The day my life shifted forever, I lay broken and bleeding from a car accident, while my boyfriend, Kelvin, rushed off—not to my side, but to his “dear childhood friend,” Luna. She had sent him another desperate message, claiming she’d end her life if he didn’t come to see her.

“I just want to see you one last time,” she wrote.

Without a second thought, he left me. My pleas for him to stay went unheard; he didn’t even glance my way. His cold voice echoed in my ears as he walked out the door.

"How selfish can you be, Diana? Luna and I have been together since we were kids. You know it’s different.”

That night, I cried myself to sleep, hurt by both his words and my wounds. But days later, the famous physicist Evan Blake—known worldwide for his achievements—came into my life, offering a love as passionate as it was public. He even asked me to marry him. The moment Kelvin found out, he returned to me, desperate, his eyes filled with a sorrow I had never seen before.

“Diana, please,” he begged, “don’t say yes to him.”

I met his gaze, expressionless. “I’m in love with him, Kelvin. You don’t get to have an opinion.”

***

That horrible day started out like any other, with me filled with excitement to share my good news. I’d just won a spot in the national physics competition and I was thrilled. I rushed home to tell Kelvin, thinking he’d be proud. But my haste made me careless. Before I knew it, I lost control of the car and crashed. Through waves of pain, I dialed his number, my hand trembling.

“Kelvin,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face, “I’m hurt… there’s so much blood. It really hurts. Can you come be with me? I’m scared.”

He cut me off with the cool efficiency of someone with far more important things to do.

“Diana, Luna just sent me a message saying she’s going to hurt herself. I have to go to her—this is serious. Don’t make a scene.”

Before I could even respond, the line went dead.

The pain in my ankle intensified, a throbbing agony that left me dizzy. Blood was pooling beneath me, staining the pavement in a shocking shade of red. Frantic, I called him again, but this time, his irritation was palpable.

“Diana, I told you to stop calling. Don’t you get it? Luna needs me. She’s my childhood friend; we go way back. If something was going to happen between us, don’t you think it would’ve happened already?”

His words were a slap to the face and I could feel my heart splintering, the sharp pain there rivaling the one in my leg. The world around me was freezing as a biting wind swept over my sweat-soaked skin. I was shaking—partly from cold, partly from disbelief.

For three years, Luna had used the threat of hurting herself to keep Kelvin close. Every single time, he’d drop everything for her. I’d always tried to be understanding; after all, a life was at stake. But as I lay there, alone and broken, it hit me that in his eyes, Luna’s cry for attention outweighed my very real, life-threatening injuries.

In the end, it was a stranger who helped me to the hospital, not my boyfriend. And while I received stitches and a stern warning about the severity of my injuries, Kelvin was nowhere to be found. The doctor, frowning as he cleaned my wound, told me that if I’d been brought in any later, I could have faced a lifelong disability.

When I finally felt steady enough, I tried calling Kelvin again, hoping against hope that he’d at least care about my condition. But each call was declined—until, finally, Luna’s voice answered.

“Diana, please don’t be angry with Kelvin. He’s here because I begged him to come. I know you don’t like me, but… I’m really struggling. How could you be so heartless?”

Then Kelvin’s voice came on, weary and irritated. “Diana, I can’t keep doing this. Luna needs me and frankly, what are you doing that’s more important?”

The phone went dead in my hand.

I sat there, shaking, a knot of disbelief tightening in my stomach. My boyfriend, the one person who should be there for me, was off comforting Luna, acting as if her pain mattered more than mine. And I realized that he would never see me as enough. Not over her.

Without a word to the doctor, I refused the overnight hospital stay, hailed a taxi and made my way to Luna’s house. Pain throbbed through my leg with each movement and as I approached her front door, my chest tightened. I wanted—needed—to see this for myself.

The door was slightly ajar and soft laughter floated out, mingling with Luna’s sweet voice.

“Oh, Kelvin, I feel so much better with you here,” she giggled. “Stay with me a few more days, will you?”

As I took it all in, I realized this wasn’t just a “cry for help.” She was manipulating him and he let her.

The pain I felt wasn’t just physical anymore. It was the heartbreaking awareness that I’d been holding on to someone who was already lost to someone else.

Luna tilted her head, giving Kelvin an innocent, pouty look that would fool anyone who didn’t know better. Her voice was sweet, almost musical, as she spoke.

"But, Diana seems to be... well, I guess she's doing alright, isn’t she?” she murmured, her eyes glinting as she turned to Kelvin. “So… could you maybe stay with me a few more days? I just feel so much better with you here.”

Kelvin hesitated, glancing at her for a brief moment. Then, his expression softened and he nodded with a reassuring smile.

I had heard enough. With a pounding heart, I pushed the door open and found them there, close, comfortable and far too intimate for just “friends.” My leg throbbed in pain, but I couldn’t stop staring, feeling utterly betrayed. Kelvin looked up, startled to see me standing there, my face pale and angry.

“Oh, Diana...” His voice trailed off as he took in my blood-stained jeans and swollen ankle, though a look of impatience quickly replaced his initial shock. “What are you doing here? You’re clearly hurt—you shouldn’t be running around like this.”

I swallowed hard, fighting the tightness in my throat. “I was coming home to celebrate with you, Kelvin. I wanted to tell you about my competition… but you abandoned me. And here you are, relaxing with her?”

Luna looked up at Kelvin, pressing her hand to her mouth in a fake gasp. Kelvin’s expression darkened as he turned back to me, his tone sharp.

“Diana, stop being so ridiculous. Luna was in serious trouble and here you are, making it about yourself. I’ve never met someone so cold-hearted.”

I felt tears sting my eyes as his words struck me like a slap. He took a step forward, gripping my arm a little too firmly and tilted my chin up with a condescending smirk.

“What good news could you possibly have?” he sneered. “Ever since you came into my life, Luna’s depression has only gotten worse. Every time you’re around, it’s just bad news.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This man—this man I’d loved for three years—was blaming me for Luna’s fragile state. My heart twisted painfully as he shrugged my arm off with an exasperated sigh.

“Look, just go back to the hospital and rest for a few days,” he said dismissively. “I’ll stay here to make sure Luna’s okay. She needs me.”

A lump formed in my throat, making it impossible to speak. The joyful day I’d anticipated had been ruined in a heartbeat. Kelvin seemed to hesitate briefly, his gaze softening as he looked at me.

“If you really need me, I guess… you can come by when you’re feeling better.” He looked back at Luna, who clung to him, smiling sweetly. “But right now, I can’t just leave her.”

Luna’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she leaned close to Kelvin, flashing me a sugary smile. “Thank you, Kelvin. And Diana, I’m sure you don’t mind, right? After all, you’re so much older than me… and we’re like sisters, aren’t we?”

The smugness in her eyes was undeniable. Kelvin might have chosen to overlook it, but I couldn’t. I clenched my fists, feeling a surge of anger that dissolved the pain in my ankle.

“Kelvin, you two make me sick. I hope you and your little ‘sister’ have a wonderful life together.”

Kelvin’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing. “What did you just say?”

“You heard me,” I said, my voice trembling with emotion. “We’re done. It’s over.”

With trembling fingers, I pulled off the ring he’d given me on my last birthday and dropped it on the floor. It rolled to a stop at his feet. Ignoring his stunned expression, I turned and walked out, refusing to look back.

Outside, I limped away, the cold air stinging my skin and my heart feeling hollow and bruised. I might have broken things off, but I couldn’t escape the deep sadness that now filled me. The road stretched out before me, crowded with strangers, as I struggled to make sense of the last three years of my life.

Every step reminded me of the countless times I’d found myself alone, needing his support only for Luna to “coincidentally” have another crisis. Her desperate calls, her helpless cries… they’d always conveniently popped up whenever I needed him. How many times had I tried to reason with myself, to believe she was just struggling and that he was only being a good friend? But today had shown me the truth. A life-threatening injury, an achievement I’d wanted to share, none of it mattered to him when she was involved.

As I stumbled along, exhausted and broken-hearted, I knew I couldn’t fool myself anymore. Kelvin had made his choice and I had no choice but to walk away from the person I’d loved… who, in the end, had loved someone else far more than he’d ever loved me.

So, this is how it ends.

I lost nothing more than a man who didn’t love me—why should I feel sad? I should be celebrating, really. Today, I not only freed myself from Kelvin but also received the official notification: I’d made the finals for the national physics competition. Double the happiness, right?

But as I made my way down the bustling street, the sounds around me faded, my vision blurred and I felt light-headed. Maybe it was the blood loss, or the mix of joy and sorrow hitting all at once. My body grew heavy and before I could steady myself, darkness overtook me.

***

I woke up in an unfamiliar room, sunlight filtering through elegant curtains and a faint scent of sandalwood lingering in the air. The pain in my ankle was duller and when I glanced down, I noticed that my wound had been carefully re-bandaged. I tried to sit up, wincing slightly and then noticed a man sitting at a desk across the room.

He was writing intently, surrounded by stacks of books and scattered papers, occasionally pausing to tap his fingers against the wood as if in deep thought. His face, handsome and composed, looked vaguely familiar.

“Evan Blake?” I asked softly, still uncertain.

The man glanced up, his eyes warm as he gave a slight smile. Yes, it was him—Evan Blake, the prodigy of the physics world. With an IQ of 230, he had been known as a “medal collector” in international competitions since middle school. By twenty-five, he was already a renowned Harvard professor, someone every aspiring physicist admired.

“It’s me, Evan Blake. I’m the honorary chairman of this year’s physics competition,” he said, setting down his pen. His gaze was calm and reassuring.

“Oh, um… how did I end up here?” I mumbled, unsure of where to even begin.

Evan’s expression softened as he leaned back in his chair. “The organizers couldn’t reach you when they tried to call, so I decided to come by in person. I’ve read your work, Diana. Your research shows remarkable promise. But I didn’t expect to find our ‘physics genius’ injured in the street.” He offered a half-smile, his tone gentle. “Luckily, I was nearby.”

My cheeks flushed in embarrassment. I couldn’t possibly tell him that I’d fainted on the street because of a petty argument with Kelvin.

Sensing my discomfort, he waved a hand dismissively. “It’s alright; no need to explain. Let’s focus on getting you settled. I’ll take you back to the school soon to pack up your things. After that, we’ll head to the training base where you’ll prepare for the competition.”

When I opened my mouth to protest about my injury, he shook his head, amused. “Don’t worry. I’m quite competent in first aid. I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of.”

I nodded, feeling a strange warmth spreading through me. “Thank you, Professor Blake.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied with a kind smile.

As I lay back, I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Diana, I thought, you finally earned your place in this competition. Don’t let anything—or anyone—distract you from your goals. Kelvin’s betrayal had stung, but it wasn’t a loss. Letting go was better than clinging to someone who couldn’t value me.

***

Later, back in my dorm, I packed my things slowly, realizing this might be the last time I’d ever be here. Even if I didn’t win the finals, there would be other opportunities ahead, other paths to pursue.

I was carefully tucking a few keepsakes into my bag when I felt a sharp tug on my arm. I turned, shocked to see Kelvin standing there, his face contorted with anger.

“Whose car was that?” he demanded, his voice a low growl. “What do you think you’re doing, going behind my back to meet some other guy?”

I pulled my arm free, narrowing my eyes. “You lost the right to question me a long time ago, Kelvin. We’re done. I’m leaving for the competition and after that… who knows?”

His expression twisted with frustration. “Diana, you can’t be serious. You know how Luna needs me—”

“Enough,” I cut him off, feeling the last bit of patience drain out of me. “You’ve made your choices clear, Kelvin. Now I’m making mine.”

Without another glance, I picked up my suitcase, feeling lighter with each step away from him. I walked out, leaving the past behind and embracing the unknown future.