I STEPPED OUT OF THE SHOWER AND HEARD MY BEST FRIEND SAY, “I LOVE YOU.”
I froze, the towel halfway to my hair, water dripping down my back as his voice carried through the cracked bathroom door. My heart hammered so loud I swore he could hear it from the living room. “Mark?” I called out, my trembling voice barely sounding like my own.
“We need to talk,” he said calmly, like he hadn’t just shattered the last eight years of friendship. I couldn’t move, the cold tile biting into my feet as I stared at the door. His voice was closer now, and I could hear the faint hum of the TV he’d left on. “You don’t get it, do you? I’ve been in love with you since junior year,” he said, his tone steady but laced with something desperate.
The air felt heavy, suffocating, like it was pressing down on my chest. I wrapped the towel tighter, my fingers digging into the fabric. “Mark, this… this isn’t funny,” I stammered, my throat dry. He paused, and I heard him exhale sharply. “Do you think I’d joke about this? About us?”
I didn’t know what to say. My mind raced, replaying every moment, every late-night conversation, every laugh. But before I could respond, the sound of a key turning in the front door made my blood run cold.
👇 *Full story continued in the comments…*I ripped the door open, heedless of my state of undress. The entryway revealed my boyfriend, Liam, his face splitting into a wide grin as he caught sight of me. “Hey, baby! I got pizza!”
Mark stood frozen in the living room, his eyes darting between Liam and me. The color had drained from his face, leaving him pale and vulnerable. Liam, oblivious, beamed. “Mark! You here too? Awesome! More pizza for everyone!” He bounced into the kitchen, already pulling out plates.
The silence that followed was deafening. Mark avoided my gaze, fiddling with the edge of a coaster on the coffee table. I felt a mix of emotions churning inside me – panic, guilt, confusion. “Liam… wait a second,” I managed, my voice cracking.
I walked towards Mark, my hand outstretched. “Mark, I…”
Before I could finish, he stepped back, a wall building around him. “It’s okay,” he said, his voice tight. “Clearly, I misread the situation.” He didn’t look at me as he turned and walked towards the front door, pausing only to grab his coat.
“Mark, please,” I pleaded, my voice thick with emotion.
He stopped at the door, his back to me. “Look, you deserve to be happy. With Liam. I just… I messed up. Goodbye, [Your Name].” He opened the door and slipped out, the slam echoing in the suddenly spacious apartment.
Liam emerged from the kitchen, pizza box in hand. “What was that about?” He looked from the closed door to me, his smile fading.
I met his gaze, finally forcing a smile, though it felt fragile. “Nothing. Just… a misunderstanding. Let’s eat pizza.” I grabbed the plate Liam offered, and as the scent of melted cheese filled the air, I knew I’d have a lot of explaining to do. Not just to Liam, but to myself. Because the truth was, as I looked at the empty doorway, I didn’t know if it was Mark or Liam who had just walked out. The pizza, delicious as it was, suddenly tasted like ashes. The weight of the last few minutes, the secrets, the unspoken feelings, settled heavily on my chest, and I knew this pizza night would be one I’d never forget, and one that marked the beginning of a very uncertain future. I knew, with a certainty that chilled me to the bone, that the easy, comfortable part of my life was over.