Too Late For His Savior Complex

s over. He brought Sarah her favorite coffe

r shared study spot. "I' m sorry if I was harsh t

. It was a peace offeri

Ben. It was about respe

know. But you have to admit, you' ve been a bit... in

ect my boyfriend not to entertain late

t... generally. You use

remembered a time when Ben would have been outraged on her behalf. He would have shut down any girl who c

use I' m seeing things I don

head. "Let' s just forget about it, oka

disillusionment. His words felt like platitudes,

eir seven-and-a-half-year anniversary. They had planned a weekend trip

ere supposed to leave

about this

ch dropped. "W

ckathon project is falling apart, and she' s freaking out. Sh

birthday. Our a

eally desperate. She said I' m the only one who ca

"You' re canceling ou

ing. We can go next weekend. I promis

the indispensable hero, was

is important

to her? Sarah, try to be unders

er hurt. He packed a small bag, not for their t

ivia, her best friend and roommate, tried to cheer

zed. She glanced at it,

s," Olivia said, han

ppers scattered around. One photo showed Ben smiling, pointing at something on Jessica' s screen, his arm casually draped over the back of her chair

d into him, the proprietary smile on her face. It was a delibe

e wasn't just helping; he was enjoying this. And Je

eam, which she led, had won second place, a significant achievement.

nsive "help," had underperformed. Th

earing on "Northwood Confiden

Ben P. spent her bday helping junior Je

d shoulder at the CS social. Guess some

fficult girlfriend. Ben, the perfectionist who valued competence, was somehow blind to Jessica' s manipulative underperformance and blatant social schemi