Lie to Me, Bye to You

Tears filled my eyes again. The pain hit me so hard that my legs gave out, and I crumpled to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

A nurse hurried over and patted my shoulder. "Miss, are you okay? We can always do this another day if you're not ready."

I pressed my hands over my ears, my cheeks slick with tears.

There was no denying the truth—I still loved Liam. He'd lied to me and hurt me, but I still couldn't stop thinking about him.

My heart felt like it was being torn apart, the agony so raw I could hardly breathe.

My hand shook as I pressed it to my stomach, remembering the steady thump of the pup's heartbeat from the monitor at the prenatal appointment. The sound filled me with something soft and fragile.

I owed Liam another chance, even if it was just for the pup. I had to try. I wiped my tears and picked up my phone, dialing Liam.

His voice sounded from the other end of the line. "Hey, Aurora? What's up? I'm in the middle of something—"

"Liam, I need to talk to you. Can you—"

Before I could finish, Freya's voice cut in from the background. "Sweetheart, can you tie the back of my dress?"

And just like that, whatever hope I'd been clinging to slipped away.

"Aurora, what's wrong?" Liam asked gently on the other end.

"Nothing."

My body shook as I ended it. Tears blurred my vision again, and I bit my lip hard to keep from making a sound. That was when I lost every last bit of hope.

I got up and turned to the nurse. "I'll have the surgery."

She took in my bloodshot, puffy eyes, her voice worried. "Are you absolutely sure?"

I forced a faint smile and nodded. "Yes. I'm sure."

…

The procedure was quick and smooth. Afterward, when they rolled me out of the operating room, my body felt hollow, like even my tears had run dry.

I got home, but Liam and Freya weren't there.

I lay there on the bed by myself, eyes fixed on the ceiling with my thoughts a hollow drift. I had no idea how to move forward or deal with a world that felt so full of betrayal and hurt.

Later that night, Liam came back.

He saw me lying there, pale and still, and his voice softened with concern. "Aurora, what was it you wanted to tell me at the hospital today? Your eyes are really red… have you been thinking about Liam again?"

I stared at his face—so familiar yet now so distant—and felt a swirl of emotions rise in my chest.

Part of me wanted to hate him and erase him from my memory. But no matter how hard I tried, that stubborn love deep inside wouldn't let me cut him out for good.

I couldn't take it anymore. I closed my eyes and turned away.

Liam sighed, pulled the blanket over me, and quietly left the room.

That night, I dreamed of the past.

Suddenly, I was 18 again, standing at my shifting ceremony. Liam stood before me, gazing at me with tenderness. "Aurora, I've been in love with you since the moment we met."

Back then, his eyes held nothing but honesty, and his smile was so warm it could've melted the coldest heart.

I was totally caught up in the dream's sweetness, but the moment I woke up, all its beauty was gone. I lay there, staring at the overcast sky through the window, a dull weight settling in my chest.

Then, suddenly, the door swung open and Freya walked in.

She gave me an almost challenging look. "Aurora, you've been seeing Jasper every single day. Don't you know who he really is by now?"