Lost in the chaos, Ethan didn’t recognize my
voice. “Enough, Tiffany. Don’t waste your time
on a waitress. It’s beneath you.” He glanced
at me with disgust. “Get out!”
His condescending tone crushed me. I
scrambled up and ran, tears finally bursting
forth as I sobbed outside the bar. All his love
was a lie. I remembered meeting Ethan. I was
leaving work late when some guys tried to
drag me into an alley. Ethan intervened,
fighting them off, getting bruised and
battered in the process. His injuries warmed
my heart. As an orphan, I’d never felt
protected. Ethan felt like salvation. Grateful, I
took him to dinner. He confessed his feelings,
and we started dating. I thought I’d found
love. He was handsome, seemingly devoted,
and a hard worker.
For two years, I’d sacrificed everything for
him. I woke up early to make him breakfast. I
nursed him through fevers, terrified he’d need
me and I wouldn’t be there. And what did he
do? Nothing but sweet talk and empty
promises.
He was right about one thing: I was stupid. Stupid for being so thoroughly deceived.
<
I stumbled home, numb. Ethan sat on the
couch, wearing the faded matching t–shirt I’d
bought him. He stood up as I entered. “Babe,
my coworkers took me out for barbecue. I
brought some home for you.” He pointed to
the takeout and a six–pack of beer, grinning.
“The boss gave us this!” He was so thrilled,
like he’d won the lottery. I stared at him,
remembering him ordering thousand–dollar
champagne without blinking.
“My bonus was two hundred bucks this
month! Awesome, right?” When I didn’t
respond, he tried to hug me. “Babe, what’s
wrong?”
The memory of his kiss with the influencer
made my stomach churn. I doubled over, dry
heaving. I hadn’t eaten all day. He knelt
beside me, worried. “Babe, are you sick?
