Chapter 6
Chapter 6
My phone wouldn’t stop vibrating.
It buzzed against my palm in this frantic, insistent rhythm that made my whole hand shake.
Call after call after call.
I’d lost count by the time the flight attendant leaned over, gently reminding me to switch to airplane mode.
My hands were trembling. I tried to hit decline, but my thumb slipped and suddenly Derek’s voice was in my ear.
“Hey, we’re still stuck here. Probably another hour at least p>
That familiar apologetic tone, like he was asking me to wait five more minutes.
“If you’re hungry, just eat without us. We’ll head back soon as we’re done p>
The urge to laugh was almost overwhelming.
The man’s wedding photos were trending on Twitter, and he was still pretending to be my devoted husband.
How many lies did it take to prop up one massive deception
Did he even remember which story he’d told me anymore?
I stayed quiet for too long. Finally managed to push out: “Okay p>
Right then the airport announcement system kicked in, cycling through departure gates in crisp, clear English.
Derek heard it instantly. “Annie? Where are you? Is that… are you at an airport p>
I kept my voice flat. “No. Just the TV p>
He seemed to buy it. Maybe because I’d been so eerily cooperative all day, he actually relaxed enough to add what he probably thought was comforting:
“Don’t stress about this, alright? I told you-once Simon’s enrolled, we go right back and make it official again. Nothing really changes p>
“You and me, we’re solid p>
I couldn’t think of a single thing to say to that.
Should I ask if the marriage was fake? Should I mention the pregnancy test?
Chapter 6
Honestly, at this point Derek probably couldn’t keep his own lies straight.
A woman’s voice floated through the background-soft, affectionate, calling his name.
He didn’t even wait for me to respond. “Gotta run” and the line went dead.
Turned out that was the last time we’d ever speak.
I sat there staring at the dark screen for maybe three seconds.
Then something settled in me, cold and absolute.
I powered off the phone, popped the SIM card out with my thumbnail, and dropped it in the seat pocket trash.
Outside the window, the city was shrinking into a scatter of lights against black nothing as we climbed into the night.
Goodbye, Derek.
Goodbye to the place I used to love just because you were in it.
There was nothing down there worth going back for.
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Joseph King
Joseph King is an editor and storyteller who ensures every chapter is clear, polished, and engaging for readers.