Chapter 2: Her Voice, My Silence

Just four hours ago, Savannah had FaceTimed me, telling me to drive safe.

She looked tired but excited, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. The sunlight from the hospital window made her look almost angelic.

My mother-in-law sat beside her, looking at me like I was gum stuck to her shoe.

She never missed a chance to make me feel unwelcome. Today was no different. She crossed her arms, lips pressed into a thin line.

"Only a fool like you would stick around. What kind of future does a rideshare driver even have, huh?"

Her words were sharp, meant to cut. My cheeks flushed, but I bit my tongue.

Savannah nudged her gently, trying to smooth things over.

She gave her mom a look. "Mom, don’t say that. Chris will get upset if he hears you."

I frowned, but didn’t argue. I’d never even raised my voice at Savannah. Never gotten angry with her.

Sometimes I wondered if that was part of the problem. If I was just too easy to ignore.

My mother-in-law scoffed, "Might as well get yourself killed in an accident. At least Savannah would get some insurance money."

She said it like it was a joke. But there was nothing funny about it. My jaw clenched, but I stayed silent.

Savannah snapped, "Mom! Don’t say stuff like that!"

Savannah’s voice was sharp, almost pleading. For a moment, I actually felt seen.

Hearing Savannah stand up for me gave me this warm feeling inside.

It was rare, and I held onto it like a lifeline.

But the happier I’d been then, the more hopeless I felt now. Funny how that works.

The memory made the present even more unbearable. God, I was so naïve.

It wasn’t until Savannah and the others disappeared into the elevator that Marcus Evans—my oldest friend—hesitantly came over and patted my shoulder.

Marcus was always the reliable one in our group—the guy you called when your car broke down or you needed to move a couch. His touch was gentle, but his eyes were full of worry.

"Chris, man, you okay?"

His voice was soft, like he was afraid to break the silence.

"Savannah, she... I—"

I couldn’t finish the sentence. The words just stuck in my throat. Too painful to say out loud.

Marcus stammered, wanting to comfort me but not knowing how. He’d seen everything too.

He shifted from foot to foot, hands shoved deep in his jacket pockets. The silence between us was just... heavy.

I dropped my gaze, slid down the wall, and sat on the floor. Couldn’t stop the tears.

The cold tiles pressed against my back, grounding me. I buried my face in my hands and let the tears come.