Chapter 3

3 That night, the group chat blows up.

Jason posts:

"Suddenly want to get married, what do I do?"

Everyone loses it.

"Jason, you're finally gonna marry Sarah!"

"Guess we gotta call her 'wifey' now."

They're all tagging me.

"Congrats, Sarah! Time for a big payout!"

"Jason, when are you and Sarah gonna throw the party?"

The chat is going wild.

I was about to tell them to chill.

I'm not gonna be Jason's wife.

But Jason beats me to it.

"What are you all talking about?"

"I never said I wanted to marry Sarah."

Then, he adds Tiffany to the group.

Tags everyone.

"Pay attention people! Here is your real soon to be wife."

The chat goes silent.

For a long time.

Jason: "Why is no one saying anything?"

"Say hi to your future wife."

A few people say hi to Tiffany.

I decided to say something.

"Congrats, I wish you both the best."

Then I left the group.

Right after I left, Jason called.

"Sarah, get over here NOW."

"Where?"

"You know where. The old place."

"What's up?"

"Apologize to Tiffany."

"For what?"

"You leaving the group. What are our friends supposed to think?"

Jason's voice is harsh and demanding.

"I don't want anyone trash talking Tiffany."

"I love her, I want to commit to her."

"She's innocent, she doesn't deserve to get called the other woman because of your outburst."

Even though I thought I had finally gotten control of my emotions.

My chest tightens.

My fingers are shaking as I grip my phone.

My voice is trembling.

"Jason, you can't do this to me."

"Why are you treating me like this?"

"You were the one who cheated on me. I didn't do anything. I even said congrats. Isn't that enough?"

I refuse to cry.

But my voice cracks.

He paused for a second.

"Sarah."

"I'm not gonna press this."

"But remember. Tiffany is innocent."

"Don't take it out on her."

He hung up.

I sat on the floor, shaking all over.

The picture of my mom on the nightstand looked at me with kind, loving eyes.

I broke down and hugged the picture frame.

My face pressed to the cold glass.

Tears fell. It was like my mom was crying for her daughter.

I refused to cry anymore. I don't want my mom to be sad.

After her memorial.

I'm going to take everything my mom left me.

I'm never coming back to D.C.