The Last Time I Crossed Oceans for You

I nodded, certain the whole world was right there in the palm of my hand.

But now the whole world was running.

And I was the only one still flat on the floor.

I don't know how long it lasted. The gunfire stopped. Sirens started.

I pushed myself up on one arm and limped out of the theater.

When I got home, the living room lights were on.

Dick was crouched on the floor, carefully dabbing ointment onto Fiona's calf.

"Hold on. This stings a little."

Fiona looked up, saw me, and gave a small smile. "Georgie, you okay? That was so terrifying. Thank God Dick reacted so fast."

Only then did Dick lift his head. "You're back? Good, as long as you're all right."

I looked down at myself.

A huge bruise spread across my knee. My elbow was still bleeding.

My hair hung loose around my face. I was a wreck from head to toe.

His gaze stayed on me for one second before it dropped back to Fiona's wound.

I wanted to demand an explanation, but by the time the words reached my lips, only one thought was left: he'd already chosen. He chose her.

In the second the gun went off, his body was ten thousand times more honest than his mouth.

"Georgie?" he called, finally noticing something was off. "What's wrong with you?"

I didn't answer.

I walked into the bedroom, opened the suitcase again, and packed the rest of my things.

He came after me. "Can you stop making a scene? In a situation like that, there was no way I could just leave her—"

"I know." I zipped the suitcase shut, my voice perfectly calm.

"So I made the choice for you."

"On the way back, I already booked a flight."

I looked up at him. "The earliest one. It leaves in two hours."

"Georgette—"

"Dick," I cut in. "Let's break up."

He tilted his head and clicked his tongue, impatient. "Georgette, every time you're upset you bring up breaking up. Can you act a little more grown-up? Cool off for a few days, and we'll talk."

I said nothing more. I picked up my suitcase, stepped past him, and walked out.

Dick didn't try to stop me. He just turned and went back to the living room.

Three days later, Dick sent a text. "Calmed down yet?"

No reply.

He sent another. "Where are you?"

A red exclamation mark.

He called. Phone off.

He bought a ticket and flew home immediately. Standing at the foot of her dorm building, he called her roommate.

"Where's Georgette? Tell her to come down."

The roommate's voice came out hesitant. "Georgie went to England on exchange. She didn't tell you?"

Dick froze.

The phone slipped from between his fingers and hit the ground with a sharp crack.