How to escape reality

One day at a time

Two years had passed since that stormy night. Two years since I walked out of Liam’s life, leaving behind everything we had built, everything we were. Time had been both kind and cruel. I tried to move on, to bury those memories deep inside me, but every now and then, they would resurface, reminding me of the love I could never have.

I had moved away from home not long after that night, accepting a job in another city. Distance had been necessary, a way to separate myself from Liam, from our family, from the weight of our impossible love. Over time, I learned to focus on my career, on building a life for myself. But no matter how far I went, a part of me always remained in that kitchen, in those moments with him.

Now, here I was, back in town for the first time since I left, for Dad’s birthday. The house felt both familiar and foreign as I walked through the door, greeted by Dad’s booming laugh and warm hug. But as much as I had missed him, I couldn’t shake the anxiety gnawing at me. Liam would be here. It was inevitable.

I had heard through the family that Liam was doing well—he had moved on too, started dating someone. I had braced myself for this reality, knowing that seeing him again, with someone else, would be a test of my resolve. I had tried to prepare for it, but nothing could have readied me for the moment I saw him.

It was late in the afternoon when Liam finally arrived. I was in the kitchen, helping Dad prepare some snacks for the gathering. I heard the door open, the familiar sound of Liam’s voice drifting through the house. My heart skipped a beat, my hands faltering as I cut through an apple.

Dad grinned, clapping his hands together. “There’s my boy!”

turned around slowly, my breath catching in my throat as Liam stepped into the room. He looked different, more grown, more settled. His hair was a little longer, his shoulders broader, and there was a calmness about him that hadn’t been there before. And by his side, holding his hand, was a woman—a stranger to me.

Liam’s eyes locked with mine for a moment, and in that instant, all the memories came flooding back. The park, the kitchen, the rainy night we had said goodbye. But there was something different in his gaze now—a distance, a resignation.

“Hey,” he said softly, his voice steady but cautious.

I forced a smile, my throat tightening. “Hey.”

The woman beside him smiled warmly at me, completely unaware of the tension hanging between Liam and me. She had dark hair that cascaded over her shoulders and a kind, open face. Her presence was unassuming, but I could tell from the way she looked at Liam that she loved him.

“I’m Sarah,” she introduced herself, extending her hand to me. “You must be his sister.”

froze for a split second at the word sister, but I quickly recovered, shaking her hand. “Yeah, I’m—” I hesitated, not knowing how to define myself in this moment. “I’m his sister.”

Sarah smiled, her eyes lighting up. “Liam’s told me so much about you. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

Liam was watching me, his expression unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—an unspoken understanding, a silent acknowledgment of everything we had once been. And then, just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by the present, by the reality of his new life with Sarah.

Dad, oblivious to the tension, clapped Liam on the back. “Come on, let’s get these snacks outside. The neighbors are already asking about you two.”