Chapter 5: Alone by the Lake

I went back to the one-bedroom apartment I’d bought before the wedding and stayed there for now. The place felt smaller, emptier, but at least it was mine. The fridge rattled in the quiet, and the only light came from the streetlamp outside, painting the walls in stripes. I sat on the sagging couch, the old baseball game muted on TV, wondering how it had come to this.

The apartment was far from the city, right by Lake Erie—more peaceful than being in town, but lonely. From the balcony, I could see moonlight glinting on the water. The stillness was a strange relief.

I’d wanted to save this place for us—to relax together, grill on the patio, maybe watch the Fourth of July fireworks. I kept it neat, waiting for the day we’d make it a home. But Lillian was always busy, never had time for me.

She had meetings, deadlines, a schedule that never included me. Eventually, I stopped asking.

*Spineless side guy, just give up already.*

*Honestly, I’d pay to see this dude get the Maury treatment.*

*Why be mad? The side guy moved out—now the main couple can finally be happy. Imagine their cute baby!*

*He’s just throwing a tantrum. He’ll apologize in a few days—watch.*

*Even if he does, it’s too late. Main guy’s got real charm. The heroine never loved this side guy—he was just safe.*

I stared at the endless stream of comments in my mind, scrolling faster, rubbing my eyes, feeling the weight of their judgment. I set the phone down, hands shaking.

The silence pressed in, broken only by the hum of the fridge.

People say Lillian never loved me. Maybe they’re right. Maybe Jason was always the one.

But I remember the little things—how she saved up to buy us matching rings, working double shifts at the campus bookstore. Her shy smile as she slipped the ring onto my finger, her soft voice saying, “I don’t have anything else to give—just this. I hope it’s enough.”

When I was on a business trip, she got my flight wrong and thought I’d died. She spent the night curled up with my shirt, crying. When I got home, she clung to me for hours, laughing and sobbing at once.

There were nights she woke from nightmares and kissed my cheek in relief, her hand warm in the dark. I pretended to be asleep, savoring the moment.

Those memories glow with a warmth I can’t find anymore—the cold of the apartment now a sharp contrast to the love we once had.

...

I really thought she loved me.

But the facts are facts: She cheated. She’s pregnant with someone else’s child. She yelled at me, shut me out, turned cold. I can’t change that.

I have no way of knowing what’s really in her heart. But even if I did, there’s no way we could ever go back.

I closed my eyes and listened to the waves. Tomorrow, I’d have to start over. But tonight, I let the silence swallow me whole.