The Lies He Told Me (Grace and Antonio)

After countless sleepless nights, I surprisingly caught some solid z's on the flight.

In my dreams. Antonio's face kept showing up, like he was just waiting for me there.

Back when we were just seven, we used to play games together.

He'd tell me he was the groom, and I was the prettiest bride.

When we turned eighteen, we made that game real.

He vowed to hustle hard and give me a grand wedding.

But when did things start to fall apart between us?

Did it start after Stella showed up, or was it before that?

I couldn't even remember it anymore.

Antonio had been the center of my world for as long as I could remember.

No matter how much I tried to stay cool and get over him, it felt like my insides were being torn apart.

Once I landed, I didn't even have the guts to turn on my phone.

"Grace!"

My mom was waving at me, standing out in a sea of foreigners.

It had been ages since we last saw each other.

She wasn't the same woman I remembered, sitting on the couch, crying, waiting for my dad to come home.

She was older, but she exuded more charm than before.

"You've grown so much," she said, her voice filled with wonder.

My mom kept touching my face, saying sorry over and over again.

I just let go and hugged her tight.

I said, "Mom, I'm not holding it against you.

"You said I should love myself first before seeking love from others."

apart, my mom and I both made

Antonio's been calling non-stop,"

dry my tears, but hers started flowing

what you choose, I'm with you all

phone was blowing up with

could even catch up on the latest, another call was

said, his voice laden with stress,

whole world on

never heard Antonio this worked

puzzled. With Stella back in the picture, why

about me. the substitute?

"Grace, have you read my journal?

with Stella. I promise you. She's just

to me.

be heartbroken.

tears you've left on

I've

it

my intention

you."

was feeling kind

but

that

stay with

It's to set us

happy with

"Why the tears?"

diary, Stella was his shining moment,

his darkest days.

most brilliant, the most

that I put in the

the glory days, I was the one emptying my bank account

to business associates, doing whatever it took to keep

the one downing drinks till I was senseless, so wasted

of that registered with

he held onto was the heady, fantastical ride Stella

name tattooed on his chest, lying to me that it was a reminder of the

truly yearned to keep alive was his