My Seven Ex's

Elio woke up smiling.

His smile suggested everything was fine, that the world had settled into place overnight. Morning light lit up his face, bright and carefree, as if nothing complicated had happened underneath it.

I didn’t smile back.

My body felt wrong, exactly just strange, like I was wearing someone else’s skin. My thoughts came in pieces instead of flowing lines.

“Elio,” I said quietly, “what happened last night?”

He turned toward me, still relaxed and confident. “After Ava stepped out to take that call, we kissed.”

My chest tightened.

“You wanted more,” he said easily. “You pulled me closer and you touched me first, you even pull my shirt.

My heart began to pound.

“You were laughing, he said, “You kept asking me not to stop.”

The room tilted, i searched my memory and found fog where there should have been clarity.

“We went into the room,” he said softly, anf everything was mutual, Vanya, I swear he added.

Embarrassment burned through me, sharp and humiliating, shame crawled up my spine.

“I wouldn’t force you,” he added quickly, “never.”

I didn’t argue nor cry, i just nodded because I didn’t trust my voice to express the truth I wasn’t sure I owned.

I dressed in silence, my hands shaking as I put on my clothes. Elio watched me, confused now, as if he’d misread the ending of a story he thought he understood.

“I need to go,” I said.

He reached for my wrist, “You’re okay, right?”

“I just nodded and say i need space.”

I left before he could say anything else.

Two days passed.

I didn’t answer Ava’s calls, I didn’t reply to Elio’s messages, I moved through school like a ghost, present but untouched. The hallways were loud, careless, and alive everything I wasn’t.

On the third day, Elio found me outside the lecture hall.

“Vanya,” he said, stepping into my path, “please.”

I stopped.

“I’m sorry,” he said, “if anything felt wrong, that wasn’t my intention.”

I studied his face, looking for cracks, “You said I asked for it.”

He nodded slowly, “You did, but I wouldn’t have continued if you hadn’t wanted it.”

The words landed carefully, like stones placed to build a path away from guilt.

“Okay,” I said.

That was all he asked

Yes.

That night, Ava finally called, her voice was gentle, almost protective. “I came back inside, you know, i didn’t see anyone.”

My stomach tightened.

“I heard you,” she continued, “I figured you wanted privacy.”

Silence stretched between us.

“I covered for you,” she added lightly, “Your mom thinks you were with me.”

Relief mixed with unease and I ignored the warning in my chest.

“Okay,” I said again.

She laughed softly, “You’re overthinking, you’re grown now.”

Maybe I was.

The next day felt normal, Elio texted good morning and Ava joked like nothing had happened. Life slid back into its old rhythm, as if discomfort could be erased by routine.

Weeks passed that way.

Small mistakes, and quiet apologies, gentle kisses that felt practiced, and moments that almost felt right until they didn’t.

Then one night, my phone rang.

Elio’s name glowed on the screen.

I answered.........Silence.

“Hello?” I said,....Nothing.

I called back, but no answer.

Again

Still nothing.

I stared at my phone, dread creeping in, slow and certain, he wasn’t picking up.

And suddenly, I understood some silences don’t mean peace.