I Left the Triangle They Thought I Needed Chapter 03

I Left the Triangle They Thought I Needed Chapter 03

When Natalie was seventeen, her family lost everything. Her father died in a car accident. Her mother had a breakdown.

And still, through all of that, she stayed at the top of the class.

I felt so bad for her. I asked my parents to pay for her education, all the way through college.

She and James both went to Harvard. I went to Bridgeport State University down the road.

I didn’t know when the three of us started to drift apart.

Six days later, James finally called.

“You quit your job?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you discuss it with me? You just act without thinking? You failed the bar again, you can’t hold down a job. What can you even do?”

He kept going, tearing me down.

“Natalie would never act like this. No matter how hard things get, she pushes through.”

I yelled into the phone.

“You’re right. I’m not Natalie. She’s so perfect. Why don’t you just be with her?”

James went quiet for a few seconds. Then he exploded.

“You’re cruel, irrational, impossible.”

“You’ve had everything handed to you your whole life. What’s wrong with me looking out for Natalie?”

“Isn’t she your best friend? She’s someone worth caring about. You’re just exhausting.”

He used the same tactic he used in court, go for the jugular, argue until you win.

Hearing him say what he really thought, I went calm.

This was the real him. The one who never really cared about me.

“When was the last time you actually had a real conversation with me?”

Before he could answer, I hung up.

On my desk was a photo of us together. We’d taken it the first time we went to the movies.

In the closet was the LEGO castle he spent three months building.

He used to say, “Emily, you were born to be happy. I’m going to make you the happiest princess in the world.”

“I look at you and all my problems disappear.”

Later, he said, “Can’t you try harder? What’s the point of just drifting through life?”

“Look at Natalie. Then look at yourself.”

I did try. But some things you can’t just try your way through.

Talent matters too.

That night, Natalie came over with a basket of fruit and her perfect smile.

“Mr. and Mrs. Watson, how have you been?”

“Doing alright.”

My mom tested the waters. “How about you? Work keeping you busy?”

Natalie nodded. “Very busy.”

My mom took a sip of tea. “That’s a beautiful ring you’re wearing. Is there someone special?”

“Yes, there is.”

Natalie’s smile grew wider, her eyes shining.

I spoke up. “You should bring him around. We’d love to meet him.”

“It’s still new.”

I laughed coldly. “You’re wearing a ring, but it’s not serious? Mom, Dad, I guess we’re not family enough to know.”

Natalie’s face went pale.

“Mr. and Mrs. Watson, that’s not what I meant.”

My dad shot me a look. “Emily. That was uncalled for.”

I got up and went to my room.

I didn’t know when Natalie left.

Late that night, my mom came in and said softly, “If something makes you feel small, it’s not yours to keep.”

When I woke up, my pillow was wet.

To clear my head, I drove to the ocean.

The wind off the water made everything feel lighter, for a moment.

Then a furious voice cut through the air.

“Emily, what are you doing here?”