Seven Years Waiting

After my boyfriend refused to marry me for seven years straight, the ridicule finally broke me. In a single day, I asked him more than a dozen times: “When are you actually going to marry me?” But he only sighed, ruffled my hair, and called me childish. “A woman’s worth isn’t defined by marriage.” “You should learn from your best friend. Build a successful career instead of thinking about nothing but marrying a man.” I fell silent, but I still didn’t understand. He was the one who’d promised to marry me as soon as I graduated. How had wanting that wedding become my fault? So I decided to go to his office and demand an answer. I’d barely cracked the door open when I saw him pinning my best friend against the wall, kissing her hungrily. Breathless, she asked him: “When are you going to agree to marry Nora?” “She’s so desperate. It breaks my heart.” My boyfriend sounded helpless. “We’d have to get divorced first, wouldn’t we?” “Could you really bear to let me go?” As I listened, the blood in my veins seemed to freeze. During those seven years I’d spent asking him to marry me, he’d already gotten married. Just not to me. When the heated sounds inside the office finally died down, I calmly pushed open the door. Chloe Parker was sitting in a chair, giggling. Ethan Hayes was kneeling in front of her, slipping her heels onto her feet. An ache spread through my chest. Usually, even asking him to pass me something meant listening to a string of complaints. “Can’t you be a little more independent?” “What would you do without me?” Yet here he was, tenderly putting another woman’s shoes on for her. I cleared my throat on purpose. They both froze when they saw me. Chloe quickly pulled her foot out of Ethan’s hand. “Nora, what are you doing at the office…?” I stared at her coldly. “If I hadn’t come, how would I have found out what you two were doing?” “Chloe, does it break your heart when you’re screwing your best friend’s boyfriend, too?” Chloe bit her lip, her eyes instantly reddening. Ethan immediately stepped in front of her and frowned at me. “Don’t be so nasty.” His accusing tone made it sound as though I was the one who’d done something wrong. But Chloe’s lipstick was still smeared at the corner of his mouth. “Chloe and I were just taking care of a physical need.” “Don’t drag us down into your filthy imagination.” Chloe started sniffling. Fighting the pain in my chest, I questioned him through trembling lips. “A physical need?” “You need your girlfriend’s best friend to take care of your physical needs?” “You need a marriage certificate for that?” By the last question, tears were spilling uncontrollably down my face. Ethan went still. He finally realized how long I’d been standing outside. He rubbed the bridge of his nose in irritation. “That was because Chloe’s mother was in bad shape. She wanted to see her daughter married before she died.” “I only married her to help.” He paused. “I just didn’t want these little problems affecting her work.” “It’s a piece of paper. Nothing more.” My heart pounded, and what little color remained in my face drained away. I remembered all the times Ethan had praised Chloe’s abilities in front of me. He would look at me and sigh. “If only you were a little more like your best friend. Strong and independent.” “Instead of constantly talking about getting married.” I’d refused to accept that. I’d shown him everything I’d earned before graduation. My awards, my professional certifications, my scholarships. But Ethan had only laughed. “That’s all in the past.” It had hurt, but I’d told myself he simply admired capable people. Now it turned out that marriage meant endless excuses when I wanted it. When Chloe wanted it, it was just a piece of paper. It felt as though a thousand needles were piercing my heart. Ethan sighed and stepped forward to hug me. “Don’t touch me!” The words tore out of me as I tried to escape his disgusting embrace. Something hit the floor. In the struggle, a document had slipped out of my pocket. The marriage license application I’d brought to force the issue. A crushing wave of humiliation swept over me. I bent to pick it up. But Ethan got there first. He held the application between his fingers and gave a mocking laugh. “So this is why you came to my office and caused a scene?” I spoke quietly. “That was why I came.” “But I don’t need it anymore.” While he stood there stunned, I snatched the application back. Then I turned and walked out.When the cold wind hit me, I realized I was shaking all over. My phone chimed. A message from Ethan. “Nora Bennett, what exactly was that supposed to mean?” I gave a bitter little laugh and blocked him. Taking a deep breath, I noticed a faint ache in my abdomen. I remembered the doctor warning me that I could miscarry at any time, and fear crept in. After all, this baby was my own flesh and blood. Only after calming myself down did I take out my phone and message my doctor. “Hello. I’d like to schedule a checkup.” For seven years, Ethan had told me marriage could wait. For a while, I’d waited quietly. But all that waiting had brought me was another birthday, then another. It had brought me to my grandmother’s deathbed, where the person who loved me most passed away without seeing me married. Then this baby came along, and I finally made up my mind. I started asking him outright. And became the woman everyone mocked for wanting a man who didn’t want her. Now, none of it mattered. I turned off my phone and let the tears run down my face. “Nora…” Someone called my name softly. Chloe had followed me outside. She reached up and gently wiped away my tears. I stared blankly at her hand, then pressed my lips together. “Why would you do this to me?” I fought the pain twisting inside me. I could have imagined anyone betraying me. Anyone but her. My closest friend. The friend who used to poke my forehead and tease me for being hopelessly in love. We’d gone to school together, graduated together, even applied for the same job. There were two of us competing for one opening. But just before the interview, I happened to see a debt collection notice on her phone. Her mother had jumped from a building after finding out her father was cheating. She’d survived, but instead of escaping her misery, she’d been left with a mountain of medical bills. Three hundred thousand dollars. So I withdrew my application. Chloe asked me why. “You need this high-paying job more than I do.” I smiled, then added a joke so she wouldn’t feel guilty. “Besides, my boyfriend will take care of me.” That boyfriend was Ethan. He was already making a name for himself as a self-made entrepreneur. He’d fallen for me at first sight. Then he’d pursued me relentlessly for three years. All I remembered was Chloe crying with gratitude, holding my hands, and promising we would be friends forever. I hadn’t noticed the flash of jealousy in her eyes. Chloe’s hand stopped. She stared straight at me. “Because I’m better than you in every way.” It felt as though someone had grabbed my heart and squeezed until I couldn’t breathe. Chloe went on. “I have a good career. I’m capable.” “You’re just a lovesick little parasite who depends on a man.” “Why should someone like you get a better boyfriend than me?” Every word drove another needle into my heart. As she watched my face turn pale, she seemed pleased. Then she smiled again. “But I never meant to ruin your relationship.” “I was going to have fun with Ethan for a few years and give him back.” “You’re the one who couldn’t hold on to him…” Smack. I couldn’t listen anymore. I slapped her hard across the face. She pressed a hand to her reddening cheek and stared at me in disbelief. “Nora Bennett, after all these years of friendship, you’re hitting me over a man?” She sounded so righteous, as though she wasn’t the one who’d slept with her best friend’s boyfriend. I simply looked at her. “Yes. We’ve been friends for years.” “That’s why I’m giving you one chance to end things with Ethan.” “Otherwise, I’ll make sure your mother knows you’re the other woman.” Chloe shook her head desperately, but I felt no satisfaction. Pushing through the ache in my chest, I continued. “Take my advice…” “Don’t become the kind of woman your mother hates most.”Ethan didn’t come home that night. But I saw him on Chloe’s Snapchat story. She’d posted a picture of them kissing, along with a photo of their marriage certificate. The caption read: “One year of being yours.” Several of our mutual friends sent confused replies. “Isn’t that Nora Bennett’s boyfriend of seven years?” “Are you seriously the other woman?” But Ethan quickly answered them himself. “We broke up. Someone just refuses to let go.” “Chloe Parker is my one and only wife.” Maybe everyone had heard so much about my desperate desire to get married that they found it easy to believe him. They congratulated Chloe. “Of course two successful people belong together.” “All Nora ever does is revolve around her man.” “Can’t wait to see how she reacts to her precious boyfriend dumping her. Think she’ll throw a fit?” They were having so much fun without me. I couldn’t stop shaking as I stared at the marriage certificate, my eyes burning. They’d already been married for a year. That meant they’d gotten married when my grandmother was seriously ill. I’d cared for her day and night. My eyes had been constantly swollen from crying. Lying in her hospital bed, barely able to speak, she’d gestured for me to come closer and asked: “Sweetheart, where’s that boyfriend of yours?” I’d told her he was busy and would visit when he had time. Tears welled in her clouded eyes. “I wanted to see you get married. I don’t think I have enough time.” I’d shaken my head desperately and told her she did. Then I’d called Ethan and begged. “I don’t need a wedding or anything. Can’t we just get married?” After a long silence, he’d given me a vague answer. “I’m really busy right now. Give me three months or so.” Grandma hadn’t even lasted one. Back then, I hadn’t understood why Ethan insisted on waiting. Now I knew. He’d just married Chloe. I pressed a hand to my chest, unable to breathe beneath the weight of the truth. Wiping away my tears, I sent Chloe a message. “I guess you don’t want that chance.” She video-called me almost immediately. She made no attempt to hide the hickeys on her neck as she blinked at me. “What chance? I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Smiling, she held up her marriage certificate. “All I know is that I’m Ethan Hayes’s legal wife.” “And you?” She raised her voice. “Ethan said himself that he broke up with you ages ago.” My eyes widened. A man’s arm slipped around Chloe and pulled her close. Ethan looked down at me through the screen. “Nora, you went too far.” “I had to do this to stop you from running your mouth to Chloe’s mother.” “So that gives you the right to announce to everyone that we’ve broken up without even telling me?” The corner of Ethan’s mouth lifted. “Nora, this is your punishment.” “If you take some time to calm down and apologize to Chloe, I might consider taking you back…” Nausea suddenly churned in my stomach. I nearly threw up. “Don’t bother.” I cut him off, clutching my abdomen. “We’re done.” “Ethan, I’m the one who never wants to see you again.” Not even for the sake of the child who hadn’t been born yet.The sharp smell of disinfectant made my stomach turn. I walked through the hospital in a daze. Today was the day of my checkup. It was also my last day in this city. When I’d called my parents and told them Ethan and I had broken up, they’d been silent for a long time before finally asking: “Were you pressuring him to get married again?” “Ethan’s always been so good to you.” I bit my lip hard to keep from crying. They were right. Apart from refusing to marry me, Ethan had seemed perfect. It was almost time for my appointment. I hurriedly ended the call. But as I passed a hospital room, I heard a familiar voice. Holding the hand of the woman beside him, Ethan was speaking to the older woman in the bed. “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Chloe.” “All those rumors you’ve heard are lies spread by my crazy ex-girlfriend.” Pain shot through my chest. I tried to hurry away. But I ran straight into Chloe as she stepped out to get water. Her eyes widened. “Nora, what are you doing here…?” She immediately shut the door. Her eyes reddened as she looked at me. “You’re still going to tell my mother everything?” I frowned, not wanting to deal with her. I turned to leave, but Chloe grabbed my wrist. “Please, Nora. I’m begging you.” “Just give me a little more time. Then I’ll give Ethan back.” Looking at the red marks forming beneath her fingers, I said coldly: “Let go.” But she wouldn’t stop. “Promise you forgive me first!” My appointment was getting closer. Panic tightened in my chest, and I shoved her away. I hadn’t pushed very hard, but Chloe cried out and fell to the floor. Ethan immediately opened the door and saw us. His expression hardened. A vein bulged in his neck. “What the hell are you doing now?” “I didn’t…” I never finished. Ethan rushed over and slapped me across the face. My head went numb. I stared at him in shock. It was the first time he’d ever hit me. My cheek burned. Anger. Numbness. Agony. I looked at the man in front of me. He was still handsome, no different from the man who’d once promised to treat me well. How could anyone look at him and know what a disgusting person he was? I opened my mouth, wanting to explain that running into them had been an accident. “I’m preg—” Ethan wasn’t listening. He helped Chloe up, his eyes bloodshot as he declared: “If we’re broken up, stay the hell away from us.” I swallowed the bitterness in my throat and let out a faint laugh. “Fine.” My abdomen hurt terribly. I turned to find a doctor. But Ethan called after me. “Apologize to Chloe.” My heart sank further. This time, I didn’t try to explain. I simply apologized. While Ethan stayed with Chloe in her mother’s hospital room, I began hemorrhaging and was rushed into surgery. Despite the doctors’ efforts, they couldn’t save my baby. Tears streamed down my face as I listened quietly to the doctor explain how to care for myself after the miscarriage. I nodded slowly. She was an older woman. Seeing someone so young go through this surgery alone, she let out a long sigh. “Don’t let grief swallow you. You’re young, and life will put you through hard things.” “But you still have so much life ahead of you.” Something about her reminded me of my grandmother. My eyes grew hot again. I sniffed, holding back my tears long enough to thank her sincerely. “I know.” “Things are going to get better.” Because I’d already bought my ticket out of there.