Ghosts of What We Had

The fact that Wendy didn't even bother to get her record straight before accusing me made me scoff in anger.

"You want me to apologize? Go and check the security footage for yourself and see whether it's me or him who has to apologize to the other!"

I didn't think Wendy would assume I wanted to push Harvey down the stairs before she even checked the security footage.

"Harvey's sick! Why would he try to cause any harm to himself on purpose?"

Harvey's eyes flashed with panic.

"Let's forget about it, Wendy. It's understandable for Nate to be upset with me. Let's just go."

Wendy refused to let up.

"Nope. He has to apologize to you today!"

I refused to apologize, of course. I wasn't going to admit to something I didn't do.

Harvey was worried that if this continued, Wendy would actually check the security footage, which would expose what he'd tried to do. Thus, he started clutching his stomach and saying that he felt unwell.

Wendy's rage immediately morphed into concern as she quickly took Harvey away to get a doctor.

As I watched them leave, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming wave of sorrow envelop me.

I'd spent over two decades by Wendy's side, and we'd been in a relationship for five of those years. But none of that earned me even an ounce of her trust. Thankfully, I'd awakened to reality and managed to extract myself from this relationship before it was too late.

…

It was the day before I left Rockshire. Wendy didn't come back to the house. I figured she was busy looking after the "sick" Harvey.

I had all my luggage shipped to the research lab beforehand, leaving only a backpack to take with me.

That night, Wendy showed up, looking as angry as she was before.

"Harvey is still in the hospital right now. He's sick! Can't you be more understanding and gracious? Why are you being so petty and calculative?"

Gracious and understanding? I was pretty sure I'd been acting like a saint. I'd allowed Harvey to take a wedding photoshoot with the suit and photographer I'd prepared for myself. I'd allowed the woman who was supposed to be my wife to bear his child.

And now, I was even giving him my place beside Wendy.

Meanwhile, Wendy's expression eased up when she noticed the date on the calendar marked with a bold red circle.

"Whatever. We're getting married tomorrow, so I don't want to fight. You can apologize to Harvey after the wedding, and then we'll go on our honeymoon."

I said nothing.

If Wendy bothered to pay even the slightest bit of attention, she would've noticed that the house was devoid of anything related to the wedding.

"Let's…"

I'd barely begun telling Wendy the truth when her phone rang. Harvey's voice came through the speaker, and Wendy immediately looked anxious.

"Hang on. I'll be right here," she said before ending the call and dashing for the door.

"Harvey's feeling unwell. I'm going to check on him. I'll be back in time for the wedding ceremony. Wait for me at the hotel tomorrow morning."

It was only after the door had shut that I finished the sentence I meant to say earlier.

"Let's break up, Wendy. I canceled the wedding."

My voice echoed in the empty house. The only answer I got was the clock ticking away on the wall.

I sat in the living room until dawn, watching as the night sky turned bright once more. My phone buzzed, reminding me it was three hours till my flight boarding time.

Striding toward the bedroom, I retrieved the backpack I'd prepared. Then, I got a marker and crossed out the date that had been circled on the calendar.

Beneath it, I wrote, "Let's break up, Wendy."

After placing the calendar in the most prominent spot in the house, I pulled on my backpack and got a cab to the airport.

This was goodbye, Wendy.