Chapter 3

I thought they’d leave me alone after I burned everything. But they didn’t. Days passed, and slowly, Jared started acting like nothing had happened. He began sending flowers again. He texted like a sweet boyfriend, asked about my day, and even tried to kiss me once when we crossed paths outside the building. It was as if nothing had ever gone wrong. Jackson followed suit, playing the big brother again—bringing coffee, joking about old times. Every time they said, “Sorry about what happened, let’s fix things,” it sounded more like they were apologizing for a stubbed toe than years of neglect and betrayal. Then they surprised me with dinner. “Our treat,” Jared said. “At our old spot.” Part of me wanted to delete the message and never look back. But another part of me—the tired, heartbroken part—wondered if maybe, just maybe, we could end this all without bitterness. Without hating each other. So I went. The restaurant hadn’t changed. Dim lighting, warm wooden booths, soft jazz playing overhead. It smelled like rosemary and nostalgia. I sat down, watching them laugh, trying to recapture something that had long since died. For a few moments, it almost felt okay. Then Jared’s phone rang. He glanced at it and froze. “It’s Audrey.” He answered, frowning. “What? Slow down… You were robbed? What? Stabbed?! Where are you—” In seconds, both he and Jackson were on their feet. “She’s crying,” Jared explained breathlessly. “She was attacked. We’ve got to go.” They didn’t say goodbye. They didn’t even look at me again. They just ran. Ran like their world depended on her. I sat there in silence, staring at the half-eaten food. The candle on the table flickered until it burned out completely. I paid the bill myself. When I stepped outside, the sky had opened up. Thunder cracked across the heavens as rain poured relentlessly. The streets were nearly empty—no taxis, no buses. The restaurant manager offered me an umbrella, but they were already closed. I couldn’t stay. So I walked. Each step was heavy. My bandaged arms ached. My body screamed for rest. But the worst part? The thunder. It echoed in my chest, triggering a deep fear I’d carried since childhood. I always froze during storms. The lightning, the cracks—it made me feel like the world was about to split in two. I wrapped my coat tighter and kept going, the city turning into a blur of light and shadows. Then—a sharp light. A horn. A car. I didn’t even have time to move. Then: darkness. When I woke up, everything felt… soft. Too soft. I was in a room I didn’t recognize. Clean, white walls. Dim lighting. My body hurt, but it was dull, distant. I blinked hard, turning toward the sound of someone shifting nearby. “Jared…?” I whispered. But it wasn’t him. A man sat in the corner, tall, dressed in black, his eyes unreadable. He didn’t move until I tried to sit up. “You’re awake,” he said. His voice was deep, steady. “Don’t move too much.” “Who… are you?” “Roscoe,” he said. “I found you after the accident. Took you to the hospital. You were unconscious.” I wanted to ask more. But everything spun—and I blacked out again. When I opened my eyes again, Roscoe was gone. No note. No contact. Just… gone. There were no missed calls. No messages. No check-ins. Except for my mother. Mom: Call me when you’re on your way here now. Everything’s ready now. Come home. I didn’t tell her what happened. I didn’t want her to worry. The nurse told me I’d been lucky. The car had hit me from the side, but nothing was broken—still, I needed a few more days to heal. So I stayed. Alone. Until discharge. Back at the apartment, I stepped inside just to grab the last of my things before I booked my flight home. That’s when Jared appeared at the door. “Oh, good. You’re back.” He smiled like nothing had happened. “So, listen… we had to sell your car. And some of your things too. Audrey needed emergency funds, and—” “What?” I asked, stunned. “You sold my things?” “Relax,” Jackson said, walking in. “We’ll pay you back. But Audrey’s been through a lot after the robbery. She needs someone to take care of her—can you cook for her? She’s not eating well.” I blinked, stunned. “Are you serious?” Jackson’s brows furrowed. “Where’ve you been anyway? Audrey said you went to some party after the dinner. Don’t you think that’s not a good behavior when Audrey was in danger? You shouldn’t have been here with us! I think you’re being selfish.” I felt like I’d been punched. I laughed. It came out hollow, broken. “Right. A party.” Then I threw the hospital discharge file straight at them. “There. That’s where I was. The hospital. You left me in the rain. I walked home through a thunderstorm. I got hit by a car.” “What…?” Jared asked, staring. “You were in the hospital?” “I thought you were with friends…” Jackson mumbled, confused. “Audrey said—” “Of course she did,” I snapped. “It’s always Audrey, isn’t it?” Before they could say more, a high-pitched scream came from the hallway. “Help! Jared, Jackson—it hurts! Please!” Audrey. Of course. Always Audrey. I didn’t wait to hear their response. I turned, stepped over the threshold, and walked away.

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