Goodbye to Yesterday's Love

Just as I prepared to go to my father's grave, my cousin, Demi Johnson, intercepted me at the stairs.

She asked me to help her prepare for her 20th birthday. So, I tried to push past her, but Demi blocked my way.

In a flash, she lost her footing and fell from the second-floor landing, tumbling down to the first floor with a gasp.

It was in that instant, my two closest friends since childhood, Morgan Andrews and Nate Hawkins arrived at the house.

The shock on their faces told me they had drawn the worst conclusion, so I tried to explain, but they would not listen.

Morgan and Nate used to be my guardian angels, but here they were, standing across me with cold expressions, with Demi nestled between them, casting herself as the victim.

My heart could not help but sink when realizing if they decided to trust Demi, a newcomer they had known only a year, than me who had been with them for fifteen years.

I made a decision and called my mother - "Mom, I accept your proposal. I am willing to marry Luke!"

***

Demi wore an impatient expression and crossed her arms firmly.

“My birthday is in two days, Ariel. We can visit your father’s grave later, but my party preparations can’t wait. I want it to be perfect, and I want it planned early,” she insisted, her tone leaving little room for discussion.

Taken aback, I shook my head. “But today is….”

But she cut me off sharply, “I don’t care what today is, Ariel! I want the party to be perfect, and I want it planned early.”

Demi stood there, arms crossed and eyes narrowed. Despite being two years younger, she never showed me any respect. Instead, she acted like the queen of the household, lording over me in my own home.

The cruelty of her words struck me like a slap too. A year ago, my father had sacrificed everything to protect her, but then, on the very day that marked his passing, she was demanding I help her throw a lavish party.

In that moment, grief and anger surged within me, filling me with memories of my father. He had been my rock, my protector, the one who had loved me unconditionally. How could she not care that this day marked his loss?

"Demi, are you losing your mind?” I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady even as anger surged within me. “Don’t you remember how tragically my father lost his life, for you?”

“Oh, grow up, Ariel!” Demi cut me off, rolling her eyes as if I were being unreasonable. “Why can’t you just let it go? He’s gone, and you’re still here. You’re the one making this into such a big deal.”

“Demi, you’re unbelievable!” I shouted, my voice raw with emotion. “Do you honestly think you can make me forget today? Or pretend my father’s sacrifice did not happen?”

She folded her arms defiantly, as if daring me to continue.

I could not stand another second of her dismissiveness. “I’m done listening to this,” I muttered, pushing past her toward the stairs.

Demi grabbed my arm, trying to stop me from leaving. “Where do you think you’re going?” she demanded, digging her nails into my wrist.

The argument escalated, voices rising, words becoming angrier and more frantic as emotions flared.

In the heat of the moment, I pulled my arm free, and in a split second, Demi lost her balance. Her eyes widened in surprise as she tumbled backward, falling from the second-floor landing down to the first floor with a horrified gasp.

My heart froze. For a moment, I could not breathe when I saw her lying there, sprawled out at the bottom of the stairs.

But just as I was about to rush down, the front door opened, and my childhood friends, Morgan and Nate, walked in. Their faces turned to shock as they took in the scene, and immediately I could see the worst assumption flash in their eyes.

“Morgan, Nate, this isn’t what it looks like!” I called, rushing down the stairs. “She fell, but I swear I did not push her!” My voice shook with desperation as I tried to explain, but they barely spared me a glance.

Morgan’s gaze was steely, disappointment etched into his expression as he walked past me to Demi. “Demi, are you okay?” he asked softly, pulling her into a hug to comfort her.

Nate, who was training to be a doctor, had already dialed for an ambulance and knelt down to check for injuries.

He shot me a cold, disapproving look. “Ariel, I thought I knew you,” he said quietly. “I never thought you would hurt her.”

His words stung, each syllable cutting deeper than I thought possible. They had been my friends for over fifteen years, friends who had stood up for me when others had mocked me for my mother’s absence, friends who had once been my greatest supporters.

It felt as though they were turning their backs on me, dismissing all the years of loyalty and laughter as if it meant nothing. All because of Demi, who they had known for barely a year.

At that moment, I understood that everything had changed. My father was gone, and my closest friends, the people my father had trusted to look after me after my mother left, were gone too. Demi had somehow cast her spell over them, erasing our history and replacing it with lies.

Soon, the paramedics arrived and took Demi away, with Morgan and Nate following closely behind, their concern for her blocking out anything I might have said.

I was left standing there, alone in the echo of their silence, the realization sinking in that place no longer held anything for me. I had no one left who truly cared.

I took one last look at the house I had once called home, then left, finally making my way to my father’s grave.

As I stood by his resting place, my phone rang, interrupting my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and saw my mother’s name.

My mother, Cecile Burton, was a famous businesswoman in Warlington. Although she had been divorced for fifteen years from my father, she decided not to remarry and chose to focus on her career.

She also never forgot to send me pocket money every month. Someone who was kind and cared for me, but I never knew her in person, because we just did video calls since then.

After taking a deep breath, I answered, “Hello, Mom?”

“Oh, Ariel! I was worried you would not pick up. Today’s your father’s anniversary, and I thought you might be... well, mourning. So, are you okay today, dear?” Her voice was gentle, and her words brought an ache to my chest.

For the first time that day, someone had asked how I was doing and had shown concern.

“Yes, Mom,” I replied, my voice thick with the tears I had tried so hard to hold back. “Everything is fine here. How about you?”

There was a pause on her end before she sighed. “Oh, dear, I wish I could be there with you today. But unfortunately, I need to be hospitalized for a while these days.”

I gripped the phone tighter, my tears slipping free. “What? Why... What's wrong? Are you okay?”

“It’s nothing too serious, dear, just a reality of getting older,” she said, trying to sound reassuring.

Then, she continued before I could answer, “But, Ariel, I would love it if you could come to visit soon. We could celebrate your graduation together and maybe, one day, I would get to see you walk down the aisle before I pass.”

Her words were calm, but they struck a raw nerve in me.

The past year had been the loneliest of my life, emptier even than when my parents divorced.

Every day, I had been dealing with Demi’s dramas and the indifference of my supposed friends.

So, hearing that my mother wanted me by her side made me feel seen. It made me feel needed.

“Sure, Mom. I will come as soon as I can,” I said, a small smile forming as I wiped away my tears. “But as for marriage….”

My mother laughed softly. “No worry about that, dear. I have arranged you with my friend’s son, if you like you can try dating him before marriage. Well, I think you need to enjoy your youth! You deserve it.”

I chuckled at her words, the sound lifting some of the weight from my heart. At that moment, it felt like a good idea, and seemed like a chance to start anew.

Warlington, her city, was far from the haunting memories of Stanmore. Why not go and enjoy my youth there, to try and find happiness on my own terms?

“Okay, Mom,” I replied, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease. “I will tell you once I have everything sorted.”

We exchanged a few words, and after wishing her well, I ended the call with a small smile.

The decision had become clear: I would leave Stanmore and the broken circle of people who had abandoned me when I needed them most.

It was time to find a new path, one where I could finally find peace and leave the ghosts of betrayal behind.