Chapter 3

3.

I dragged myself up and limped to the campus clinic to deal with the tooth. The doctor looked at me in horror, asking what happened. "I just fell," I whispered.

Normally, I ignored Jade's petty bullying. Her family was rich and powerful, and I didn't want the drama. But this time was different. This "fall" left a wound that wouldn't heal.

"Honey, you need to be more careful," the doctor sighed. "That molar is completely gone. I'll clean the area, but you'll need an implant later." I nodded numbly and pulled out my phone to reply to Chase.

"I'm at the clinic," I typed. A second later, his name flashed on the screen as he called me. His voice was frantic, filled with genuine concern.

"What happened, babe? Are you hurt? Talk to me!" I stayed silent for a few seconds, trying to keep my voice from shaking. "I'm okay. I just fell and knocked a tooth out."

I wasn't ready to expose him yet. Not until I had a plan. It wasn't time for the big reveal.

"Oh my god, how did that happen?" he cried, sounding like he was on the verge of tears. "Be careful, babe. When you're in pain, I'm in pain too. You're my whole life." I suddenly remembered when he first said those words to me.

We met on an old internet forum when he was struggling with depression. He used to post such dark, hopeless things every day. I reached out because I'd been through it too and wanted to help.

He told me his family put insane pressure on him to be perfect. They forced him to aim for the Ivy League, and the stress broke him. I called him every day, told him jokes, and stayed on the line until he slept.

Slowly, I guided him out of the darkness. On his twentieth birthday, he sent me a message: "Nora, you are my life. Without you, I wouldn't survive. Stay with me forever?"

"Babe? You still there? You must be hurting so much." His voice snapped me back to the present. I took a deep breath. "I'm here. I'm just tired. I'll talk to you after the doctor is done."

"Okay, please keep me updated. I love you." After we hung up, he sent me dozens of links about dental care. He even sent a meal plan of soft foods I could eat while healing.

"Take care of yourself, babe." "Once we finally meet, I can take care of you in person." Years ago, I lied about my location, saying I lived upstate because I was cautious.

He had promised me that after graduation, he'd come find me. We were supposed to start our lives together.