Chapter 6: Echoes of Goodbye

So, even though Brandon was wild and unfaithful, I stayed. Because I knew he hadn’t always been like this.

Later, maybe because he treated me well—bringing me umbrellas when it rained, delivering breakfast, lunch, dinner, birthday flowers, anything I glanced at twice would show up on my desk the next day…

People just assumed I was his girlfriend.

Once, after a girl cried herself out, she looked at me, eyes red, and said, “Brandon treats you so well.”

I smiled, but inside it hurt. No one knew his kindness was just duty—he met all my needs, but never cared about my feelings.

He was just checking off the list my sister left him.

We really got together on my eighteenth birthday.