In the Hospital Alone, While He Stayed by Her Side

After spraining my ankle, I took a taxi alone to the hospital for treatment. The nurse asked if my family was around, and, without much thought, I came up with an excuse on his behalf. Lying in the hospital bed, I felt a hollow ache in the pit of my stomach.

I unlocked my phone and saw that his best friend had posted an update:

"Life’s easy when there’s no tigress around to keep watch. Erik really has a soft spot for Polly."

In the post was a photo of Erik Dean, looking tenderly at his childhood sweetheart as she lay in a hospital bed.