Never Again in Another Life

I never thought anyone could love a wreck like me.

Maybe it was too good to last. When the dream ended, the pain hit hard.

I had held onto something that wasn't mine for too long. Now it was time to pay back.

I charged my phone. When it powered on, missed calls from Mateo flooded in.

I hesitated for a moment before calling back. He answered and tore into me.

"I told you I'm busy today," he huffed. "Why did you blow up my phone last night? I called back, and you ignored me. Are you messing with me?"

I froze, then realized I must have called him in my sleep.

"I'm not," I said.

He regretted his harsh tone and softened a little. "No harm done. Once Sophie is better, we'll get back together. Just wait for me at home, okay?"

There he came again, always putting Sophie first. When it came to me, he never gave a definite answer, just letting me wait endlessly.

He took my silence for acquiescence and threw me a couple of sweet words before hanging up.

The room went silent again. I curled up, hugging my knees.

Tears welled up in my eyes. Time was running out.

I couldn't make it till he came back.

...

My limbs gave out first. I couldn't lift a heavy mug anymore.

I managed to cook a simple meal, but halfway through eating, I ran out of steam.

Weak and miserable, I flopped onto the couch and closed my eyes.

When I woke up, I caught myself muttering Mateo's name again.

Back when he lived here, all I had to do was call for him. He'd scoop me up and carry me to bed.

He was attentive, able to catch my every little mood. He made me feel special in the smallest ways.

Now he was no longer there.

In fact, this wasn't the first time he had brought up breaking up. Every time, it was because Sophie needed him.

He had said, "You grew up without parents. You're tougher than Sophie. She can't survive without me. Besides, she's my childhood friend. My parents can't stand seeing her hurt herself. I can't watch her suffer either. Let's fake a breakup. When she's better, we'll patch things up, alright?"

I had asked, "Why does her treatment even need us to break up?"

Guilt had crept onto his face. "Sophie has always wanted to be my bride. If she finds out I've got a girlfriend, she'll kill herself on the spot."

For four years, he had been great to me but kept it low-key.

I had never gotten to meet his parents, and he had never taken me to his friends.

I had thought he just didn't want their meddling.