My True North After Their Deceit

th feigned concern. "Oh my god, Claire! You're aw

s burner phone back on the bedside table, ensuring it was exactly as I had found

his hand. He smiled, a practiced, gentle expression that now f

fake worry. She launched herself at me, pulling me into a suffocating hug. "Claire! Oh, my poor Claire! I was so worried! Are y

asked, my voice surprisingly steady. "Sorry for what, Janessa?" I looked pointedly at Eric, s

ing. Eric' s eyes darted to Janessa, a silent message pa

sa. It's all my fault. I upset her. Punish me. Claire deserves it.

ance. But she raised her hand, her palm connecting with Eric's cheek with a s

you. Are you happy now? See, Eric? You made Claire upset. You really need to be more careful with h

ece of watermelon, smiling at me. "It's okay, Claire-bear. It's all my fault. You h

wearing your ring, Janessa?" I asked, my voice a silken thread, cutting through

of color. Janessa gasped, her hand flying to her left ring finger, whic

or an explanation. "Claire, honey, are you feeling okay? You're talking nonsense. Eric and I are just friends, you know that. Yo

t, stared at me, his mouth op

you dare gaslight me, Janessa Burris! Don't you dare try to manipulate me one more time!" My voice rose, gaining strength with every word

ating silence descended upon the room. My friends, who had been listening from out

my hand, his grip surprisingly firm. "Claire, stop this. You're upset. You're saying things you don't mea

re, what are you even implying? I'm leaving for Europe next week, remember? To find love there! I'm going to

attempts to cover their tracks, their desperate lies, were almost comical. Just then

be this time? Another accompl

ly push it under the pillow, but I was faster. "Don't you d

ck at me. His face was a mask of fear. "Cl

ed, the pent-up fur

s lips. He knew. He knew the jig was up. He picke

voice was str

were finally rid of that pushy woman! Did you propose to Janessa yet? The family is so excited to have her as our daughter-in-law. She's so much more refined, so much mor

ied whimper, her knees buckling. She would have fallen if Eric hadn't instinctively caught her, pulling her close

earing pain of betrayal anymore. It was a cold, quiet disappointment. Dis

eir faces a mixture of fear and guilt. "All that hard work, all those years of hiding, all those carefully spun lies. All for what? Just to be exposed by a phone call from your doting mother." I laughed aga

treaming down her face. She stumbled towards me, her h

spat, my voice laced with venom. "You disgust me. Seeing you both, parading your 'lo

d to salvage the situation. "Claire, please, calm down. My mother... she doesn't understand.

re, unadulterated rage, not sorrow. I sat up slowly, my eyes fixed on Eric, th

g with a terrible clarity. "I came all the way here, thousands of miles, to

th disbelief. Janessa stopped sobbing, l

, Janessa. My best friend. My sister. I imagined you by my side, at my wedding, celebrating my happiness." I paused, letting the full weight of my shattered dreams hang in the air. "But instead," I said, my voice rising, "I got to watch you propose to her. My boyfriend, proposin