He Let Her Be Mom, I Walked Away

I packed piece by piece, tossing memories away as I went.

Ethan and I had been college sweethearts.

Back then, plenty of guys chased me—

but I chose Ethan, the broke kid with grit.

He was like a weed growing stubbornly out of a crack in the pavement.

Early on, he introduced me to Nora, a girl from his hometown who had worked hard to get into the same college.

The first time we met, she was overly friendly—hooking her arm through mine and warning Ethan,

“You’re lucky, man. Treat Claire right or I’ll be the first to beat you up.”

I laughed then, thinking Nora was just open and warm-hearted.

Even when I felt uncomfortable, I couldn’t say anything.

They really did look like they were just “pure friends,” so saying anything made me look petty.

Until two years ago, on my birthday, Nora said she was heartbroken and wanted to die—

Ethan ditched me on the spot to keep her company all night.

Last Christmas, when I had a high fever and called him dozens of times with no answer,

he was at the bar celebrating “friendship day” with Nora.

And even tonight, on New Year’s Day, right in front of my relatives,

Nora whined, “I’m so bored, Ethan, come play video games with me.”

He ditched me and the whole family to game all night—

leaving me to face everyone’s questions alone.

I finally realized that this so-called friendship was just a perfect excuse for the two of them to trample over me.

Halfway through packing, I heard the door unlock.

Ethan stumbled in reeking of alcohol, saw me there, and smirked like he had me cornered.

He hugged me from behind, kissing my neck urgently, mumbling,

“Babe, it’s just a baby. I can give you one too, okay?”

“We’ll have lots of them—way better than that one I gave Nora, yeah?”

His words cut like a knife.

I spun around and shoved him away with all my strength.

“Don’t touch me—you disgust me.”

He staggered, almost falling, then the suppressed rage in his eyes flared back to life.

“Claire, are you insane? I came home early for you. I didn’t even drop Nora off!”

“She didn’t even throw a fit after you poured a drink on her, and here you are making a scene again. What do you want from me?”

“Divorce.”

I stared him down, voice flat and cold.

“No way!”

He struggled to stand, his eyes bloodshot.

“All this over something so small? You’re throwing away years of love for this?”

“Small?”

I almost laughed.

“You call knocking her up a small thing?”

I stepped closer, my voice shaking but clear.

“Don’t you dare hide behind your so-called ‘bro code’ as a fig leaf for cheating.”

“Don’t you dare make me out to be the crazy one every time you side with her, like that can turn black into white.”

“All those secret looks you share with Nora, those late-night heart-to-hearts—do you really think I’m blind? You think I can’t feel what’s going on?”

“Five years, Ethan. I’ve had enough.”

“Enough!”

At the end, I was just exhausted.

“In the end, you’re still just mad because of Nora.”