Love's Bitter Truth

picture appeared o

together. Hers, and a man's, with a

s simple: "Aga

m old photos her friends had

ed' th

app and got back to studying

sed different

. I landed a job at a top tech firm in Seattle. I climbed the ladder faster than an

sted. I built a life for

irst life, professionally. A successful software archit

eighborhood. Sleek, minimalist, with a great view o

week was

ng, I heard it

ibited laugh. A sound

's voice,

ld. It co

pretending to check my mail. Th

r, kissing her neck. She looked happy, truly, vibrantly happ

ered for a second. Recogni

We just moved in. I'm

voice neutral. "Welc

inside, my heart pounding

ondos in all

heir next-d