I was Never Theirs

The taste of almond lingered bitterly in my mouth as I gasped for air, trying to fight off the rapid swelling in my throat. “I’m… aller-,” I managed to choke out, pointing to the cupcake on the floor. I’d tossed it aside in panic, but Harvey and Nicolas seemed oblivious to the severity of my reaction.

Nicolas folded his arms, his expression both irritated and perplexed. “Sabrina, what is wrong with you lately? This is so unlike you. You’re acting… unreasonable.”

“Unrecognizable, even,” Harvey added with a disapproving frown.

I stared at them in disbelief, my vision beginning to blur. Between gasps, I forced the words out, desperation making my voice tremble. “It… it had almond in it. You both know… I’m allergic. Remember how you used to… protect me?”

Silence filled the room as the reality of my words began to sink in. Harvey’s face shifted, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Nicolas looked down, a faint blush creeping across his cheeks.

“We’re sorry,” Nicolas muttered, though his tone was stiff, as though he was embarrassed to admit they’d overstepped. “But… you should know Savvy put a lot of effort into making those cupcakes. She didn’t know.”

“Yeah,” Harvey chimed in, glancing over at Savvy, who was standing a few feet away, looking wounded and on the verge of tears. “She tried her best. The least you could’ve done was appreciate that, Sabrina.”

The pang of betrayal stung more deeply than the allergic reaction itself. But there was no use in arguing. They were already looking past me, moving toward Savvy, murmuring reassurances and offering comforting smiles.

The doorbell rang, and I turned as two paramedics stepped inside. Harvey gave me a quick, dismissive glance, then turned back to Savvy, his arm around her shoulder, comforting her as if she were the one suffering.

I went with the paramedics in silence, my throat closing tighter with each second, both from the reaction and the ache of betrayal. By the time we reached the hospital, I felt as though I’d left more than just that cupcake on the floor. A part of me—the part that had once trusted Harvey and Nicolas more than anyone in the world—was crumbling away.

---

I spent the next few days in recovery, alone in my hospital bed, replaying the events over and over. I was exhausted from hoping that one day they’d see me again—the real me, the Sabrina they’d once protected, cared about, and maybe even loved. But as each hour passed, the feeling that something had irrevocably changed between us solidified. I couldn’t stay somewhere that left me feeling so unseen.

As soon as I was discharged, I packed my things, each item a reminder of moments that now felt tainted. It wasn’t just the apartment—it was my father’s house, the place I’d inherited and tried to fill with new memories, with love. Now it felt empty, like a hollow shell.

As I walked through each room, packing up fragments of my life, the walls seemed to close in, the familiar spaces now thick with silence. My fingers brushed the edge of the kitchen counter where I’d once sat with Harvey and Nicolas, laughing until we cried over burnt pancakes that neither of us wanted to admit were our fault. I remembered us dancing in the dim light of the living room, spinning wildly to an old jazz record of my father’s, their laughter mixing with mine.

Now, the countertop felt cold under my hand, the laughter replaced by a hollow quiet that echoed back every step. I reached for a framed photo of my father, his warm smile meeting mine, and the ache in my chest deepened. This house had been his dream, every corner of it filled with pieces of him—the worn armchair by the window, the shelf he’d built himself in the study, the smell of his cologne still lingering in his closet.

As I sealed up the last box, I looked around one final time, trying to feel the love I’d once put into these walls, hoping I’d feel the warmth that had carried me through countless nights. But all I saw were empty spaces where memories once lived. It was as though the house itself had already let go, waiting for someone who could see past the echoes and turn it into a home again.

I handed the keys over to my father’s old colleague that afternoon, his hand lingering on mine as he looked at me with a knowing sadness. "I'll take good care of it, Sabrina. Your father… he'd be proud.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “I know you will. Thank you.” And as I turned away, the weight of the house finally lifted, leaving nothing but a quiet acceptance in its place.

---

Weeks later, I was sitting at my favorite coffee shop, that familiar buzz of excitement and nervousness swirling in my stomach as I glanced at the door. Harvey and Nicolas had reached out, asking if I’d meet them for coffee. A small spark of hope lit up inside me, despite everything. Maybe… maybe this was the start of something new. Maybe they’d realized what they’d lost, what I’d been trying to hold onto all these years.

I looked down at the steaming cup of coffee in front of me, tracing the rim with my finger, just as the two of them slid into the booth across from me.

“Sabrina,” Harvey started, his gaze level but distant. “Thanks for coming.”

Nicolas nodded, though his expression seemed more curious than apologetic. “So, we heard you sold the house.”

I felt a little flutter in my chest as I nodded, wondering if they’d bring up the real reason I’d left—the hurt and the distance that had been growing between us. But instead, Harvey raised an eyebrow, his voice carrying a hint of exasperation.

“Don’t you think that was… extreme?” he asked, watching me carefully. “I mean, over a minor incident with a cupcake?”

I blinked, the words sinking in like a slap. “Minor?” I echoed, trying to keep my tone even. “It wasn’t just about the allergy—it was about you two not… seeing me. You were too focused on Savvy to even notice.”

Nicolas tilted his head, frowning thoughtfully. “We didn’t think it was that serious, Sabrina. Maybe you’ve been feeling down lately? You know, stressed? We thought a trip might help.”

I forced myself to swallow back my frustration, looking away from the worry in their faces that somehow still wasn’t really for me. “I… appreciate the thought.”

Harvey’s eyes lit up. “We could all go together, just us… and, you know, maybe Savvy could come too? We don’t want to leave her out.”

“Yeah,” Nicolas agreed, flashing a grin. “If it’d make Savvy happy, why not? Maybe Lovely could tag along too. They’re so close, after all.”

For a moment, the words tangled in my throat, the sharp reminder of how distant we’d grown echoing between us. But then, a strange calm settled over me.

“Actually, I bought a camper van,” I replied, my voice steady. “It’s perfect for a road trip.”

Harvey and Nicolas exchanged glances, and to my surprise, their eyes lit up with enthusiasm.

“That sounds amazing!” Nicolas said, leaning forward. “Savvy would love it. We could get some supplies, make it a whole adventure.”

I smiled, but this time, it was for me. Let them have their trip, their perfect little setup. I’d already made my choice.

As they started planning, eagerly discussing how much fun Savvy would have, I felt a weight lift.