He Promised Forever, Then Left Me

swore he would be my voice. For years, I believed him, my silent world revolving aroun

ends, I was just the "town tragedy gir

licly humiliate me, and when she faked an injury, he f

he woods, deaf without my hearing aids, leaving me to face t

s promise.

eturned for my first art exhibition, and when I saw his face in the crow

pte

, sharper than any blade. He called me the "town tragedy girl," a burden he was tired of

Soon, you'll be speaking full sentences." I'd practiced for hours, the unfamiliar vibrations in my chest both th

reams-it had all fused into a knot in my throat. Josiah was there. He'd pulled me from the wreckage, his arm broken, his face smea

wasn't a choice; it was a cage built from fear and grief. But Josiah was the key, or so I thought. He seemed to navigate the world with ease, the popular quarterbac

frustrating. But the thought of finally telling Josiah, really telling him, how much he meant to me, kept me going. I had a secret, a small, perfectly formed

d snippets of conversation from the hallway. Louder than usual. Josiah's distinctive laugh. My heart jum

dripping with mock sympathy. "Oh, Josiah, you're s

me. I froze, my hand

tball buddies, chimed in. "Josiah's just being nice. It's

The words felt li

Jos, it's getting old. Everyone knows you're j

les white. My ears, once so unre

ah's voice was rough.

What's complicated about it? You guys are tied to

bid childhood pact. Was

t my fragile hope. "I am tired. God, Alex, you have no idea. Every social event, every game, ever

s spun around me, each on

ice was triumphant. "I

entment. "I just... I want to be normal. I want to have fun withou

im. A silent, burdensome specte

x suggested, her tone dangerously sweet.

star quarterback. You could have an

breaking of my heart. "I know, I know. It's just... afte

t stupid, just... quiet. Tell her you need space. Tell her you're mo

louder than any shout. It was his agre

the door shut with a soft click that no one seemed to notice. My legs gave out, and I slid down the wall, pressing my hands over my mouth to stifle the sob t

. But now, the only sound I could make was a choked gasp, swallowed by the deafening roar of my own heartbreak. All those years,

me." It wasn't love. It was pity. It was obligation. It was a prison for him, and I had been too blind, too

escent moons into my palms. My skin was broken. It was a physical manifestation of th

ive them that satisfaction. I wouldn't be the "tow

of my hand, smearing away the tears. The silence in the room was c

hes, and took a deep, shaky breath. When Josiah finally knocked on the therapy room door and entered, plastering on

little too loud, a little too cheerful. He reach

. Evans said you did great today. Rea

ment. My throat ached with unshed

his pockets. "Ready to head out? Alexan

eyes that now seemed hollow. He was still the popular quarterback, but to me, he w

, then pointed to my thr

elief flickering in his eyes. "No worries. We can just ch

m a small, tight smile. Another nod. Then I turned, walked to my bag, and pretended to search

" he called over his shoul

and began to type. This new voice, the one I was finding, wouldn't be for him.