My Seven Ex's

I turned eighteen the night Elio came back. The city didn’t know it was my birthday. San Francisco kept breathing the same way it always did, with fog drifting low, streetlights humming softly, and distant traffic moving like a restless river. But to me, everything felt charged, as if the world had paused just long enough to watch what I would become next.

When I stepped outside, the cold air hit my bare arms, I didn’t feel it.

Elio stood near the gate, half-lit by the streetlight, hands tucked into his jacket pockets. For a moment, I just stared at him, the two weeks of silence collapsed into that instant, my heart racing ahead of my thoughts.

I didn’t say his name, because I didn’t have what to say.

He crossed the distance in two strides and kissed me but not softly.

His mouth found mine with a hunger that knocked the breath out of me. I gasped against his lips, my body reacting before my mind could catch up, my hands moved on instinct, gripping the back of his neck, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss because I was afraid he might disappear again if I didn’t hold him tight enough.

The streetlight flickered and the world narrowed.

When we finally pulled apart, my chest was rising too fast, and his forehead rested against mine.

“I’m sorry, he said quietly, “I should’ve called.”

I wanted to be angry, but i had rehearsed it sharp words, firm boundaries, a spine made of resolve. Instead, love rushed in and swept it all away.

“I missed you,” I said.

His eyes softened, “I missed you too.”

That was all it took.

Later, sitting on my bed with Ava cross-legged beside me, I told her everything.

“He kissed you first?” she asked, eyes bright.

“Yes, I answered

“And you forgave him?”

I hesitated, “I couldn’t help it.”

Ava smiled slowly, knowing, “You’re eighteen now,” she said, “You’re allowed to want things.”

She paused, then added, “He invited you over?”

“Yes, tomorrow I replied.

She clapped her hands once, “Perfect, I’ll walk you there.”

I felt relieved hearing that, Ava had always been my shield, loud where I was quiet, bold where I hesitated.

I didn’t see the look she exchanged with her phone screen after I turned away.

The nect day came too quickly.

Elio’s place was modern and quiet, tucked into a clean apartment building not far from downtown, with glass doors, neutral colors, and everything was in its place. It smelled faintly of cologne and something warm I couldn’t name.

Ava stayed close at first, pretending to admire the décor and asking questions she already knew the answers to. Elio offered us drinks, she accepted and i declined.

Then her phone buzzed.

“Oh,” Ava said, glancing at the screen, “my mom’s calling.”

She gave me a look, and said, I’ll be back, already heading toward the door.

“Wait,” I started.

But she was gone.

The door closed too softly behind her, suddenly, the apartment felt quieter and smaller.

Elio turned to me, his gaze different now focused, intense.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said, though my stomach tightened.

He stepped closer.

“You’re eighteen,” he said, as if reminding himself.

“Yes, I answered

His hand brushed my waist lightly, and i stiffened.

He leaned in, kissing me again, slower this time, as his hands moved confidently, familiar with desire. When one slid lower, my breath caught not in anticipation, but in warning.

“Elio,” I said, pulling back,“stop.”

He froze.

“What’s wrong? He asked.

“I just… I need to go.”

Confusion flickered across his face, followed by something darker.

“I thought you wanted this, he said.

“I want you,” I said carefully, just not like this, not yet.”

Silence stretched between us.

He stepped back. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“I know,” I said, already reaching for my bag, “I just need air.”

I left without looking back.

That night, Ava called Elio.

I didn’t know much.

She laughed softly on the phone, pacing her room like she was narrating a plan already in action.

“She pulled away?” Ava asked.

Elio sighed, “Yeah.”

“Because she’s scared,” Ava said, “she’s holding herself back.”

She said she wasn’t ready, Elio replied.

Ava scoffed, “she needs a push, trust me.”

There was a pause.

“She’s not like us,” Elio said.

“That’s the problem,” Ava replied, “she thinks being different makes her special.”

And you don’t?”

“I think she should be like me.”

Silence.

“I’ll help,” Ava continued, “next time, she won’t say no.”

I lay awake that night, staring at the ceiling. My birthday candles burned out, and my phone was silent, something felt wrong, like a thread had shifted out of place, and itried to ignore it.

Outside, the city kept breathing.

Inside, a plan was forming without me.