Four People. Three Clay Figures. I Stopped Being The One Left Out Chapter 06

Four People. Three Clay Figures. I Stopped Being The One Left Out Chapter 06

After they got back, damon went straight to my apartment.

The code hadn’t changed.

He entered my birthday. The lock clicked open.

But no lights inside.

My shoes were gone from the rack. Half the closet, empty.

The travel list stuck to the fridge had been torn off.

Only a lighter patch of paint left behind.

Damon stood in the living room. First time he realized.

This apartment held more of his things than mine.

The slippers i’d bought for him.

The ties he’d tossed aside.

The couple’s mugs. I’d bought two. Never got to use them.

He pulled out his phone. Texted me.

[where are you?]

Unread.

He was blocked.

Footsteps outside.

Adrian came in with a delivery. Sweat all over his forehead.

“She sent me something too.”

Two packages on the table.

One had damon’s name.

Inside: The apartment key, bank cards, and every piece of jewelry he’d given me.

The other was adrian’s.

Inside: Comics he’d lent me as a kid. A pen from graduation.

And a faded four-leaf clover bracelet.

Adrian picked up the bracelet. His face changed.

I was sixteen. In the hospital. He’d sat by my bed and braided it.

He said as long as he was around, i’d never be alone.

Damon opened another box.

At the bottom, a thick travel journal.

First page:

[eighteen. Damon promised to watch a kiln fire with me.]

The next ten years. I’d written down every place i wanted to go with them.

Snow mountains. Ferries. Sunrise over the sea.

The latest page had a train ticket glued to it. Four names beside it.

Adrian stared.

“When did she write this?”

“Before we left.”

Damon turned the page.

One line.

[wish canceled.]

His hand stopped.

Adrian called every mutual friend. No one knew where i was.

Then, that night, a coworker hesitated.

“Didn’t blair transfer to california?”

Damon looked up.

“When?”

“Today. First day.

“She didn’t tell me.”

The coworker blinked.

“She posted in the group.”

They scrolled. Sent a screenshot.

Two weeks ago. My message, sitting there quietly.

[the company wants me in california. I want your opinions.]

Right below it. Vivian’s pottery coupon.

Then dozens of messages about the inn and the route.

No one answered me.

Damon stared at the screen for a long time.

He finally remembered.

That night, i’d asked if he’d seen the group chat.

He said he was tired from work. Told me not to bother him with small things.

So it wasn’t that i hadn’t said it.

They’d just never listened.

Adrian grabbed his car keys.

“I’m going to california.”

Damon stopped him.

“I’ll go.”

“Who says you get to?”

Adrian snapped for the first time.

“If you hadn’t left her behind, time after time, she wouldn’t have gone.”

Damon looked at him coldly.

“And you’re better?”

“Weren’t you the one who lied about overtime last year?”

Adrian’s face stiffened.

Neither spoke.

Last year’s trip. No one forced them.

Vivian just said she wanted to do pottery.

Damon lied about his father being hospitalized.

Adrian broke his promise to help me move.

They knew i’d be hurt. Still left me out.

Then blamed me for “Overthinking.”

Next morning. They each bought a ticket to california.

Before leaving, damon texted vivian.

[keep the figure.]

[don’t contact me again.]

She called immediately.

“Damon. Did blair misunderstand something?”

Damon looked at the journal on the table. Closed his eyes.

“She didn’t misunderstand.”

“We really didn’t leave a place for her.”