Fortunately, I missed it

I chased Ethan across the country for Olivia, my best friend. He didn't even look back. A year later, I got married. Ethan flew back the moment he heard.

...

Seeing my wedding ring, the usually arrogant Ethan completely lost it. He forced a smile, his voice trembling, Avery, are you going to take that off yourself, or do I have to do it for you? I'll buy you any ring you want, just get rid of that one. Please.

It was a small wedding, just a dozen close friends and family. My husband, David, doted on me, taking care of everything so I could relax and chat with Olivia.

"I thought you'd wait for Ethan forever," she said, watching me with a knowing look.

I gave a small laugh. "I thought so too."

"Does he even know you're getting married?"

I shook my head. "No. And there's no need for him to know."

She paused. "I heard he booked a flight last night like a madman, flew back from California as soon as he could."

I didn't say anything. He was probably panicking because Olivia had taken off again. Just like before, when shed gotten upset with him and flown to California, Ethan had booked a flight right in front of me to chase after her. I remember having my period then, shivering even under a pile of blankets.

I sat there, watching his long fingers tap on his phone screen, securing his flight. Id bitten back the tears, still hoping to change his mind. "Ethan, please don't go," Id begged.

He'd looked at me, a careless smile playing on his lips. "Be a good girl and stay home. I'll bring you back a present." He tilted my chin up, kissed me lightly, and tucked the blankets around me. "Necklace or bracelet?"

I hadn't said anything. Ethan loved giving jewelry, hed showered me with it. But never a ring. He didn't give Olivia much, but every gift was a ring.

I took a deep breath, looking at his handsome face, his pale skin. "Can you please stay?"

His smile faltered. He patted my head. "You know how things are between us."

I was speechless. Ethan was someone Id pursued relentlessly. Hed had one condition: our relationship had to remain secret, especially from Olivia. I was the backup plan. I had no right to stop him, even though we lived together and hed even taken me to a few family gatherings.

Seeing my silence, hed kissed my forehead. "Be good. I'll bring you a gift."

"When will you be back?" Id asked quietly.

Hed stood up, buttoning his shirt. "A few days."

He probably hadnt expected Olivia's "getaway" to turn into a year-long study abroad program, forcing him to stay with her.

Watching his tall figure disappear through the doorway, I sighed. As if sensing my unhappiness, hed turned back. "Before I go, is there anything you want me to do? Anything at all."

Id thought for a moment. "Could you help me find someone? His name is Daniel. He's a war photographer."

His face darkened. "What's he to you? If you don't tell me, I won't help."

I bit my lip. "He's my brother. My cousin's son."

His expression softened. He nodded. "I'll see what I can do." Then he left.

I watched him go, pulling a photograph from my wallet. It was a picture of a lean, handsome man, strikingly similar to Ethan. I traced his features. Ethan had such a terrible memory. Id told him I grew up in foster care, that I didnt have any cousins. Id told him about the boy in the foster home whod looked after me, how wed grown up together. Hed heard, but hed forgotten. He never questioned why I was so drawn to his face. Just his face.

Ethan really loved Olivia. Even after all these years of her indecisiveness, her refusal to commit, he was devoted. And I really loved Ethan D or rather, his face. The face that looked so much like Daniel's.

I was grateful to Ethan. Hed been my lifeline. Id lost contact with Daniel three years before I met Ethan. Everyone said he was gone. I was a walking ghost. Until I saw Ethan, a year younger than me, a junior at my college. Seeing his face, so like Daniel's, I wept.

Id found ways to be near him, doing everything for him without asking for anything in return. Everyone knew I was Ethan's shadow, carrying his bag, his jacket, fetching things for him, relaying messages between him and Olivia, taking care of him when he was drunk. Maybe I was too good to him, too devoted for him to ignore.

So one night, after a fight with Olivia, he pulled me into his arms, drunk and slurring, "You like me, don't you?"

Looking at that face, I nodded.

From that day on, I became Ethans secret girlfriend. If a backup plan could be called a girlfriend. That arrangement lasted for six years. Ethan and Olivia never worked out, but somehow, he and I ended up living together.

Sometimes, he'd hold me and say, "Avery, you're the best woman to me. You don't even care about my money."

"I wouldn't refuse it if you offered," Id teased.

"But you don't ask for it." He'd study my face with those dark eyes. "You don't spend my money, you don't wear the jewelry I buy you, you don't pressure me to go public." He'd add, almost thoughtfully, "Sometimes I even wonder if you're using me as a placeholder."

Id just nuzzle into his chest, laughing. Placeholder or not, it didnt matter. Wed spent six years together. Those years were important to me. But not to Ethan.

He still loved Olivia. A late-night drunken phone call from her and hed be out the door in a flash. At first, hed leave without a word. Later, he started making excuses, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. I thought it meant I was becoming more important. I was wrong.

He still chased after Olivia, leaving the country without a backward glance. And he was gone for a year.

He came back once during that year. Drunk, he called me to pick him up. He was in a VIP room at a club, video chatting with Olivia. Seeing me, he beckoned me over. Avery, come here. He turned the phone to me. Let me introduce you. This is my girlfriend of six years, Avery.

Olivias face was impassive, but her eyes lingered on me for a moment before a small smile played on her lips. Ethan, have you moved on?

He smiled back. Yeah. Why would I keep chasing you when I have a wonderful, caring woman at home?

Olivia watched as he put his arm around me and asked how long wed been together. I answered honestly: six years. Olivia hung up without another word. Even the usually composed Olivia couldnt hide her shock.

Ethans arm tightened around me, then suddenly went still. That night, hed held me close as we slept. Then hed taken a phone call. When he came back, he kissed me relentlessly, watching me all night. By morning, his voice was hoarse. Avery, its over between us.

I hadnt slept either. Id overheard his phone call. Olivia had told him to break up with me. She said if he did, shed be with him. I knew I couldnt compete. I simply nodded, turning away to hide the tears welling up in my eyes.

He held me from behind, his grip tight. He whispered in my ear, I found your cousins son. Hes not dead. He has amnesia and hes living overseas.

My whole body went rigid. I turned to face him. Can you bring him back?

He kissed my lips one last time. Yes. I owe you that. He left that same day to go back to Olivia. A few days later, I saw Daniel. He was in the best hospital, with the best doctors. His memory soon returned. He remembered me.

Daniel had been injured and lost his memory while saving a child in a war zone. The moment he woke up, he held me tight, his voice gentle in my ear, Im so sorry you had to go through all this while I was gone.

I burst into tears. The emptiness inside me finally began to heal.

Daniel and I had lost ten years. We didnt want to waste another moment. We got engaged quickly. He asked if I had loved anyone else during those ten years, warning me not to rush into anything Id regret. Ethans face flashed through my mind, then vanished. I shook my head, smiling. No. I traced the scar on Daniels hand, a reminder of his bravery. No, I repeated firmly.

Before Daniel asked, I'd had a recurring dream about Ethan. Hed sneered at me, telling me not to flatter myself. It stung, but as time went on, the dreams stopped. Those six years felt like a distant memory.

Olivia sometimes asked if I ever thought about Ethan. Id pause, then shake my head. I hope he and Olivia are happy together, Id say. Its best we forget each other. At least I was trying my best to forget.

But a few days later, Daniel and I ran into one of Ethans college friends at a restaurant. He rushed over, "Dude, why didn't you call when you got backD?" He stopped dead, staring at Daniel in shock. Daniel looked a lot like Ethan, except for the scar on his forehead and the fact that he carried himself with a quiet strength, not Ethan's careless swagger.

Ethans friend looked back and forth between Daniel and me. "Avery, is thisD?" He seemed to struggle for words. "Did you cheat on Ethan?"

I shook my head. We broke up.

He looked even more surprised. "Ethan said you were still waiting forD"

I cut him off. This is my fiance. We're getting married soon.

He was stunned. He stared at our clasped hands, then turned and hurried away, muttering into his phone. I started to explain to Daniel, but he just laughed. Its in the past. Why bother talking about it? He brushed my hair back from my face. "I cant expect you to wait ten years just because I was gone for ten years.

Tears welled up in my eyes. I suddenly felt overwhelmed with emotion. For the first three years after Daniel disappeared, I clutched my phone, waiting for news. It never left my side, 24/7. Every unknown number made my heart leap. The first year, I hoped for a call telling me he was injured, but coming home. The second year, I just prayed he was alive. By the third, I was terrified of every phone call, but I had to answer.

When Ethan appeared, I was officially diagnosed with severe anxiety and panic disorder. His face was the only thing that kept me going. Being his backup plan wasn't easy, but I couldnt stay away from that face. I needed it to survive.

Did I love Ethan? I didn't know. But I was grateful to him, so grateful that even when everyone mocked me for being his second choice, I didn't care. For six years, in my eyes, he was a good person, someone who saved me.

I thought Id left a good impression on him, that hed at least remember me as being understanding. I never expected him to call me a liar, his voice laced with bitterness and betrayal.