Goodbye to Yesterday's Love

Finally, my labored breathing caught their attention. Nate turned, his brow furrowing as he took in my pale face and the way I clutched at my throat.

“Ariel? Are you...?” His eyes widened with sudden horror. “Are you having an allergic reaction?”

Morgan’s earlier frustration melted into shock. “You... are you allergic to mango?”

I managed a weak nod, sinking against the counter as my airway tightened, making every breath a struggle.

Demi, sensing the shift, widened her eyes in feigned shock, though I caught a flicker of satisfaction before she masked it with wide-eyed innocence.

“Oh, Ariel, I had no idea you were allergic.” she gasped, looking perfectly distressed. “You never told me anything about it.”

She shook her head as if deeply regretful. “I thought you would love it, so I added mango. I’m so, so sorry.”

Here she was again, pretending she did not know. Since that was not actually even the first time she had done that.

I remembered the day she had handed me a glass of dragon fruit juice, only to learn later she had mixed it with mango. She had deliberately used dragon fruit to disguise the color, making me think it was safe.

Demi knew everything about me, about my weaknesses, about my allergies, and about how deadly mango could be to someone like me. And here she was, lying again, right in front of Nate and Morgan.

But I did not have the energy to fight, to argue, or to expose her. My body was already shutting down, and if one of them had held a knife at that moment, I would have surrendered, too tired to resist.

“What should we do?” Demi cried, bringing her hands to her face and starting to sob. She even slapped herself lightly, as if blaming herself. “It’s all my fault! I always make Ariel suffer.”

Morgan immediately pulled her into his arms, holding her as if she were the one in pain. “It’s okay, Demi. Don’t do this to yourself,” he murmured, gently stroking her hair to calm her down.

Nate joined in, his voice soft and reassuring. “The ambulance is on its way, Demi. Ariel will be fine. You did not know about it, so you don’t need to blame yourself.”

Morgan nodded, hugging her tighter. “Exactly, Demi. You did nothing wrong. Calm down, okay?”

Demi sobbed into his chest, clinging to him like a frightened child, and I could only watch, feeling as though I were being erased from my own life.

My vision blurred as memories surfaced, memories of when Morgan and Nate had been my defenders, my friends.

When we were children, kids at school would tease me, calling me “the unwanted girl” because my mother had left. So, I would be left in tears, only to have Morgan and Nate step in to protect me.

“Ariel is a princess,” Morgan would say defiantly, hugging me as I cried. “A gem we will protect no matter what, so stop teasing her, you bullies!”

Nate would stand beside me too, ready to take on anyone who dared insult me.

They were my bodyguards, my childhood heroes, and the friends who saw me through every hardship. But then, as my breath grew fainter, they were the ones turning their backs on me, charmed by Demi, a devil with an angel’s face.

My body felt heavier and the world around me fading as darkness crept in.

I barely registered the sound of the ambulance arriving or the feeling of being lifted onto a stretcher.

But my last glimpse before passing out was Nate and Morgan standing beside Demi, holding her hands to comfort her as she sniffled, looking away from me as though I were nothing more than an afterthought.

“Have you really changed that much, Nate? Morgan?” I wondered silently, despair filling my heart as I finally succumbed to the darkness.

**

When I woke, the sterile white ceiling of a hospital room greeted me.

I had spent countless days in rooms like that for treatments, so that the smell of antiseptic, the soft hum of medical equipment, and the feel of the IV in my arm were my constant companions.

That time, though, a wave of relief washed over me. I was alive, safe, and breathing.

But as I came fully awake, the memories of what had happened flooded back, and tears filled my eyes.

I could have died. Demi’s cake could have been the end of me.

If I had not woken up, I would not have been able to leave, to go to Warlington and finally find peace with my mother.

As I cried, the door opened, and my doctor rushed in, alarmed by my tears.

“Ariel, are you in pain? What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice gentle as he approached, knowing me well after years of caring for me.

I shook my head, trying to stifle my sobs. “No, nothing hurts, Doc. I just... I thought I might not make it this time.” My voice wavered, but as I explained, he listened patiently, like an old friend.

Once I had calmed, I told him about my decision to leave for Warlington to be with my mother, the last family I could rely on.

The doctor nodded thoughtfully, a small smile crossing his face.

“Ariel, you nearly gave me a heart attack. I was ready to call your mother myself,” he said with a chuckle, relief softening his eyes.

I managed a weak laugh, wiping away my tears. “Sorry, Doc. I just realized how much I will miss chatting and joking with you once I leave.”

His gaze softened, and he placed a hand on my shoulder. “You don’t need to apologize, Ariel. And I think this will be good for you. You need your mother now, more than ever.”

He paused, as if gathering his thoughts. “I will tell a colleague in Warlington to look after you. You will be in good hands, I promise.”

“Thank you, Doc,” I whispered, grateful beyond words. We chatted a little longer before he left, and I drifted into a restful sleep.

**

Even as I recovered in the hospital, I began preparing for my departure.

I secretly arranged for Jerome to handle the sale of my home, instructing him to sell it quickly, even at a lower price.

But Jerome, always one step ahead, managed to find a buyer willing to pay more. What was more, he was a former colleague of my father’s who respected our family’s legacy.

So, I thanked him deeply, grateful for his support.

Shortly before I was discharged, a message from Morgan and Nate appeared in our group chat. Demi had clearly informed them of the house sale, and they were not pleased.

[Morgan: Ariel, don’t you think selling the house over a minor allergy incident is a bit extreme?]