— Crazy how life works! Weren’t we just at his wedding a few years ago?
People I knew. People who had attended my wedding were congratulating them like this was some kind of fairytale.
I wanted to smash my phone. But then—
Another photo.
My vision blurred. It was Noah. Sitting on Jason’s lap, laughing, arms wrapped around Lily’s neck. They looked like a happy, perfect family. Like I never existed.
A sharp, stabbing pain tore through my skull. My vision spun, the pounding inside my head unbearable. With shaking hands, I reached for the nightstand, fumbling for the bottle of pain relievers. My fingers barely managed to twist the cap off before I popped two pills into my mouth, swallowing dry.
But the pain didn’t stop. A metallic taste filled my throat. My lip trembled as something warm trickled down my upper lip.
I wiped at it absentmindedly. Red. Blood.
Panic gripped my chest. My breaths came out shallow, uneven. I grabbed my phone and dialed my mother’s number.
No answer. I tried my father. Nothing. My heart pounded as I scrolled down and pressed Jason’s contact.
The call rang. Once. Twice. Then straight to voicemail.