Chapter 3

I step inside the apartment, and my chest just aches.

There are safety bumpers on every corner—leftover from when I was blind. But that's not what hits me.

The place reeks of her.

This is the tiny apartment Ethan and I saved up for after college. Our first home.

And while I couldn't see, she covered the walls with pictures of her and Ethan. Smiling. Kissing. Hugging.

The balcony is full of her hydrangeas.

My plants? Dead. Every single one.

This isn't my home anymore.

I feel like I just walked into their love nest.

Ethan takes my hand and leads me to the couch. “Mia, I'm sorry I didn't push you out of the way earlier. You got hurt because of me. Are you mad?”

“I should've protected you better.”

I stare blankly ahead, pretending. “It's okay, Ethan. I'm not mad. Those boxes weren't secured right.”

He exhales. Kisses my knuckles. “Good. Just sit tight. I'll make dinner.”

I smile and nod.

He and Lauren go into the kitchen together.

They're flirting. Touching each other while grabbing ingredients.

I pull out my phone—the one I barely use anymore—and find Lauren's post.

The votes for her to stay with Ethan have hit 100,000.

The votes for her to leave are at 90,000.

I scroll through it one more time. Then I book a one-way ticket out of New York.

When I look back up, Ethan and Lauren are arguing in the kitchen.

He grabs her wrist and pulls her into the bedroom.

I swallow the knot in my throat and follow quietly.

Through the crack in the door, I see him hold up his phone to her face.

His voice is shaking. “Lauren, what the hell is this post? You're leaving me? Going abroad?”

He found out.

Lauren's eyes go red. She drops to the floor, clutching her head, crying.

“Mia's going to get her sight back someday. How am I supposed to look at her after that? How do I tell her I fell in love with you?”

“Ethan, you and Mia are the couple. I'm just the pathetic other woman who betrayed her best friend.”

“I can't face her. So I'm running away. Don't make this harder for me.”

Ethan lowers himself to his knees. Wraps his arms around her. Kisses her tears away—softly, gently, like she's something precious.

“Don't leave me. We love each other. How could we just walk away from that?”

“The doctor said she's got years before she can see again. She won't find out.”

“And look—look at the votes. 100,000 people are on our side. They see what we have. Are you really going to ignore that?”

My fingers go cold. One by one.

Maybe if I was still blind, I'd stay in the dark forever.

Then I wouldn't have to lose my boyfriend and my best friend at the same time.

But now I'm standing here, watching them kiss. Comfort each other. Plan their future.

Lauren digs her fingers into his shoulders, sobbing. “Ethan, I'm drowning in guilt every single day. So let fate decide. If the votes for me to leave hit 100,000 after Christmas, I'll go. No questions asked. Just let me go. You belong to Mia, not me.”

Ethan's face twists with pain. He pulls her tighter. His voice cracks. “Okay. I just want you to be happy. Even if it means losing you.”

I'm crying without making a sound, cover my lips and walk away.