The Swap That Sentenced Them

Right on cue, Lily burst into tears.

"Juliet, if you don't want it, fine. Why say something so scary? It's my fault. I shouldn't have tried to help. I'll never be nice again!"

Instant waterworks. Instant audience.

Hampton's d roommates immediately gathered around her.

"She's jealous. Trying to humiliate you."

"Lily, you're too sweet. Don't let Juliet bully you."

Hampton's face iced over. He shoved the pill into my mouth.

"Lily cares about you and you're still nitpicking? I didn't know you were this unreasonable. This ungrateful."

The tablet melted fast. Sickly sweet. Bitter underneath.

Pressure climbed up my chest. Every breath dragged against something sharp lodged in my heart.

My vision blurred. I couldn't tell what hurt more—the poison or his voice.

Two years.

When he had competitions, I ran across the city to twenty-three supply stores for parts. Stayed up building models until my fingers blistered.

When he studied for grad exams, I camped at the library at five a.m. to save him a seat. Typed up a hundred thousand words of review notes while my own thesis stalled.

Last summer, I took a falling surveying instrument for him.

And this is what I got. A pill forced down my throat. A casual "unreasonable."

"Hampton... we're done."

The words scraped out of me. I pulled out my phone and dialed my doctor on instinct.

"I'm at Aramont University auditorium. My heart—"

A hand ripped the phone away.

He powered it off. "You done? Who are you threatening with a breakup? Jealous, causing a scene, trying to waste public resources? Ambulances are for people who actually need them."

Metal filled my mouth. I clenched my teeth.

"I can't hold on. Give me the battery. Call an ambulance."

The pacemaker shrieked.

6 percent.

The number burned into my eyes. My heart stuttered, drowning between beats.

A student nearby leaned in. "She looks really bad. Is she okay?"

"Help me..." My lips moved. No sound.

Hampton cut in. "She's throwing a tantrum. Sleeps at midnight, up at five. Running around for months. She's not fragile. She's acting. Ignore it."

The student hesitated—then stepped back.

The ceiling lights spun, splitting into warped colors.

My heartbeat raced. Then stalled. Each throb stabbed like needles.

"I'm not acting... check my pulse." I forced my arm up, biting my lip until I tasted blood.

The hand that grabbed my wrist wasn't his.

It was Lily's.

She crouched beside me. From everyone else's angle, she looked worried.

Up close? Cold. Smug.

"Juliet, don't panic. I'll check your pulse for Hampton." Her voice dripped sugar.

"Let go..."

Her red nails pressed into my skin. She leaned in, whispering so only I could hear.

"Juliet Bowen, you're such an eyesore. Hogging Hampton like you earned him. Tell me—if I scream right now, who do you think he'll believe? You... or me?"