Chloe retorted, “I can be hurt by you and still have a good time with my boyfriend.”

My heart soared for a moment before I remembered that the word didn’t necessarily mean anything given the circumstances.

Mrs. Wang seemed ready to lob another attack, but then she hesitated and stood there mulling things over before turning to me and forcing an unconvincing smile. “Well, I’m glad you could be there for her, Andrew.” That name flipped the switch, and my head felt even more muddled. “Hope you whisked her off her feet, maybe opened your wallet to show your appreciation for what she—and we—have sacrificed for your relationship.”

“He doesn’t need to spend money to show me he cares,” Chloe said boldly.

Mrs. Wang looked like she’d been slapped. “Are you saying you don’t appreciate the gift I broke myself to scrimp together for you?”

“No! Of course not!” Chloe’s face was aghast. “I didn’t mean… I just… No, I’m so appreciative.” She took a breath. “Can we take a step back and not do this when we’re all so tired? Can we maybe spend tomorrow together?”

“Doesn’t Andrew have a doctor’s appointment?” Mrs. Wang asked.

Chloe’s face fell. “Oh, right.” She looked at me with frantic eyes. “Well, maybe we can cancel that, especially if—”

Mrs. Wang turned and started up the stairs. “You should go with Andrew. Don’t lose this one too, and be left with no one.”

Chloe’s face was sad but her fists were clenched as she watched her mother disappear from view. “Because the only thing that makes me worth anything is who I’m with,” she whispered, hauntingly devoid of emotion.

She took the painting back from me and, seeing the tear (both in the corner and in me), her face drained of color.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I’m a monster.”

“It’s no big deal,” I lied.

She shook her head frantically, so fast it matched my sped-up heartbeat. “No,” she said. “I’m… I can’t…”

“It’s okay,” I whispered.

Then I pecked her on the cheek quickly (and maybe without much heart) and retreated to the uncomfortable, definitely-starting-to-smell couch.

I needed a second. I knew it hadn’t been on purpose and that the rip had been a result of unrelated messiness, but that was also exactly why I was bothered.

She and I were built out of lies. Were we strong enough to survive?

Chloe

I hated myself.

But I didn’t know what else to do. The walls were closing in and there was only one path forward: keep up the lies.

I knew all the consequences were chasing me down, but I needed to keep running running running without looking back to see what was about to bite me in the ass. If I slowed even for a second, it would all fall apart. I would lose everything.