My Heart's With Your Ex

Stella pulled every string she had in Avenquay to find me.

I let out a bitter laugh. Guess I finally mattered—too little, too late.

But it was useless. She tore through the city, even filed a missing person report. The answer? "No such person."

Before I died, my mom had changed my address back to our hometown. I was a ghost here.

Stella lost it in her office.

"Useless! Can't even track down one guy! What've you been doing—sleeping on the job?"

Andy, her assistant, stood there shaking.

After a beat, he spoke, careful. "Ms. Porter, we've checked everywhere. Mr. Johnston's not in Avenquay."

"His mom's still here! Where the hell would he go? He can't survive without this city—without me!"

She swept her whole desk clean, papers flying.

I watched her—smug as ever—and smirked. So that's how she saw me. Just some leech mooching off her family. No wonder she always looked down on me and Mom.

"Maybe we could check the hospital records," Andy mumbled. "Mr. Johnston was in a car crash three years ago. There might still be files."

Stella froze, thinking. Then her brow creased.

"Hospital? Kyle was in a car crash? How did I not know about this?"

Andy was about to say more when her phone rang.

"Stella, my chest hurts. Feels like rejection. Can you come?"

Harvey's voice was all shaky and desperate. Just like that, her heart softened.

She dropped everything, told Andy to dig into it, and ran straight to Harvey.

My eyes stung. Once, she looked at me like that.

Not anymore.

Maybe she never really did.

The truth? That heart beating in Harvey's chest? It used to be mine.

Three years—plenty of time for it to settle. No way he was having rejection issues.

He just didn't want her distracted. Not even by my memory.

At the hospital, the docs told her he was fine. She finally exhaled.

Harvey lit up when he saw her.

"Stella, you came."

She could tell right away—he was totally fine. After a whole day chasing ghosts, being dragged here just pissed her off more.

"Next time, if it's not serious, talk to a doctor first."

Her voice stayed level, but the edge was there.

Harvey stiffened, then switched to sad puppy mode.

"Stella, I was just bored... I missed you. You've been so wrapped up in Kyle, I barely see you. I don't have much time left. I just wanna be with you while I still can."

That line always got her.

Guilt hit instantly.

"I should've been more thoughtful. I left you here all alone. It's Kyle—he's the one still playing hide-and-seek at a time like this. He's so heartless!"

I gave a tired smile.

Yeah. No heart left to give.

I handed it over three years ago. To him.

***

Finally, Andy found my hospital records from three years ago.

[Kyle Johnston, male, age 27. Died in a car crash despite emergency treatment.]

He handed it to Stella. Her hands trembled.