Chapter 2

2.

Only now did I remember the dazed look on Elias's face at that moment.

If he was never over her, why the hell did he propose to me?

I took a deep breath, put the tickets back where I found them, and dialed my professor's number.

"Professor Miller, that Alaska project you mentioned… are there still any spots left?"

Professor Miller was surprised, but his voice was filled with relief.

"I was just worrying about that! None of the students these days want to suffer on the tundra. It's freezing and completely cut off from the world. But Harper, I thought you were busy planning a wedding?"

"I'm not anymore, Professor. I can go."

The words came out strained, and I was afraid if I said anything more, the tears would start to fall.

After hanging up, I automatically opened my text messages with Elias.

The last time he'd replied to me was three days ago.

A cold calm washed over me.

So for the past few days, while I had been excitedly rambling to him about wedding details, he hadn't even sent back a single emoji.

I opened his Instagram and finally noticed his bio. It was just one sentence:

[Time is a ticket stub in the backlight.]

A sharp pain shot through my chest, and I stumbled.

He had never changed that bio in all the years I'd known him.

I once asked him what it meant, and he said it was just some lyric he'd copied down.

Now I finally understood its real meaning.

His heart had always beaten for her. It never changed.

I dragged a suitcase out of the storage closet and mechanically started throwing in some cold-weather gear from my wardrobe.

I was only halfway done when my phone rang. It was Josh.

"Harper, Elias got in a car accident. You need to come to Harborview Medical Center, now."

In the background, I could faintly hear a soft female voice. "Elias, breathe deep. Don't be scared."

The voice was gentle, but a chill ran down my spine.

Josh hung up immediately.

I went to the bathroom and splashed handfuls of icy water on my face, trying to snap myself out of it.