He Let Childhood Sweetheart Move into His House, I Left
I'd lost count of how many times Ethan had turned me down when I asked to stay the night at his place.
"Ethan, you're no fun at all."
I grumbled.
The day before, I'd noticed someone had left a mark by my front door, the kind that flags a woman living alone.
It scared me, so I went to Ethan and asked if I could crash at his place for a few days.
He said no.
"I'll book you a hotel room for tonight."
When he saw I was upset, he softened. "I just don't want to give up my own space this soon."
"Give me a little time to get used to the idea, okay?"
Three years together, and no matter how late our dates ran, he always drove me home. He never once asked me to stay.
I wasn't happy about it, but I nodded and let it go.
It wasn't that late yet, so I suggested we catch the new movie that had just come out.
Ethan checked the time instead and hurried me off to the hotel, a little on edge.
Alone in the room, I happened to scroll past the social media of a new coworker.
"AC's broken at my place. Thank God I've got someone to run to, or I'd melt."
The photo behind the caption showed the TV wall in Ethan's living room.
My stomach dropped. I stared at the picture for a long time.
By the time I came back to myself, my face was wet with tears.
Then I slid off the engagement ring Ethan had given me.
A love with something rotten stirred into it wasn't a love I wanted anymore.