The Magic of Stories | ONC 2024 shortlist

1 - A new life

"No, I don't understand, and I don't even want to try to understand. I just—" I cut off mid-sentence, aware I was rambling and had to follow the other woman out of the room and out of Oliver's presence or I would start to cry. With a hand that moved steadier than I felt, I bent and reached out to pick up the backpack I couldn't remember dropping, slung it over my shoulder, turned on my heel, and walked out. Before I could close the door behind me, a firm hand pressed against it. I stopped, sucking air into my lungs like I was about to drown, and I was.

"Lynn, don't be childish. I don't mean anything, understand?"

That was it, the last straw. I felt the heat rush to my cheeks, not caused by embarrassment this time, but by my flaring anger. With a deliberate, slow movement, I turned to face the man who had stolen my heart, broken it, and trampled it with his feet. His boyish good looks and tousled brown hair made my heart skip a beat, but this time, my rage allowed me to ignore his charms.

"Oliver, it might come as a surprise to you, but it sure does mean something to her, and it did mean more than just something to me. And what about your wife? Doesn't she mind that you change your mistresses with every new batch of students while she is about to deliver your second child?" I gulped in more air to calm my temper and shook my head. "Know what? We're done."

This time, he didn't follow me, but while I stalked down the marble stairs, I heard his surprised chuckle, and it hurt worse than anything he could have said to me.

Stupid girl, stupid, stupid, stupid. Why had I come here in the first place? Well, the answer to this was as obvious as it was painful, despite my current attack of self-contempt. Now I had my diploma in my pocket, I should have owned the world. Instead, I felt drawn to my old university because of this man with his cute freckles and charming smile. I should have known it was a bad idea to pay him a surprise visit after the holidays. But then, I should have cut off my relationship with him the moment I learned he was married, and that was more than two months ago. It was beyond me why I didn't.

Because you loved him, silly. I told the tiny voice in the back of my head to call it a day and shut up. If this was how love worked, I didn't want a part of it, never again.

The big oaken doors of the old university building opened for me as if moved by a ghost's hands, and a chilly gust of wind embraced me, carrying tiny snowflakes. I stopped to close my parka and wrap my scarf around my neck, taking a deep breath of the clean winter air. Where should I go from here? I had hoped to pass the evening with Oliver like in the good old times, but this wasn't going to happen.

Never again. I sighed and checked my phone for the time—half-past six. I could walk home. Perhaps the fresh air would help me order my thoughts. Before I could pull the hood over my curls, someone bumped against me from behind. I turned around and faced the blonde I had found with my pitiable ex in the tutor's room. Kissing—him with his hand in her blouse and—I didn't want to remember and banned the picture ingrained in my brain.

Two red spots on her cheeks showed she was still mad at me. "Hey, it's you. What did you think about blasting into a private room like this?"

I didn't even find the energy to tell her that a tutor's room wasn't private. Instead, I studied her elaborate make-up and styled hair. I had seen her around, so she couldn't be a first-year student, but despite her nineteen or twenty years, she seemed so young—but so did all the younger students to me, these days. It was obvious I had spent too much time in this university for my good.

"I didn't blast in, and I knocked first." It was true, but I had also assumed that Oliver would be alone at this time. I couldn't know he had already replaced me three weeks after our messy breakup, right? "Look, I'm sorry I interrupted you. But you might consider locking the door, next time you are taking private lessons."