Oblivion

“Liv, didn’t you wonder why you kept bumping into Ethan? Didn’t you think it was just a little too coincidental? First in front of the hospital and then outside of the museum.”

A wave of anxiety washed over me and my mind raced, searching for a logical answer to Co

Co

His words caused my whole world to crash before me. My heart refused to believe what I had just heard, but when I looked to Ethan for answers, it was written all over his face. What Co

“Why?” I managed to ask as my breathing became shallow and ragged.

“Because I needed you to trust him. I wanted to know if you really lost your memories when you woke up. I needed to make sure you weren’t just pretending that you didn’t know to protect yourself from me. So I hired him to get close to you, to get to know you, to get you to trust him.”

I shook my head, unwilling to accept this reality.

“Like I said, Liv, nothing just happens. You met Ethan because I wanted you to meet him. I wanted you to trust him.” He paused and shot Ethan a menacing look. “What I didn’t want was for you to leave me for him. What I didn’t want was for him to fall for you.”

“Don’t listen to him, Liv,” Ethan finally spoke up. He came over and helped me up from the floor. “Come on. I’ll explain everything. Please just come with me.”

Just then, behind Ethan, I saw Co

I cried out when I saw Ethan stumble to the ground as blood oozed down from a gash on his forehead.

Co

“No, please! Co

He lunged at me and pushed me up against the railing that overlooked the front hallway.

“Please, Co

His hands found their way to my neck again and he pressed my body against the railing, bending me over the top. I gasped for air, struggling against the weight of his body. My hands desperately tried to pull his hands off me as my eyes looked down to the hard marble floor below.

Just when I thought I was about to pass out and fall over the railing, I heard Co

I screamed as I heard a loud thud as his body hit the hard floor below.

Paralyzed and overwhelmed with shock, I slid down to the floor and hugged my legs as I began to sob.

The next hour was a blur in my memory. Ethan had called the police, and when they showed up, they took our statements, took photos, and took the necklace and the bookend that hit Ethan into evidence.

When the police finally left, I felt numb as the shock of everything that happened and everything that I found out stayed fresh in my mind.

“Liv, are you okay?” Ethan asked. He had cleaned off the blood from his face, but I could still see the open gash on his forehead.

“Don’t touch me!” I screamed as I recoiled from his touch.

He looked at me in concern and regret in his eyes. “Please let me explain. I promise you, Liv. I’m going to make this right.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “There’s nothing you can do that will make this right.”

"I'm so sorry, Liv.”

“All you can say is sorry?” I felt a rage grow inside. “Is that enough?”

He bowed his head in anguish. “I should have told you sooner. I should have told you everything.”

“It’s too late, Ethan.” I looked away from him, unable to allow the one man I felt so close to, the one man who I thought could be the one, see me cry at this moment.

“You must think I’m a fool,” I said under my breath. “Playing with my emotions and making me believe there was something real between us. But you were just controlling me like I was a puppet in this made up world you and Co

“No, it’s not like that. Please let me explain. It’s not what it looks like.”

I glared at him. “Well it looks like you knew Co

I seethed with rage inside as I processed Ethan’s betrayal.

“No, Co

He grabbed my hand against my resistance and pulled it close to his chest. “Liv, the feelings we have for each other, the feelings I have for you. They are real.”

Just then, I saw A

I pulled my hand away and took one last look at Ethan.

“It doesn’t matter, Ethan. I can never trust you after this.”

On the verge of tears, I turned away and ran as fast as I could toward A

CHAPTER T WELVE

Three Weeks Later

I jumped when my phone rang. Anxiety prickled against my skin as I reached for it to see who it was. I let out a sigh of relief when I saw A

“Hey, A

“Hi, roomie! How’s it going?” Her always-chipper voice caused me to smile.

“Not bad. I’m glad that it’s you that called.”

“Oh, are you still avoiding his calls?”

I didn’t need to ask her to know exactly who she was talking about. Ethan.

“Yeah. He won’t leave me alone. It might be time to file a restraining order or something.”

“Hmm. Maybe you should talk to him, Liv. Let him explain to you what happened.”

“But I know what happened. Co

“You’re right, sweetie. That’s hard.”

“So what’s going on?” I asked, changing the subject.

“I was calling to see if you were home right now. I was going to swing in to drop some stuff off.”

There was something in her voice that gave me pause. “Yeah, I’m home. Is anything wrong?”

“Nothing.” There was a pause. “I just have to give you something.”