief. At least someone wasn't interested in dissecting my life today. I found a seat in the back, cradli

n it ha

w voices, phones out and eyes flashing as they exchanged some scandalous piece of gos

e?" one of them whisp

irection, then laughed. "I wonder i

ow, churning discomfort in my gut. And for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to look away. It was li

s Liam will stil

forcing myself to stay quiet. I'd let them think they'd won, let t

nough to turn a few heads, but I didn't care. I was done with the loo

ement like I could somehow outrun the anger bubbling inside me. I walked for what felt like hours,

all too much-the judgment, the pity, the betrayal. My life was splashed across screens, dissected and devoured, all

e city, didn't need the fame, and definitely didn't need the endless parade of p

But for the first time in weeks, I felt... calm. Like

ing more. I was leaving behind more than just a city; I was shedding the version of myself that had let all of th

hone and check available flights. Somewhere, anywhere, an

ally type. Tears blurring the screen. Zu

d from the "before" days, back when I was just a writer and not some tabloid sensation

to hear her voice, to let her tell me that everything would be okay. But another part of me, t

ence settle over me like a blanket. Clara wo

d me and made my way to the bus station. It was late, the street

•

ssing my forehead against the cool window. Outside, the city stretched out before me, all flashing lights and looming skyscrape

ave much of a plan coming here but I picked

place, where no one knew my name, where I could be anyone or no one

, the city lights fad