Mom, Dad’s Getting Married Today. My Anniversary Call From The Future Chapter 11

Mom, Dad’s Getting Married Today. My Anniversary Call From The Future Chapter 11

He glanced at the title deed and didn’t ask any more questions.

On moving day, I called a small moving truck and packed two suitcases of my things.

I didn’t touch a single one of Rory’s belongings-they stayed right where they were. His suits in the closet, his leather shoes by the shoe cabinet, the razor he’d used for three years on the bathroom counter.

I carried my suitcases out the door and took the key off the ring.

The lock clicked.

Everything behind that door had nothing to do with me anymore.

That night, after moving back to my parents’ house, I showered and lay down in bed.

The ceiling was old, with a water stain that had spread into the shape of a map. When I was little and woke up from nightmares in the middle of the night, I used to stare at that stain and pretend it was a big bird.

My phone was on the pillow beside me.

I picked it up and opened my chat with Ruby.

The last message was still that smiley face.

I typed: “Mom misses you.”

I sent it.

The moment it went through, a red exclamation mark appeared on the screen.

User does not exist.

I stared at those words for a long time.

The light from the screen fell across my face, cold and still.

The alarm clock by my pillow ticked on, its sound muffled and distant.

I turned the phone over and rolled onto my side.

Half a month later, I was walking back from the grocery store.

Someone blocked the alley entrance.

He’d lost weight. Cheekbones sharp. Jaw covered in gray stubble.

Same suit-wrinkled now. One cuff button missing.

He stood under the sycamore tree at the alley entrance.

The moment he saw me, he jerked forward like he’d been struck by something.

“Maren, can we talk?”

His voice was completely shot.

I didn’t move.

Rory’s voice was shaking. “I’m going to divorce Lena. I regret everything. These past few weeks, I’ve had time

to think.”

“I realized I still love you. Give me one more chance-”

I said his name, my voice flat.

“I don’t love you anymore. I don’t even want to see you.”

His eyes went red.

Then from the other end of the alley, the sharp clatter of heels against pavement-fast and frantic.

Lena came charging around the corner.

Her hair was a mess, no makeup, dark circles under her eyes.

The moment she saw Rory blocking me, she started screaming like she’d been set on fire.

“You’re still coming to her?! Who do you think turned us into this?”

“Who do you think ruined everything?!”

“You’re losing your mind-your company is going bankrupt!”

Rory spun around. “Shut up!”

Lena grabbed his sleeve. “Rory, how could you do this to me?”

“I gave up my job for you, I lost everything for you, and now you want a divorce?!”

Rory yanked his arm free, his teeth grinding.

“If you hadn’t gone after Maren, none of this would have happened! And now you’re blaming me?!”

Lena laughed-a shrill, bitter sound that echoed down the street.

“Do you really think I was the only one who went after her parents?”

“Rory, don’t pretend you’re some wounded hero now-”

I turned and walked away.

I didn’t want to hear them fight anymore.

The next day, I ran into Gemma in the hospital hallway.

She was standing by the elevator, much thinner than before, her hair tied back messily, dark circles under her

eyes.

She saw me.

Her lips moved, but she didn’t say my name.

I walked over and stopped beside her to wait for the elevator.

After a long pause, Gemma finally spoke.

“Are you angry at me?”

I didn’t answer.

She laughed a cold, hollow sound.

“I’ve been jealous of you since we were kids.”

“You were pretty, you got good grades, your parents spoiled you, your boyfriend was handsome.”

She paused.

“So I made sure Lena met Rory. I wanted to watch you fall.”

The elevator arrived with a ding. I stepped inside. She stayed where she was.

Gemma pressed her lips together. Her eyes were slowly turning red.

“I don’t regret it.”

I looked at her calmly.

“I don’t care.”