Stayed Through His Struggles, Left After His Success

I don’t even know how I made it home.

I collapsed onto the couch, numb, my eyes staring blankly at the empty space in front of me. The images from earlier, along with memories of the past, swirled together in my mind, a chaotic, blurry mess.

The pain in my body, mixed with the agony in my heart, left me disoriented. In the haze, I almost thought I saw it again—the summer nine years ago, when a boy walked toward me, holding a bouquet of white roses.

I could see the unease and eagerness in his eyes. Suddenly, the dam inside me broke. I couldn’t hold back the ache in my chest any longer. I opened my mouth, but all that escaped was a shattered sob. Tears fell in heavy streams, staining my cheeks.

I watched the boy, his hands trembling, clutching his shirt as he hurried toward the girl standing with her back to him. He turned his face away, taking deep breaths, and his outstretched hand wavered as he reached for her.

“Zoey, I like you.”

The girl turned, revealing delicate features, her eyes full of mischief and playful arrogance. Despite the affection in her gaze, she responded with a teasing, “If you can pass all ninety-nine tests, I’ll say yes.”

Back then, Damon would do anything for me. He’d cross the city just to get me a mango pudding from a particular shop. He remembered every little thing—how I liked my food spicy, how my coffee had to be seven parts sweet, how I needed strawberry milk every afternoon from the campus kiosk, and how he always carried my favorite strawberry-flavored candies in his pocket.

Damon, you know how petty I am…

“Why… Why…”

I curled up on the couch, overwhelmed by a storm of emotions crashing over me. I couldn’t hold it in anymore and whimpered helplessly.

“Honey, why are you sleeping here?”

I opened my eyes to see Damon rushing toward me. He placed the cake he was holding on the table, then gently lifted me, cradling me in his arms as he carried me toward the bedroom.

He laid me down on the bed, then tenderly placed my feet on his lap, wrapping his warm hands around them.

The familiar gesture made my heart tighten, and I stared at him, momentarily stunned.

A few years ago, before the company went public, we had nothing. We lived in a cramped basement. In the winter, it was unbearably cold, and with my weak constitution, my feet would turn to ice. He would always warm them up for me like this.

I stared at Damon, his face hidden in the shadows, and for the first time, I realized that I couldn’t see the past as clearly anymore.

“Honey, you were amazing today. My assistant, Peter Winters, already got a collaboration offer from that company.”

I didn’t respond. I just watched him, trying to figure out if his eyes held real affection or just empty words.

When Damon saw I was silent, he leaned in, trying to kiss me. His movements were as sticky and familiar as they had always been.

But as he leaned closer, the sickly-sweet scent of his cologne hit me, and the disgust rising from deep inside me made me suddenly turn my head and gag.

His movements faltered. After a brief pause, he gently placed his hand on my back, patting me softly. But I recoiled, as if his touch had burned me.

Damon froze for a moment, his voice softening. He reached out, taking my cold fingers in his, crouching down to look into my eyes.

“I’m sorry, honey. Work has been overwhelming lately. I haven’t had time to be with you. Please don’t be mad at me.”

I let out a low, dry laugh, my throat aching. I pulled my hand away from his and turned my face.

“No time to be with me?”

Liar.