The Hit and Run

After eight years of being the secret woman behind the Oscar-winning Silas Sterling, he finally announced his retirement from Hollywood. In front of the cameras, he revealed he had a long-term girlfriend he loved dearly.

He turned to me with such tenderness and said, Avery, I can't wait another second. Let's go to City Hall and get our marriage license tomorrow.

But the next day, I stood there for hours, surrounded by hungry reporters, and he never showed up.

On my way home, a speeding car slammed into me, throwing me onto the cold asphalt.

It was Silas behind the wheel, rushing to get his 'soulmate' Chloe to her birthday gala.

"Chloe, your birthday is my priority," he had told her over the phone, unaware I could hear. "Everything else comes second."

He didn't even step out of the car to check on the stranger he had just hit. He had no idea the woman bleeding on the street was the wife he was supposed to marry that morning.

By the time I reached the hospital, I had lost the child in my womb and every ounce of love I had for Silas Sterling.

1.

"Avery?" Silas's voice sounded shocked over the phone. "Are you still at City Hall?"

"Look at me, I'm such a mess. I got caught up in a crucial meeting and totally lost track of time. I'm not going to make it before they close."

"Just go home, okay? We'll go tomorrow. It's just one more day."

Before I could even utter a word, he hung up, acting like the busiest man on earth.

Silas's assistant stood beside me, looking anxious. "Is Mr. Sterling coming? The office closes in ten minutes"

I looked at the crowd of reporters camped outside the doors and could only manage a bitter smile.

Thirty minutes ago, Silas had been here with me. We had filled out the forms and even took the official photo for the license.

Just as we were about to sign the final papers, his phone rang. He didn't explain a thing; he just turned and walked away.

"Avery, just wait for me," he had said, leaving without a second thought.

I had begged him to stay, pointing out we were only one signature away from being husband and wife.

He had just looked at me with pure annoyance. "Can't you be more sensible for once? We can get married any day."

"Even if you're desperate to become a Sterling, it doesn't have to be this exact minute, does it?"

Then he was gone, leaving me standing alone in the middle of the government building.

I let out a soft, hollow laugh. My heart had been broken so many times it finally felt numb.

Over the years, how many times had I heard those same words?

"Avery, the director added a scene, I can't make it to your parents' dinner. Just make an excuse for me."

"Avery, go to the hospital by yourself. I'm tied up with the studio"

"Can't you think about my career for once? I don't control these things!"

When disappointment becomes a habit, you stop expecting anything else.

I knew he was busy. Every single time he stood me up on an important day, I forgave him. I even felt bad for how much he had to travel.

Before today, I had pleaded with him to clear his schedule. I told him how much this meant to me.

Silas had just smirked, bopping my nose playfully. "What are you worried about? Nothing is more important than marrying you."

I didn't think that on our actual wedding day, he would still choose something else over me.

I put my phone down and spoke quietly to the assistant. "Don't bother waiting. He isn't coming."

As I walked out of City Hall, the reporters Silas had invited himself swarmed me, their cameras flashing like lightning.

"Miss Brooks, as the woman who spent eight years in the shadows, how does it feel to finally be Mrs. Sterling?"

A young girl, likely one of his die-hard fans, cried out with tears in her eyes. "Silas loves you so much! He gave up his career at his peak just for you. You better treat him right!"

I stared at them blankly, a bitter ache rising in my throat.

One reporter noticed something was off. "Wait, it's your wedding day. Why isn't Silas Sterling here with you?"

Suddenly, every lens was focused on my face, waiting for an answer.

The assistant looked embarrassed and stepped in with a practiced lie. "Sorry everyone, Mr. Sterling had an emergency meeting. Stepping away from the industry is complicated. Please, give them some space"

I smiled, though no one saw me digging my nails into my palms.

The sharp pain gave me a tiny spark of courage.

I took a deep breath and bowed slightly to the crowd. "I'm sorry you all came out for nothing. Silas Sterling and I are not getting married."

"And if I can give you any advice: never love a man who makes you wait at the altar."

2.

I was an expert at making excuses for Silas. Over the years, we had been caught by the paparazzi a few times.

He always said that as a public figure, anything he said would be twisted by the media.

So, I became the target. His fans dragged me through the dirt. Sometimes I was the manipulative social climber, other times I was just the 'girl next door' he felt sorry for.

After a while, I almost forgot I was actually his girlfriend.

This time, my instinct was to forgive him again. I wanted to cover for him, to protect his image.

That was until I saw Chloe Vance's latest post on social media.

Chloe had entered Hollywood the same year as Silas. They starred in a romance movie together that didn't do well, but their chemistry was legendary.

The studio had forced them apart back then, but when I found her old set photos hidden in Silas's favorite books, I realized she was the one who got away.

Chloe Vance: "So grateful to the most important person in my life for making it to my birthday."

In the corner of the photo, there was a man's left hand. On the ring finger sat a simple silver band.

My eyes blurred as I recognized it. I stood there in front of the City Hall staff, tears finally spilling over.

Others might not have known that hand, but I knew every line on it.

That was our wedding ring. Silas had bought it with his first big paycheck after his breakout film.

For eight years, he had worn expensive jewelry for brands, but he never took off that cheap silver ring. Until now.

The clerk behind the desk panicked and handed me a tissue. "Oh, honey, don't cry. So your boyfriend got stuck at work. You can just come back next week."

I wiped my face and forced a laugh. "It's okay. I'm actually happy. And I won't be coming back."

Leaving the clerk in shock, I walked out and delivered that final line to the press.

Silas, I'm done. This time, I'm really letting go.

3.

Once I reached the curb and got away from the reporters, my mask crumbled.

I collapsed on the sidewalk, sobbing my heart out.

Eight years of my life. I couldn't just pretend it didn't hurt.

He was my first love, my partner through the lean years, the man I thought would grow old with me.

I had poured all my youth and courage into this relationship, only for it to end in a gutter.

Through my tears, I saw Chloe's reply to a fan on her post: "I almost didn't make it to my own party, but someone played my hero and drove me here!"

Meanwhile, my phone buzzed. Silas was finally calling back after ignoring me seven times.

The light changed to red, but I was so lost in my grief that I stepped onto the crosswalk without looking.

"Avery, are you seriously still doing this?" Silas's voice was dripping with irritation.

"You've been with me for years. Why can't you be a little more understanding? You're acting like a child."

"Are you that desperate for a title? We've been together eight years. Do you really need a piece of paper to feel secure? I told you I'll marry you, I just got busy. Do you even listen?"

The words I wanted to scream at him died in my throat. He was gaslighting me so fast I couldn't even catch my breath.

In the background, I heard Chloe's soft, melodic giggle. "Silas, is that your girlfriend again? Oh, tell her not to be mad. Today is special, and we're such old friends. You couldn't just leave me stranded on my birthday!"

I let out a weak, pathetic laugh. "Silas, you said you had a meeting. Is she your meeting? Is she the most important person?"

Chloe's voice turned into a fake sob. "Silas, this is all my fault. I shouldn't have asked you to drive me just because I was running late. Go back to her! Please don't fight because of me!"

I scoffed. "Chloe, do we really need to pretend there isn't something going on between you two?"

She called him for everything. If her mother needed a ride, Silas went. If her cousin needed a job, Silas fixed it. Even when her dog got a cold, she called him crying.

And he loved it. He played the knight in shining armor every single time.

They used the word 'friends' to do everything lovers do.

Silas snapped. He was about to lay into me to defend his precious Chloe.

But before he could speak, the sound of screeching tires filled the air. I turned my head, my blood turning to ice.

A car was barreling toward me. I was paralyzed. Fear rooted my feet to the pavement.

The car slammed into me with a sickening thud.

Everything went white. My head was ringing, and I felt the heat of blood pooling in my palms.

The pain was so intense I couldn't move. I forced my eyes open, whispering into the phone, "Silas help me"

I saw the license plate. It was his car. He was right there.

But the blacked-out windows stayed rolled up. I couldn't make another sound.

The driver scrambled out, looking terrified. He fumbled and dropped a business card near my hand.

Silas's voice drifted from the car. "We're going to be late for the gala. Just throw some cash at her and let's go. She ran a red light; it's her own damn fault. She's probably a scammer anyway."

A few hundred-dollar bills were tossed onto my bleeding body, fluttering down like cursed snowflakes.

The driver looked at me, seeing how close I was to passing out. He hesitated. "Sir, she looks really hurt"

Chloe's voice chimed in from the back seat. "The dashcam caught everything. She walked right into us. Giving her money is more than enough. If we stay, the fans will wait. I can't let my fans down, Silas."

The driver looked back one last time, but Chloe's nagging pushed him back into the car.

They sped off, leaving me in the dirt. On the phone, which was still connected, I heard Silas chuckle.

"Avery, I can't believe people are still trying that scam. Someone just threw themselves at my car. Can you believe the nerve?"

He sighed, his tone softening slightly. "Look, be a good girl. I'm just at a friend's party. I'm sorry about earlier. We'll pick another day for the wedding, I promise I'll make it up to you."

I tried to respond, but I felt a warm, terrifying gush of blood between my legs.

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