The Face Swap Scandal

laced my face with someone el

m online for e

imed "soulmate." The caption read, "Ten year

I' d bought her. She was holding hands with a man who wasn' t me, his face digitally, but seamless

scrolled through the co

, you two ar

w you and Liam w

Ethan?" so

e. "Ethan is a dear friend who unde

her number. She picked up on the thir

u see the pics? Are

asked, my voice tight. "Why is Liam

sound that usually made me smil

e so serious, Ethan.

ced to the world that you' ve been waiting ten years for a

spiritual. It doesn' t mean anything. God, you' re being s

nse. The line was filled

g my nails done for the part

hung

raditional family because they disapproved of Chloe. They called her manipulative and self-absorbed. I

he atmosphere was already buzzing. I saw Chloe' s friends and family, but th

i

waist. He was wearing a tailored suit, looking every bit the part of t

s, Liam! She' s

you two made

sin, saw me and his face went pale. He started to walk toward me, but Chloe intercepted him, whisp

d her. "Chloe,

r a fraction of a second. Then it was ba

ice loud enough for everyone aro

d us died down. A

ng against my ribs. "What are yo

ck, pressing herself against Liam. "Liam, darling,

t his chest. "Hey, man, you hea

less sound. "This is my engagemen

ut a cruel laugh. "You must be mistak

deeply, a passionate, showy ki

d

for you," I said, my voice shaking with a fury I didn' t

inger at me. "Get this crazy person out o

pt my eyes locked on Chloe, on the woman I thought I was going to spend m

avement. My head hit the concrete with a sicken

ycho," one of them grunted

agony in my chest. My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a notification. Chloe had posted a new photo on Instagram. It was a

ssly scroll through my phone, watching Chloe and Liam flaunt their new life. They went on dates to all our old spots. They posted pictures of themselves cooking in the kitchen of the apartment we shared.

y, my phone ran

so worried about you." Her vo

d not

ft and placating. "I' m so, so sorry. My friends...

le

okay? Wher

I managed, m

ooed. "I feel terrible. I' l

," I sa

of the impatience I knew so well. "What d

ant to see y

n she spoke again, the fake sympathy was g

But I need you to d

now, after everything

d at your old office building. The battery is dead. I need you to go do

with every breath. My head was pounding. And she

my mind. The fog of heartbreak and confusion lifted, and for the f

" I

ising. "Ethan, don' t be a child. It' s the least

ed her, my voice eerily c

heavy stone in my gut, but the frantic need for her, the love I thought was my l

g up

through my contacts until I found a

o

g a deep, painful breath, I pressed it. She a

s hesitant, filled with

I choked out. "I was wrong. Y

breath. "Oh, my boy. What

reath, the words tasting like ash and freedom on my tongue. "Mom...

ady voice, full of a love

course. We' re