2: 2
In the photos the two of them looked so sweet, like they were made for each other.
I looked like the outsider, standing off to the side, awkward and out of place.
The photographer wouldn't stop praising them, so I quietly stepped back and left them their space.
"Evie, come join in."
Sophie waved me over. I gave a small shake of my head.
"This is between you two. I'll stay out of it."
John's face went dark, and he yanked me over by force.
"What's with the pitiful act? Weren't you the one whining about taking pictures? Now that we're taking them, suddenly you don't want to?"
He pulled my arm until it nearly came out of the socket, and I could barely keep my footing.
Sophie saw how uncomfortable I was and, grinning, insisted on putting lipstick on me.
"Evie, you look so washed out. Let me give you a little color."
A second later I was a smeared, streaky mess, an ugly clown.
It was ridiculous enough to make John laugh out loud.
"You two really suit each other. Only you could make such a fool of yourself."
My pride was pressed under his heel and ground into the dirt, and I didn't understand why John had become like this.
For eight years he had been so careful with me.
He never let anyone say a bad word about me, terrified I'd suffer even a little.
And now he stood there like a stranger, as if none of it had anything to do with him.
I forced the corners of my mouth up and let them do whatever they wanted with me, like a puppet.
By dusk the two of them had played to their hearts' content, while I'd spent the day drawing stares like some circus monkey.
"Today was so much fun. Wasn't it, Evie? We took so many photos of you."
I looked at the ridiculous pictures on the phone, the ones that only made Sophie look prettier and more radiant.
I said nothing. I just quietly deleted them and shut off the screen.
Back at the hotel, my social media feed updated. Sophie had posted a nine-photo grid.
Before I could even react, John instantly liked it and left a comment:
【Hahaha, the ugly little freak in the middle is hilarious!】
I looked closer. My face was blown up and set right in the center, like it was mounted on a wall of shame.
The two of them, all peace and bliss, and I was the clown.
I swallowed my anger and thought I'd try to talk it out with Sophie.
Before I got two words in, Sophie's eyes went red, pitiful.
John tucked her behind him.
"I told her to post it. If you've got a problem, take it up with me."
We stood facing each other, and yet it felt like a whole galaxy lay between us.
All at once I was just tired. I didn't argue a single point.
I quietly went back to my room.
I dug into the blocked contacts in my address book, pulled the old flame from the very bottom, and sent a message:
【I heard you're in Southport. Could you come get me?】
In less than a second, the man on the other end replied:
【Send me your location, Evie. I'm ready to go anytime.】
Warmth flooded through me.
I knew he would always be the one I could lean on.
I looked up at John at the table, sharing a single cocktail with Sophie.
My eyes dimmed for a moment.
Since I couldn't force his attention out of him.
Then I'd give it up on my own. I wouldn't be the third wheel between them anymore.
John, this time I really am leaving.
