The Price of Her Fame

ushing ache in the center of my chest. I hadn' t slept. I just stared at the water-stained ceiling of the motel room, replayi

been so blinded by love, so invested in her dream, that I never saw what was right in front of me. Liam was always there. The late-night studio sessions that I wasn' t invited to. The "inside jokes

been an investor. A convenient, supportive, all-giving foundati

reen but still worked. It was full of notifications. Dozens of m

ick up t

culous. We n

ting. You' re ru

this to me right now?

on it. I deleted the messages without reading the

a major entertainment site. The article was gushing, full of praise for her "bravery" and "authenticity." It painted a romantic pic

were wrapped tightly around her waist. They looked passionate, destined, perfect. In the background, just out of focus, you c

age was seared into my brain again. I was the schmuck in the background of their f

ears ago. She was laughing, her hair blowing in the wind. It felt like a photo of a stranger. On impulse, I answered it. I do

ed, buzzing with energy. "Oh my god, did you see the news? We' re everywhere!

g gold. That' s what my seven years of devoti

a shock. I' m sorry about how it happened. It wasn' t planned, it just... came out. The ener

voice hollow. "And when were you p

tell you this week. I was trying to find the right time. It'

a funny way of showing it. Was I just a placeholder, Olivia? A wal

portant to me! You helped me. I'll always be grateful for that.

op with the best music software was thousands of dollars we didn't have. I was saving up for a new drafting table, a professional one that wouldn't give me backaches. I took all that money, my entire savings, and bought her the l

y of love anymore. It was a record of a transaction. I

k," I said, my voi

key? It' s your apartment, Eth

s mine. I want you and your thin

here am I supposed to go? All my equipment i

," I said flatly. "I' m sure Liam has a place you ca

A cruel, vindictive asshole! Afte

now what, Olivia? Enjoy your marketing gold. I hope it keeps you warm at night. Because you' ve lost t

Liam! I have a record deal! I have everything! What do you ha

ties I had passed up to be her support system. The junior partnership I turned down because it required more tra

I had a crappy job and an empty apartment. But they were mine. For the first time in seven y

aid quietly. "It' s not much,

er end, ready to launch into another t

bye, O

media and methodically erased every trace of her, every shared friend who was more hers than mine. It felt like I w

a used to be. But for the first time since she walked on that stage, I felt a flicker of something else. A flicker of strength. She th