Our Anniversary Ends with an End

Chapter 6

I pressed my lips together, scrolling through Zandria's social media feed. The pattern was hard to miss, every time Yohann posted, she updated hers too. Her timeline was packed with pictures of the two of them. Snapshots of a life I was never a part of.

I pulled up one of their photos and handed him my phone, keeping my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.

"You always said you hated taking pictures. We've been together for six years, and we don't even have one. But with her? You've got hundreds."

I glanced back at the screen. They'd been to places I'd never seen, eaten food I'd never tried, watched movies I didn't even know he liked.

Every weekend, I'd ask if we could go out. He always said he was swamped with work. Too tired. No time.

And yet here he was, showing up in her photos, living a whole other life I didn't recognize.

When Yohann saw the photos, he froze. Just for a second. But it was enough. His eyes gave him away before he could catch himself. Guilt. Clear as day.

I let out a cold laugh.

"Right. You two make a great match. I'm done. I'm out of this mess. Don't call me, don't text me. Just pretend I never existed."

Panic flickered across his face. He scrambled to speak.

"It's not what you think! I wanted to take you to those places too, but you're always scared, remember? You wouldn't try new things, so I… I had no choice but to go with her. She's just a friend. Like a sister. There's nothing going on!"

There it was, the shift. Like always, the blame slowly started drifting in my direction. His eyes hardened just slightly.

"If you were more adventurous, like she is, I would've taken you out more. Maybe I wouldn't have had to go with her."

Classic Yohann. Never his fault. Never once willing to own up to anything.

I opened my mouth to respond, but a voice cut through from behind.

"Yohann!"

Zandria, in a strappy dress and heels too high for this town, rushed up with a picture-perfect smile, one that faltered when she saw me.

"Ysha, you were so hard to find," she said like we were old friends, like I hadn't just caught them red-handed.

Before I could even ask what she was doing here, Yohann jumped in.

"She's never been here before," he said quickly. "She wanted to look around. I was just… showing her the place."

But her face didn't exactly match his story. Still, she smiled sweetly and turned to me.

"You're not mad I'm here, are you?" she asked with a fake little laugh, her tone light but her eyes sharp, almost daring me to say yes.

"You're something else. Isn't it a little childish to run away from home? If your coworker hadn't told us where you went, Yohann wouldn't have found you."

I didn't have the time or energy for this circus. I had real things to worry about, like finishing paperwork for my upcoming exam.

"Where I go has nothing to do with you," I said flatly. "I'm leaving."

I turned around and walked off. I heard Yohann's footsteps behind me, but Zandria's voice stopped him.

"Yohann, I'm scared. I don't know this city… I can't be alone."

The way she clung to him made my skin crawl. I picked up my pace.

Later, after changing and getting ready to head out again, I wasn't surprised to see him still waiting there. Just standing like nothing had happened. I didn't even hesitate, I walked straight to the curb to flag down a taxi.

"Ysha, my car's nearby," he said, following me. "Where are you going? I'll take you."

I shook my head. Calm. Distant.

"No, thanks. I'll get a cab."

I wasn't going to let him drag me back into his web. Not again. A flicker of disappointment crossed his face, barely there, before Zandria leaned out of the passenger seat with that same overdone cheer.

"Ysha! Need a ride? We're headed out too!" she chirped, eyes gleaming with barely-hidden smugness.

The thought of being stuck in a car with the two of them made my stomach turn. Just then, as if the universe had my back, a bus pulled up. No taxis in sight, but I didn't hesitate.

I turned without a word, walked to the bus, and stepped on board, leaving them both behind.