The sky was beginning to darken when I turned the corner onto Grace’s street. A cool evening breeze kicked up, and I zipped her hoodie a little tighter as I jogged toward the house. Lights glowed invitingly through kitchen windows, and I wondered if Mary had cooked dinner for herself or if she had gone out.
I missed her.
I hadn’t heard from her since yesterday, since she’d texted me to ask how school went. Checking my phone obsessively wasn’t helping; I kept hoping for another message that would say she missed me too, that she had an idea about how to fix this.
I decided to take a detour over towards our house before going back to Grace’s. I had to see it for myself, even if just from the outside.
My heart thudded in my chest as I ran through the neighborhood, past the familiar yards and parked cars, the houses with their porch lights flickering on.
When I got there, I stopped across the street and looked at it—my house. The living room light was on.
It felt strange to be this close and yet belong to an entirely different life now.
There was movement inside.
Ethan? What was he doing there?
I moved a little closer, trying to peer in without being too obvious. She was there too, Mary. They were talking and laughing.
Then they kissed.
My breath caught in my throat, and I stumbled back from the window.
Pain and disbelief hit me like a punch in the gut. Was that why she hadn’t been in touch? Why she seemed so calm about all of this?
Had this been her plan all along? Was she happy to be rid of me?
I backed away from the house, tears stinging my eyes as I turned and ran. I ran faster than I ever had, faster than I thought I could. Grace’s legs carried me forward with a kind of desperation, a need to escape. The wind dried the tears on my cheeks, but nothing could erase the image of Mary with him.
How could she do this to me? To us?
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