The Journalist

Chapter Seventeen

“So what’s the real story behind you and Greg?” Harry asked. We were at a café for lunch, rewarding ourselves for such a great performance. I looked down at my sandwich, my good mood suddenly gone. It didn’t look appetizing anymore. I looked back up. He was staring at me, waiting for an answer.

“Um. Do you want the long version or the short version?” I asked, trying to make a joke.

“Long.” He didn’t smile.

“Well. I met him when I just started working for Fashion Forward so…5 years ago. I was an intern and he was dating my supervisor. There was a spark as soon as we met and one thing led to another and we started meeting behind my supervisors back. I’m not saying I approved of it but I fell for him too hard and too fast to make myself stop. He would always tell me he would break up with her the next day but he never did. She eventually found out and left the company entirely, she was so upset.” I traced designs in the condensation on my glass.

“I finally had what I wanted but it wasn’t enough for Greg. I found him with another woman in my office a couple months later. I should have left him then, but I stayed. He told me he would never do it again and I believed him. He would shower me with presents and attention and anything I wanted. My paycheck was laughable at that time so I guess I stayed with him for him money too. He proposed a few months later and I said yes. I had everything planned. A perfect wedding a perfect honeymoon and then a perfect life afterwards.

A few months before the wedding I had a pregnancy scare and when I told him he became angry and we fought for days about the future of a child we might be having. It turned out to be nothing. But he wanted to leave he said he never wanted children. I still stayed with him, thinking that after we got married he would change his mind. It was the day of my wedding and it was just about to start when I walked into my room and found him and my sister making out. My sister left, and went back to Canada with her husband. I haven’t told him what happened and I don’t think he knows either. Greg and I started fighting. It was awful we were screaming and throwing things. I hit him in the face with a beer bottle and he threw a chair at me and I got a concussion. The police were called and the wedding was off. Today was the first time I’ve seen Greg since the wedding 4 years ago.” I looked up and saw Harry staring at me with wide eyes.

“So that’s what happened between Greg and I. I don’t blame you if you think I’m a horrible person. I know I am.” I said, voice cracking. I blinked away sudden tears.

“You’re not a horrible person.” Harry said. I rolled my eyes.

“You don’t have to lie to make me feel better.”

“I’m not. In fact I think it makes you a good person.” I shook my head.

“I don’t understand.”

“Everyone has a scar, that’s yours. It makes you stronger. All good people have scars.” I looked down.

“Thank you.” I said.

“For what?”

“Listening. Most people only hear that I was the other woman and start yelling. You’re the first person that hasn’t done that.”