He promised. Promised he’d be there — right by my side, holding my hand before I went into surgery.

But as the clock kept ticking… all I had was silence. No Ethan. No message. No missed calls.
Just me… sitting in the back of a cab, staring at my phone, refreshing it every two seconds… desperately redialing.

Every time, the same robotic voice answered:
“The number you have dialed is currently busy.”

By the time I checked into the hospital, filling out forms with shaky hands, the call finally came.
His voice was rushed, breathless.
“Mia, I’m… I’m so sorry. I really wanted to be there, but… something happened. Leah called me this morning crying… saying she was going to hurt herself. I didn’t know what to do…”

I didn’t argue.
I didn’t scream.
I simply hung up.

Because deep down… I already knew.
She did it on purpose.

———

Let me rewind. Let me tell you about Leah.
Leah was a coworker of mine — vibrant, confident, always the loudest person in the room. She had this magnetic energy that could make anyone feel special… but also strangely uncomfortable.

One random lunch break, she invited me out. Her boyfriend was there. So was Ethan. Somewhere between the appetizer and dessert, Leah flashed her signature grin and chirped,
“Ethan’s single. You’re single. You two should totally date!”

It was awkward, but… a few days later, Ethan messaged me. One date led to another… and just like that, we were a couple.

And of course… Leah was always there.
She hovered. She meddled. She inserted herself into every part of our relationship.
“Oh, Mia hates lilies. Get her sunflowers.”
“Mia doesn’t drink coffee after noon.”
“Ethan only eats his eggs scrambled, not fried. Don’t forget.”

At first, I thought it was sweet — just her helping two friends. But slowly… it started suffocating me.

Every date, Leah found an excuse to swing by. Every movie night, she texted Ethan non-stop. Every dinner, she somehow had an emergency or a crisis that couldn’t wait.

And anytime I showed the slightest discomfort, I was the villain.
“Come on, Mia… you’re overthinking.”
“She’s just like one of the guys.”
“Don’t be jealous. You’re better than that.”

Then came Ethan’s birthday.
He rented a beach house, invited close friends, and planned a chill weekend.

While I was sweating in the kitchen, chopping vegetables for dinner with a few girls, Leah waltzed in — all perfect hair and smug smiles.
She leaned in, whispering like we were besties.
“Just so you know… Ethan doesn’t like pepper. Only likes hash browns shredded, not cubed. And he’s allergic to peanuts.”

I slowly put my knife down.
“If you know him so well… why don’t you cook for him?”

She giggled.
“Oh, no. I’m just the best friend. You’re the girlfriend. This is your job to figure out.”
Her voice dripped with sugar and venom.

Before I could say more, Ethan walked in.
“Babe… come on. Don’t take her seriously. She’s harmless.”

Leah pouted dramatically and shoved him playfully.
“Ethan! If you don’t defend me better, I’m never speaking to you again!”

And just like that… she ghosted him. Blocked him. Unfollowed him. Disappeared.

Ethan… changed.
He became distant. Detached. Forgetful in ways he never was before. Suddenly didn’t know how to boil pasta right. Poured orange juice into cereal. Lost his keys twice in one week.

I confronted him.
“Are you upset about Leah? Or… are you just realizing you can’t function without her telling you how to breathe?”

Of course, he denied it.
“It’s not that. I just… I lost someone who’s been in my life for 20 years. I just need time. Please don’t make me choose between you and my past.”

———

Then, two weeks later… the diagnosis.
Uterine fibroids. Not deadly, but serious enough to need surgery. I was scared. Terrified.

Ethan promised… absolutely swore he’d be there.
“First thing in the morning. I’ll hold your hand before they take you in.”

But when the day came… it wasn’t me he chose.
It was Leah. Crying wolf. Again.

His excuse on the phone made my blood go cold.
And as soon as I hung up… my phone buzzed again.

Leah.

Her voice was smug. No apologies. No hesitation.
“Mia… let’s be real. You wouldn’t even know Ethan if it wasn’t for me. We’ve never kissed. Never crossed that line. But you… you’ll never understand him like I do. You don’t belong in his world.”

My hands trembled.
But my voice was steady.
“You’re right, Leah. You are special. The only woman I know who can latch onto someone else’s boyfriend like a parasite… and still pretend she’s the victim. Congratulations. You win. Tell Ethan we’re done. And while you’re at it… remind him to stay as far away from me as you do from basic decency.”