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00:00I lied about what I looked like, met him online, six months, in real life, CEO, cold, untouchable,
00:05barely looked at people when he talked to them, online, different guy, completely, called me baby,
00:10called me his, said I could ruin his life and he thanked me for it, he never saw my face,
00:14never saw my body, because if he had, he wouldn't have said any of it, he got obsessed,
00:19talked about meeting up, yeah, no, I dumped him, blocked him everywhere,
00:24done spring break, crashed at my best friend Marlo's place, walked in and ran straight into
00:28her older brother, tall, gorgeous, ice-cold face, and somehow, I knew that face,
00:37down girl, my brother hates girls who throw themselves at him, and ever since he got
00:41ghosted by some online fling, worst mood of his life, I swallowed hard, Marlo, your brother's
00:48name isn't Silas Kingsley, is it, no freaking way, how do you know that, well, that was it,
00:55I was done, I dated this guy online, ghosted him, now I was in his house, his actual house,
01:00seriously, what are the odds, before I could say anything, actually, makes sense, we're basically
01:05the same person, I probably said his name at some point, I just stood there, frozen,
01:09Silas Kingsley, same house has as me, right now, my heart wouldn't shut up, I kept thinking about
01:13an hour ago, Marlo brought me home, Silas came down the stairs in a robe, loosely tied, collar open,
01:19looked like he just rolled out of bed, didn't care, owned the place anyway, I stared, something
01:23about him, I couldn't place it, but Silas just gave me a nod, his eyes went right past me, like
01:27I
01:28wasn't there, just his little sister's college friend, no way, this guy, my clingy filthy ex from
01:32social media, not a chance, online Silas was a whole different species, every night, without fail,
01:38the pet names, the possessiveness, the way he talked like I already belonged to him, half the stuff he
01:43said kept me up till 2am face burning, kicking my feet, and, me? I never showed him a real photo,
01:48sent him some pretty girl I found on social media, told him that was me, if he'd seen the real
01:52me,
01:53size 16, double chin, all of it, he wouldn't have said a single word, so how many girlfriends has
02:02your brother had? Just one, online, he was really into her, then she dumped him out of nowhere,
02:08cold as hell, he's been the worst ever since, snapping at everyone, if he's rude to you,
02:12don't take it personal, he's like that with everyone right now, next morning, Mrs. Kingsley called us
02:17down for breakfast, Silas sat across from me, I couldn't stop glancing at him, then he looked up,
02:22our eyes met, he raised an eyebrow, kind of surprised, my heart jumped, I looked away, fast,
02:28but I could still feel him watching me, stay as long as you want, sweetheart, make yourself at home,
02:35thank you, Mrs. Kingsley, I smiled and told myself to chill, so what if we're under the same roof,
02:41there's no way he figures out I'm the girl who ghosted him, no way, he's never seen my face,
02:45never seen my body, the girl he thinks he loved was a social media photo and a voice on the
02:50phone,
02:50not me, definitely not, this, the conversation shifted to Silas, I listened, picked up pieces,
02:57apparently his mom set him up with someone recently, but when she asked how it was going,
03:01Silas couldn't have cared less, mom, I told you, not interested, met her twice, can't even remember
03:09her face, you reject every girl I bring, I swear, I don't know when you'll snap out of it,
03:17you're 26, Silas, no girlfriend, sometimes I honestly wonder if you even like women,
03:22mom, his orientation is fine, promise, he's just romantically cursed, the girl he wants likes to
03:29play games, that's all, I wanted to disappear into my plate, didn't dare breathe, but of course,
03:34the universe wasn't done with me, Gene Whitfield, I flinched, almost dropped my fork, just my name,
03:40nothing special, but hearing it from his mouth, chills, down my spine, instantly, why, before I
03:46could think, his eyes were already on me, reading me, something I couldn't figure out behind them,
03:51you look guilty, did you do something you shouldn't have, my brain shorted out, I had nothing,
03:56thank god Mrs. Kingsley stepped in, leave her alone, Gene's our guest, be nice,
04:02wow bro, I said Gene's name once and you memorized it, everyone laughed, I kept my head down,
04:08didn't say a word, didn't notice Silas narrowing his eyes at me from across the table, Marlo had
04:12a fever the past couple days, after breakfast, she took some meds and went back to bed, I did
04:17some homework, went downstairs for water, saw Mrs. Kingsley grabbing her keys, where are you going?
04:24That son of mine, rushed out this morning and forgot his documents, now I have to drive all the
04:29way to his office, he's never this careless, I don't know what's gotten into him, I can take
04:33them, you should rest, oh no sweetie, I couldn't ask you to do that, really, it's fine, I've got
04:40nothing else going on, Mrs. Kingsley had been so kind, letting me stay, this was the least I could
04:45do, she couldn't argue with me, eventually she texted me the address, in the taxi I pulled out
04:50my phone, searched his name, same story everywhere, ruthless, sharp, decisive, couldn't picture a guy
04:56like that on social media, back then, I was a freshman, parents just got divorced, life sucked,
05:01every night on social media, anything to not be alone, that's where I met him, felt like a
05:05relationship, kind of, even if we'd never met, made me feel something, good enough, but I was
05:09careful, lied about my age, told him I was a senior, never gave him my real name, never sent a
05:14real
05:14photo, never took his video calls, just my voice, 30 minutes a night, that was it Silas, he gave me
05:20everything, Venmo'd me money constantly, random amounts, get yourself something nice, you haven't
05:25eaten, order food, the numbers were insane, I sent it all back, just wanted someone to talk
05:29to at night, wasn't gonna marry the guy, his money, not my problem, then he got clingy, one
05:34day, he said he wanted to meet, I had two weeks till finals, meet in person, yeah, no, I thought
05:40about it forever, then I typed it out, no point meeting up, I'm kind of over this, let's end
05:45it, hit send, blocked him on social media, unfriended him everywhere, deleted every message,
05:50Figured Silas would've moved on by now, but from the way Marlo talked about him, he hadn't,
05:54not even close, first time at Silas's office receptionist walked me up to the top floor,
05:59apparently he owned the whole building, must be nice being rich, elevator dinged, doors
06:04opened, the second my eyes landed on him, I froze son behind him, sharp jaw, something
06:10dangerous about him, so this was him at work, something squeezed in my chest, he'd just come
06:15out of a meeting, board members walking behind him, every single one older than him by a
06:19decade, none of them could touch him, looked like he was born to run the room, all way
06:24went dead quiet, someone stared at me, way too curious, Mr. Kingsley, and this is, their
06:30eyes wouldn't leave me, his eyes landed on me, he paused, then he stepped in front of
06:34him, just slightly, like it was nothing, a friend, like he was hiding me, not his sister's
06:38classmate, not the girl staying at his house, a friend, Mr. Kingsley, this young lady says
06:43she's here to drop off your documents, got it, take her to my office, he hit the elevator
06:49button, seemed like he had somewhere else to be, I thought about it for a second, handed
06:53the documents to the receptionist, these are delivered, I'll get going, don't want to be
06:58in the way, the second I turned around, something stopped me, Silas's hand, on my arm, did I say
07:05you could leave, I stopped, he was so close I could smell him, something clean, cold, like
07:09pine in winter, forgot how to move, where his fingers touched my arm, buzzing, like
07:13a live wire, he breathed out, wait for me, I have something to tell you, I had no idea
07:18what Silas wanted to say, as far as he knew, our only connection was his sister, whatever
07:23this was, it was freaking me out, by the time his assistant swapped my coffee, for the third
07:30time, I was losing it, then the door opened, Silas walked in, saw me on the couch, his face
07:35softened, just a little, I stood up fast, nervous, something flickered in his eyes,
07:39gone before I could catch it, Mr. Kings, sit down, you're not my employee, don't call
07:45me that, so, why did you want me to stay, do you have your phone, let's follow each other,
07:55I'll mobile page you for the ride, no, really, it's fine, it was nothing, plus, I've been
08:03staying at your house for free, that's different, I don't like owing people, I was about to say,
08:09no again, then a thought hit me, why was he pushing this so hard, as his sister's friend,
08:14he didn't need my socials, unless he suspected something, panic almost showed on my face,
08:18this man was unreal, there were zero clues, how was he already suspicious, when I pulled
08:22up my profile, I caught something, his hand was shaking, just a little, like he was waiting
08:27for something, he stared at my screen for a long time, then something in him deflated,
08:31like the air got knocked out of him, reason I could add him so calmly was simple, I stopped
08:35using my old account after freshman year, my current profile looked nothing like the
08:39old one, I breathed out, quiet, Silas had no way to connect the two, but I noticed something,
08:44his profile picture, still the one I picked for him, back then, after all this time, he
08:48never changed it, didn't know what to feel, car pulled up to the house, Silas hadn't been
08:53home in two days, he had other places, normal for him, not having to face him at home, relief,
08:57Tyler recovered, full of energy, impossible to keep indoors,
09:01Jean, it's Tyler's birthday tonight, whole crew's going, Tyler, guy from high school,
09:05same college now, Feigert going out might clear my head, said yes, Marlo was already
09:10texting on the way out, ugh, my brother wants to know what I'm doing tonight, nosy, she typed
09:15back, didn't think twice, should have thought twice, by the time we got downtown, it was
09:19dark, Tyler's group was outside the restaurant, talking, laughing, when Tyler saw me, he waved,
09:24Jean, I told you guys not to bring gifts, I smiled, handed him the watch I picked out,
09:29he took it, grinned, always keeping things even, huh, halfway through dinner, the table
09:32got loud, someone brought up dating apps, everyone had a story, Jessica was across the
09:37table, on her second glass of wine, then she turned to me, smiling, Jean, you've been
09:42so quiet, are you seeing anyone, the table quieted a little, I set my glass down, not
09:47really, oh honey, still, she glanced around the table, making sure everyone was listening,
09:54you know, I keep telling my little sister, guys don't care about personality, they see you
09:57first, and if the packaging isn't right, they don't even open the box, the table went dead
10:02quiet, Jessica put a hand on my arm, squeezed, fake concern, I'm just saying, don't wait
10:07around, honey, nobody's coming to save you, silence then, the restaurant door,
10:19sorry, I'm late, baby, baby, he'd never called me that in real life, only online, the whole table
10:24froze, something in me unclenched, Jessica's hand was still on my arm, Silas looked down
10:29at it, just once, she yanked it back like she'd been burned, Marlo was silently losing
10:33it in her seat, he leaned in, voice low, loud enough for the table to catch, you should
10:38have told me you had plans, I would have come sooner, he straightened, looked at Tyler,
10:42happy birthday, his hand slid to the small of my back, Marlo finally cracked, cool, cool,
10:47cool, cool, cool, don't mind me, just your sister, Silas didn't turn around, stay, have
10:54fun, fine, free cake, I'll live, he was already walking me toward the door, right past Jessica,
11:02I didn't look at her, didn't need to, his hand on my back said everything, the SUV pulled
11:06away from the restaurant, I sat in the passenger seat, hands in my lap, not moving, Silas didn't
11:11say anything at first, just drove seedy lights on his face, off, buckle up baby, my hands
11:17wouldn't cooperate, he watched me fumble for a second, then leaned over, reached across
11:21me, buckled it himself, slowly, I stopped breathing, he didn't sit back right away, fucks close
11:26to mine, voice quiet, you've been jumpy all night, have I, he sat back, eyes on the road
11:32again, silence, I stared out the window, tried to look normal, tried not to think about it,
11:37the way he'd called me baby in front of everyone, the way he only ever called me that online,
11:41then he spoke, casually, you know what's weird, what, I keep thinking about a girl I used to
11:47talk to, she could never sleep before 2am every night, sounds annoying, sounds familiar, not
11:53really, I sleep early, right, must be someone else I'm thinking of, he didn't look at me,
11:59but I felt him watching, the way you feel someone watching, in the dark, the rest of the drive
12:03was quiet, when we pulled into the driveway, he cut the engine, didn't get out, just sat
12:09there, hands on the wheel, then he turned to me, get some sleep gene, try to, if you can,
12:16he got out, walked around to open my door, I sat there, frozen, because try to wasn't a
12:21suggestion, it was a challenge, I didn't sleep, 2am, 3am, 4am, Silas knew, of course he knew,
12:29by morning, Marlo was banging on my door, get up, event tonight, we need dresses,
12:33downstairs, Silas was already dressed, in hand, I'm driving, Marlo blinked, you, shopping,
12:40I have somewhere to be after, sure he did, Silas dropped us at some boutique downtown,
12:45meeting, back in an hour, Marlo pulled me inside, the saleswoman was already walking over,
12:50blonde, perfect blowout, perfect smile, her eyes went to Marlo first, warm, Miss Kingsley,
12:57always lovely to see you, then her eyes found me, the smile didn't change, but something behind
13:02it did, and your friend, yeah, she's shopping too, of course, the saleswoman's eyes did that
13:09thing, the up and down, the math, well, let me know if you need help, sweetie, she turned
13:14back to Marlo, the new collection is over here, very selective sizing though, just so you know,
13:20it's fine, I'll just look around, I wandered to the back, every rack, same story, size zero,
13:26size two, size four, nothing past a six, I always know before I walk in, but I kept walking,
13:31kept pretending to browse, because leaving looked worse than staying, the saleswoman was watching
13:37me, not helping, just watching, then she drifted over a sweet voice, sweetheart, I don't want you
13:43to waste your time, these really aren't designed with everybody in mind, there's a lovely store two
13:50blocks down, torpid, very cute, really flattering for girls like you, girls like me, you know what I
13:55mean, right, thanks, turn to leave, I made it three steps, then the door chimed, Silas,
14:02he walked in scanning the room, saw me heading for the door, saw the saleswoman, still smiling,
14:07saw Marlo two racks away, jaw clenched, ride the room in one second, he walked straight to me,
14:12hand on my arm, where are you going, I was just, did you find something you liked, no, I, why
14:18not,
14:19oh, Mr. Kingsley, we were just discussing that our collection isn't quite the right fit for your,
14:25for my what, not a question, she faltered, for your companion, the sizing is a bit, get me the
14:30manager, excuse me, the manager, now, her smile disappeared, she walked to the back, fast Silas
14:37turned to me, different voice soft, pick something, Silas, I don't, anything you want,
14:43or everything, I don't care, Mr. Kingsley, is there a problem, yeah, your staff just told my
14:50girlfriend to shop somewhere else, Marlo made a noise, something between a gasp and a laugh,
14:55I opened my mouth to correct him, then closed it, because looking at his face, he wasn't asking
15:00permission, the manager went white, sir, I'm so sorry, I don't care, he pulled out his card,
15:05slid it across the counter, I'll take the store, sir, get her whatever fits, whatever she wants,
15:11alterations, custom, new patterns, bill me, Mr. Kingsley, that's, every piece in this store,
15:17remade in her size, starting today, holy shit, and her, Silas finally looked at the saleswoman,
15:24just once, fire her, before I leave, grab your things, now, outside on the sidewalk, Marlo was
15:32staring at her brother like she'd never seen him before, did you just buy out the entire store for
15:37Jean? Yes. And made them remake everything in her size? Yes. And called her your girlfriend? Yes.
15:47Jean, what is happening? I didn't answer, couldn't, Silas was opening the car door,
15:53he looked at me over the roof, get in baby, baby, not for the table this time, not for anyone,
15:58just for me, got home, went straight to my room, didn't come down for dinner, Marlo knocked,
16:02Jean, you good? Tired, your fake boyfriend just bought a store for you, not now, she left,
16:09I sat on the bed, lights off, buzzed, Silas, are you eating? Answer me, Jean, I turned it face down,
16:17downstairs, front door, he was home, I locked my door, waited, an hour, two nothing then,
16:22knock not loud, steady, open the door, I didn't move, I know you're awake, open it,
16:28or I will. I got up, opened it, Silas' suit, tie loose, collar open, he walked past me,
16:35into the room. Silas, what are you- He shut the door, locked it. Sit. What?
16:42Sit down, Jean.
16:48I don't want to meet up, I'm kind of over this, let's end it.
16:53Silas. Hi, Ellie. I couldn't move, he stood there, waiting. Silas. Don't. He put the phone
16:59away. Six months, I looked for you six months. I know. You know. He laughed, not funny. You know.
17:08He walked closer. Private investigators, three of them, nothing. Silas. Because every single thing
17:14you told me was a lie. The name, the age, the photo. The photo.
17:23Silas, I can explain. I- Try me.
17:25I opened my mouth, nothing came out. Because what was I going to say? That I was scared? That I
17:30lied
17:31because I didn't think a guy like him would want a girl like me? That the photo was some Pinterest
17:35girl, and the real me was this. He was still waiting. I didn't think you'd want the real me.
17:41That's it? Silas, look at me.
17:48You fell for a voice and a photo. That's not me. That was never me.
17:51I know what I fell for. Silas, I- I fell for the girl who cried at 2am because her
17:55parents were
17:55splitting. I fell for the girl who wouldn't take my money. No, no, no. I fell for the girl who
17:59called
17:59me at midnight just to hear me breathe. That girl. Not a photo. But you never saw me.
18:04I'm seeing you now. Jean, look at me. I looked for you for six months. Not for the girl in
18:11that photo. For the girl on the phone. That's you. Silas.
18:17That's always been you. So now you know. What are you going to do?
18:25Don't run this time. I didn't sleep. He didn't leave. Just sat on the floor by my bed. Back
18:30against the wall. Suit jacket off. Not looking at me. Not talking. Just there.
18:35Silas? Hmm?
18:36Why are you on the floor? Because if I get in that bed, I won't leave.
18:41You should sleep. I'm good, Silas. Sleep, Jean. I did eventually. Woke up at eight. He was gone,
18:48but there was coffee on the nightstand. Still warm and a note. Downstairs when you're ready. I got
18:53dressed. Slowly. Baggy hoodie. Leggings. Hair up. Went down. Silas was at the kitchen island. Laptop
18:59open. Coffee in hand. He looked up. Smiled. Morning. Morning. Marlo walked in behind me. Saw us.
19:07Oh my god. You're smiling. Marlo. You never smile. Marlo. At breakfast? Before 10? What have
19:14you done to my brother? Get out. Rude? Out. Cool. Cool, cool, cool. Just gonna go be the
19:21invisible sister again. Come here. I walked over. He pulled out the stool next to him. I sat. He
19:28didn't say anything for a second. Then his hand slid to my thigh. Rested there. Silas? Just
19:34for a minute. You okay? I don't know. Take your time. Silas? Hmm? You really don't
19:42care. About what? About... I care about every part of you, Jean. I meant... I know what you
19:51meant. I don't care that you're not the girl in the photo. I care that you spent two years
19:54thinking you had to be. We're doing this right this time. Doing what? All of it. He glanced
20:00down. His whole face changed. Silas? Silas, what? Vivian's back in town. Who? My mother's
20:10pick. The girl she wants me to marry. Silas left. Didn't say when he'd be back. Didn't
20:16kiss me goodbye. Just gone. I sat at the kitchen island. Coffee going cold. Marlo walked back
20:22in. He gone? Yeah. Where? Vivian. Oh no. Who is she, Marlo? Marlo pulled up a stool. Sat
20:30down slowly. Okay. So, Marlet. Vivian Ashfield. Mom's friend's daughter. Grew up in the same
20:37circles. And? And she's been in love with Silas since we were 14. Mom's been trying to
20:44set them up for two years. Silas keeps saying no. So what's the problem? She just came back
20:48from Paris. Fashion school. And she's perfect. Perfect. Like model perfect. Size two, speaks
20:54four languages. Dad's worth 500 million. Cool. Cool. Jean. No, it's fine. Jean. It's fine,
21:00Marlon. He said no for two years. He'll say no again. Yeah. Jean, look at me. My brother
21:06bought a store for you yesterday. I know. He called you his girlfriend in front of a stranger.
21:10I know. He slept on your floor. Marlo. He is gone for you, Jean. I nodded. Didn't smile.
21:16She sighed. Squeezed my hand. But. But she's Vivian and I'm. I didn't finish. Marlo was
21:22quiet. Then she stood up. You know what? Get up. What? Get up. We're going out. Marley,
21:27I don't. Jean. Get up. We drove to the boutique. The one Silas bought yesterday. The manager
21:33saw me walk in. Actually gasped. Miss Whitfield. We've been expecting you. The team's been working
21:39since 6 a.m. We have first samples ready. First samples of what? Your collection. Mr. Kingsley
21:45called last night. Very specific instructions. Oh, this is going to be good. The manager
21:50led us to a private room. Racks and racks of clothes. All new. All different. All in
21:55my size. I stopped in the doorway. He said, and I quote, she's never had a store built
22:00for her. Fix that. Nope. Not running. Try something on. Marlo. Jean. Try something
22:05on. Black sequin mesh. Fitted off the shoulder. I put it on. Looked in the mirror. Marlo was
22:12behind me. Watching my face. Jean. That's what you look like when clothes are made for you.
22:18The bell over the door chimed. Two women walked in. The manager's face went pale. Marlo went
22:24still. I turned around. A tall blonde long coat designer bags. And an older woman. Silas's
22:30mother. The blonde's eyes swept over me. Slow. Amused. Then she smiled. Oh. You must be
22:36Jean. I didn't answer. Vivian. I told you not to. I saw the car outside. Thought I'd say
22:44hi. Vivian held out a hand. I'm Vivian. Silas and I grew up together. I didn't take it.
22:50She smiled wider. That's fine. I get it. Vivian. Sweetheart. Elaine. Two minutes. Woman
22:59to woman. I'm not going to be rude. I just want to be honest. Okay. Silas is a Kingsley.
23:07He'll run this family. Marry into it. Have kids who inherits it. She looked me up and down.
23:12Slow. You are not built for this life. Vivian. That is enough. Elaine. I love you. But you
23:19know I'm right. That is enough. I'm not saying you're not sweet. You are. I'm saying he's
23:26going to wake up one day and see it too. See what? That you're a chapter. Not the book.
23:33The manager gasped. Marlo was shaking. I stood there. Held Vivian's eyes. Didn't blink.
23:39Thanks for the honesty. Then I turned to Mrs. Kingsley.
23:43Thank you for breakfast yesterday. I think I'll head back to the dorms tonight.
23:48Mrs. Kingsley's mouth opened. Nothing came out. I walked to the fitting room. Marlo followed.
23:57Jean. I know. I took off that black evening gown. Put my hoodie back on.
24:05Let's go home. The next morning, Silas set a garment bag on my bed.
24:10What's this? Charity gala. Tonight. Silas. You're my girlfriend. You're coming.
24:17I don't do galas. You don't have to do anything. Just be there. He kissed my forehead. Left.
24:23I opened the bag. Deep green silk. Custom. My size. Of course. Vivian's voice in my head.
24:28You are not built for this life. I got ready anyway. The car came at seven. Silas met me at
24:37the bottom of the stairs.
24:38Jean. What? You look. He didn't finish. Just took my hand. The gala was in a hotel ballroom. Chandeliers. Champagne.
24:47Money.
24:48Silas kept his hand on my back. Introduced me to everyone. This is Jean. My girlfriend.
24:53Some people smiled. Some just looked. Then someone tapped Silas on the shoulder.
24:57Just business, baby. Two minutes. He kissed my temple. Went. I stood alone in the crowd.
25:03Waiter offered me champagne. I took it. Just to have something to hold. I looked around.
25:07Every woman in the room was thin. Every woman. Not one exception.
25:11Then I found Silas. Across the room. Talking to Vivian.
25:16Of course she was here. Same crowd. Vivian was laughing. Silas wasn't. But she was standing close.
25:22She wears a white gown. They looked like a magazine cover. Vivian saw me across the crowd.
25:27Smiled. Waved. Small. Just for me. Then she leaned into Silas. Whispered something.
25:31Silas stopped smiling for a second. Then laughed. Loud. Wrong laugh.
25:35I put my champagne down. Walked to the exit. Fast. Didn't say goodbye. Didn't text him.
25:40Just got in a cab. Told the driver Silas's address. Then changed my mind.
25:43Sorry. Different address. I gave him my dorm. I got there at 10. Turned off my phone.
25:48I sat on my bed. Stared at the wall. Around midnight someone banged on my door. I didn't move.
25:55Gene. I know you're in there. Open the door.
25:58Gene. Your phone is off. Your taxi history has this address. Open the door.
26:03I got up. Walked to the door. Didn't open it.
26:05Silas. Go home.
26:06Gene. Open the door.
26:07I said go home.
26:09His voice was different. Not angry. Scared.
26:11What did I do?
26:13Nothing.
26:14Gene.
26:14Silas. Go home.
26:16Tell me what I did.
26:17Nothing.
26:19Then open the door.
26:21Not tonight.
26:22Gene.
26:23Please.
26:24I stood there for a long time. Then I heard footsteps. Walking away. I slid down against the door.
26:29Sat on the floor. Then cried.
26:33I woke up on the floor. Neck stiff fuck swollen. Pond still off.
26:39I turned it on 47 missed calls. 2023 texts. All Silas.
26:44Gene. Gene, please. Are you home? You're not at your old apartment. Where are you? Gene. Please answer. Please.
26:55I put the phone face down. Sat by the window. Watched the street waited for something to feel
27:00different. It didn't. Around noon. A food delivery notification. Delivery at the front desk. I went
27:07down. The RA handed me a bag. Chicken soup. Note attached. You always got sick when you didn't sleep.
27:13Eat. Please. Silas the same soup from when I was just a voice. I brought it upstairs. Sat on the
27:18floor.
27:19Ate it slowly. Cried the whole time. A car pulled up outside. I didn't look.
27:24Come to the window. Gene. I know you're up there. Come to the window.
27:27I got up. Walked over. He was standing on the street. Just standing there looking up. Our eyes met.
27:33He didn't smile. He didn't wave. He just held up his phone. A message came through.
27:42I know what she said to me. I know why you left. I'm going to tell you what I heard.
27:47And why I laughed. But not through a door. Come down. Or let me up. Please, Gene.
27:54I stood at the window. He was still there. No coat waiting. I grabbed my jacket. Went downstairs.
28:00He saw me through the glass. Didn't move. Didn't come to meet me. Just waited. I walked out.
28:04Stopped three feet away. Talk.
28:07She said something cruel about you.
28:08How cruel?
28:09You don't want the words.
28:11I laughed at her. Not with her. Because she thought it would work. You've never laughed
28:17like that with me because I can't be casual with you. You are the only real thing in that
28:22room. You want to know what I said back to her?
28:25What?
28:25I said, none of it matters. I'm going to marry her.
28:30Silas.
28:31I mean it.
28:31You barely know me.
28:33I know you better than she ever will. Tomorrow. Pack your dorm. Move in with me.
28:39Silas.
28:40If you say no, I'll sleep in your hallway every night until you say yes.
28:44Morning after. I don't remember the drive back to the Kingsley house. I remember Silas
28:49sitting on the floor by my bed until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. When I woke up,
28:53he was gone. Note on the nightstand. Meetings till six. Text me if you go out. I stared at
28:58it. He'd never left me a note before. I got up. Went downstairs. Marlo was at the counter
29:03eating cereal.
29:06Morning, sunshine.
29:08You look like hell.
29:11Thanks.
29:12Mom said he left at five. Something's up with him.
29:15I didn't answer. My phone buzzed. Coffee, 11am, the blue door on 5th.
29:19Who's that?
29:20I locked the screen.
29:22Nobody.
29:22I shouldn't have gone. I went. The blue door was one of those places with $12 lats and
29:27no signage. She was already at a corner table. Vivienne. Cream coat. No makeup. Looked tired.
29:32Back to the wall. Chair angled toward the door. I noticed. Didn't think about why. She saw me
29:37and something in her face relaxed.
29:39You came. I wasn't sure you would.
29:41How did you get my number?
29:43I've been in this family's contact since I was 14.
29:46It wasn't hard.
29:47I sat. She slid an envelope across the table.
29:51Open it.
29:52No.
29:53No. Jane. Please.
29:56I didn't. She opened it herself. Pulled out a photo. Slid it toward me. A girl. Late teens.
30:01Long dark hair. Standing on a beach. Smiling at the camera. The girl from Pinterest. The girl I
30:07told Silas was me. Two years ago. The girl I had never met. The girl whose face I had stolen.
30:12I stopped breathing.
30:13Her name is Ashley.
30:15Vivienne's voice was soft.
30:17She's family to me.
30:18I couldn't move.
30:19She posted that photo on social media three years ago. Her account was public back then.
30:24Someone screenshotted it. Uploaded it to social media.
30:29Wherever girls like you find photos of girls like Ashley.
30:32The bell above the door jingled. Vivienne's head turned fast. Too fast.
30:36She watched the customer walk in. Watched them sit down. Watched them open a laptop.
30:40Then turned back to me. Like nothing happened.
30:44You okay? Fine.
30:46She wasn't. She pulled a second photo from the envelope.
30:49This is a post Ashley made last spring.
30:51A screenshot. Ashley in a car. Hoodie up. Looking out the window cat bit underneath.
30:55Anya and Els feel like they're being watched even when they're not.
30:59She deleted it three hours later.
31:01After the men started showing up.
31:03For weeks. Some of them were nice. Some of them weren't.
31:07They kept asking her if she was Ellie.
31:10Ellie. The name I'd made up. The name I'd given him.
31:12She told them she wasn't. Over and over.
31:15They didn't believe her.
31:17One of them followed her home. Just once.
31:20That was enough.
31:23She started sleeping with the lights on.
31:25Checked the locks three times before bed.
31:28Changed her route to class.
31:29She said it like she was reciting.
31:31Like she knew the list by heart.
31:33I know what that fear looks like.
31:35So I made it stop.
31:37How?
31:38My father made a call.
31:39To Silas' father.
31:40The investigators were told to drop that lead.
31:43Silas never knew why.
31:44He doesn't know it was Ashley.
31:46He doesn't know what she went through.
31:47Because I never told him.
31:48I put my hands on the table.
31:50Because they were shaking too hard to hold.
31:52Is she okay now?
31:54She's fine.
31:54Vivienne's actually smiled for a second.
31:56She's a senior at a university.
31:58Studying art history.
32:00Started dating someone last spring.
32:01She's fine, Jean.
32:02But she wasn't.
32:04For a while, she wasn't.
32:05And it could have been so much worse.
32:07Do you understand what I'm telling you?
32:09I do.
32:10Then you understand why I'm sitting here?
32:11Yes.
32:13I'm not trying to ruin you.
32:15I came here because Silas deserves to know what his money almost did.
32:18And I came here because I need you to understand
32:20what almost happened to a girl who did nothing wrong.
32:23She slid the photos back into the envelope.
32:25Didn't take it with her.
32:27Left it on the table.
32:28I'll give you until tomorrow morning.
32:30Tell Silas he can decide how to reach her.
32:33After that, I do it.
32:35Yeah.
32:38For what it's worth, I don't hate you.
32:40I don't know you well enough to hate you.
32:42I just can't watch this happen to another girl.
32:45Not while I'm alive to stop it.
32:46That last line.
32:47The way she said it.
32:48Like it wasn't about Ashley at all.
32:50I looked at her.
32:51She looked away.
32:53Silas will forgive you, Jean.
32:54He forgives you for everything.
32:56But he won't forgive himself.
32:58Not for this.
32:59You need to be ready for that.
33:00She left.
33:01I sat at the table for a long time.
33:03The envelope in front of me.
33:04The bell above the door jingled every few minutes.
33:07Every time, I flinched.
33:08I hadn't been the one being followed.
33:10But I couldn't stop flinching.
33:12The bell above jingled every few minutes.
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