The Price of Her Fame

ng, of excited chatter, of camera flashes popping. It was the sound of Olivia Reed' s breakthrough album launch party, and for seven years, it wa

he was a star tonight, glowing under the spotlights. Every person wanted a piece of her, a photo, a handshake, a moment of her attention. She wo

r. I saw her talent, her fire. I believed in her when no one else did. I sold my prized vintage car to fund her first demo tape. I worked overtime, taking on extra freelance projects, so she could quit her waitressing job

er head on my chest after a long day of writin

t kept me going. They were mo

ling, and her album was already climbing the digital charts. I took a sip of my champagne,

ice loud over the music. "Man, you must be on to

nuine smile. "She d

iam had always been a fixture in our lives, a constant presence. He was the one who mixed her tracks, the one she called for late-night creative session

voice smooth and confident. "It' s been an honor to produce this album and to watch Olivia

age, her smile dazzling. She took the microphone from Liam, her eyes

you. Thank you all so much. This is... this

. I stood up straighter, waiting for it. Waiting for her to look at m

she continued, her voice thick with emotion. "Two peop

ht in my throa

am, who stood beside her, beaming. Her eyes filled with tears. "The second is the love of my life. The man who has stood by me

he air was punched out of my lungs. I stared, unblinking, as Olivia reached out, took Liam' s hand, and pulled him in for a deep, passionate kis

ll eyes were on the stage, on the happy couple. My mind was a blank, a roaring static. It did

ter. I saw Mark' s face turn towards me, his smile gone, replaced by a look of confusion and pity. I cou

uldn't. The image of them kissing was burned into my vision, playing on a loop. I burst through the doors of the ven

ng weak. A panic attack. It was coming on fast and hard. My heart felt like it was trying to beat its way out of my ribs. I

ot alone. Liam was with her. She stopped a few feet awa

t here? You' re making a scene

I managed to choke out. "You... you just blew up my life

her, a protective hand on her back, his eyes full of smug victory. "I was goin

my mouth. "Seven years, Olivia. I

"But people change, Ethan. We grew apart. Liam and I...

hest was so tight I thought I was having a heart attack. I tried to s

ting," Liam said, h

rassing me. People are watching." She looked around as if expecting papar

painful than the public humiliation. It was in that moment, looking up at her indifferent face, that I knew. It wasn't just that she didn't

e seen me. He rushed over, his face etched with real con

drink." She turned to leave, pulling Liam with her. "We

he security guard helped me to my feet, his arm a steady presence. He guided me to a bench a

nded on the corner where my architectural supplies were still crammed. On top of a dusty box was a scale model I had built a few years ago. It was a beautiful, mo

s, the little furniture I had crafted. A life that was never real. With a sudden, cold clarity, I walked

zed. A text

s asking. This is my nigh

ven years building her night, and she thought I was the one who could ruin it. A b

ingle sentence.

much. Just my clothes, my laptop, my drafting tools. The things that were mine before her. Everything else, the fur

f us from a few years ago. We were on a beach, smiling, my arm wrapped around her. I looked happy. Naiv

d closed the door on

t on the edge of the lumpy bed and stared at the peeling paint on the wall. My phone, which I had

I didn' t recognize. I answere

ice was hesitant. "Honey, are you alr

ed. "That mak

ht of her life. Her father and I are so disappointed in

e like a son. We spent holidays together. Her father and I watched football. Her mother

sked, my voice flat.

the other end of the line.

id, her voice wheedling. "They have so much

ed, the question hanging in the dead a

if that was supposed to make it all better. "But Olivia need

crificed my own career ambitions, my savings, my e

ng out before I even thought about them. "My grandmother' s

went qu

onfession tearing out of me. "I had a whole speech planne

e started, her voic

can tell Olivia, and her father, and Liam, that I am don

r wall, where it clattered to the floor. The silence that followed

nd a broken heart. I had lost everything. Or maybe, I had lost nothing at all, because none of it was ever real. Th