Hallucinated Truth, The Wrong Ring

During a Labor Day single's party, my girlfriend, Maya Brooks, got poisoned by some wild mushrooms.

At the hospital, she clung to her first love, Kieran Reed, refusing to let go. She kept me at a distance, treating me like a total stranger.

He isn't my fianc, she told everyone. He's just some hired help I brought in to look after me.

"Kieran, you're the only one I've ever loved. I don't want to marry that loser."

She was hallucinating, but her heart was finally speaking the truth. My heart went cold as I listened to her confession.

Later, to stay out of the way of her reunion, I called my mentor.

"I've made up my mind," I said. "I'm taking that flight in three days."

I didn't expect that Maya, who was always so distant and cold, would end up crying and begging me not to leave.

When I rushed to the hospital, I saw Maya holding onto a doctor. She wouldn't let him go.

Her body was pressed against his, and she was sobbing into his chest.

"Kieran, you're finally back I missed you so much."

The nurse told me Maya was having hallucinations from the toxins. She was talking nonsense.

But the way she looked at that man was so full of genuine love. It didn't feel like a hallucination at all.

Under the harsh white lights, I locked eyes with the doctor.

I knew him. He was Kieran Reed, Maya's first love.

I knew his face because Maya's safe was filled with his photos and journals about how much she missed him.

In an instant, my heart felt like it was being crushed. The pain spread through my chest.

I didn't have time to process it before the nurse asked me to help get Maya ready for an exam.

But when I reached for her, she shoved my hand away with a look of pure rage.

"Who are you? Don't touch me! I have a boyfriend!"

"Kieran, someone is trying to take me away from you! Save me!"

My hands froze in mid-air. I just stood there, paralyzed.

Kieran gave me a small, smug smile and patted Maya's hand.

"Your fianc is here," he said softly. "Let him take you to the exam, okay?"

The word "fianc" seemed to bring Maya back to reality for a split second.

She looked up at me, and her eyes flickered with recognition. I knew she knew who I was.

But a second later, she turned her head away and shook it violently.

"He's not my fianc. He's just some orderly I hired to help me."

"Kieran, stop joking around. How could I ever be someone else's bride?"

She suddenly pulled out a wedding ring she had hidden away.

She looked at it like it was her whole world. "Kieran, will you marry me?"

"I had this ring custom-made just for you. I've been waiting for you this whole time."

As she spoke, she slid the ring onto Kieran's finger. It was the ring that was supposed to be mine.

My face went pale. I realized then that the "K" engraved on the band wasn't for some generic design. It was for Kieran.

The room fell into an awkward silence, broken only by Maya's soft whimpers of love.

Kieran looked triumphant. He could clearly see how humiliated I was.

He slowly took the ring off and handed it back to me with a condescending tone.

"Maya is just confused. She didn't mean to give the ring to me."

"Don't take it to heart. She probably just mistook me for you."

I didn't miss the mockery in his eyes. He was enjoying every second of this.

Just as I reached for the ring, Maya glared at me with pure hatred.

"That ring is for Kieran, not for you!"

"You pathetic clown, give it back to him right now!"

Her best friend quickly stepped in to try and smooth things over, laughing nervously.

"Quentin, don't take it out on her. Just let Kieran keep it for now."

I looked into Maya's eyes and saw that she was perfectly lucid. I decided right then that I didn't want that ring anymore.

Kieran ended up carrying Maya to her exam himself. He stayed with her until it was over.

Luckily, she hadn't eaten much, so she didn't need her stomach pumped. He carried her back to her room.

Kieran smirked at me. "Maya needs to stay for observation. Take good care of her."

I forced a smile and nodded. I couldn't find the words to speak.

We were supposed to get married in three days. That ring was supposed to be for me.

Yet, in front of her first love, Maya couldn't wait to throw me away.

I fought to keep my composure. I made an excuse and walked out of the room.

I went straight to the designated smoking area and lit a cigarette.

It was the only way I could numb the humiliation. I just needed to escape the pain for a moment.

Twenty minutes later, I went back with a container of seafood porridge, Maya's favorite.

As I reached for the door handle, I heard her best friend gasp inside.

"Wait, you weren't actually poisoned? You scared the hell out of us!"

Maya's voice sounded perfectly normal. "Of course not. I faked the whole thing."

"Kieran came back yesterday. I needed a way to see him, so I improvised."

I looked through the small window in the door. Maya looked sharp and alert. There was no trace of toxins in her system.

I clenched my fist so hard my nails drew blood from my palm.

The container of porridge slipped from my hand and hit the floor with a loud thud.

The conversation inside stopped instantly. "Who's there?" Maya called out.

I composed myself and pushed the door open. "It's me. I dropped the food."

I paused for a second. "So, you're awake. Are you feeling better?"

Maya's face was a mask of indifference. She didn't even look at me.

"I'm fine. Go get another bowl of ribs and grits. Dr. Reed likes that."

"By the way, don't take anything I said during my hallucinations seriously."

She said it so casually, without a hint of guilt or regret.

"Which part?" I asked, my voice raspy and trembling. "The part where you love him, or the part where I'm just the help?"

Maya actually laughed at that.

"It was all a joke. That's just how my friends and I talk."

"You're probably just not used to our humor. Don't be so sensitive."

She laid back down and started scrolling through her phone.

She didn't even notice that my hand was red and scalded from the hot porridge.

I didn't go out to buy more food. I went home and took a long shower instead.

Afterward, I picked up the phone and dialed my mentor's number.

He sounded surprised to hear from me.

"Quentin? Don't tell me you've changed your mind about joining the excavation team?"

I stayed silent for a moment, thinking about Maya's proposal to Kieran.

If I was looking for a reason to stay while I was smoking at the hospital, I had found a reason to leave now.

"Yes," I said. "I've thought it over. I'll take the flight in three days."

"That's great news! We've all been waiting for you to come back to your senses!"

Three days from now was my wedding day. It would be the perfect day to say goodbye.

I hung up and tried to remember a single moment where Maya actually loved me.

I searched through my memories, but I came up empty.

Everything I remembered only proved that she belonged to Kieran.

Maya was a designer. She made things for me, but she was obsessive about the details.

She insisted on size 10 shoes and custom-tailored suits. She hated it when my hands were scarred.

I was an archaeologist. My hands were always covered in small nicks from tools.

Maya constantly pressured me to quit and stay at home.

Seeing Kieran today, I realized why. He had the perfect, unscarred hands of a surgeon.

The five years we spent together were just a series of her trying to mold me into someone else.

I gathered everything she had ever given me and threw it all into the trash.

I was done with her, and I was done with this one-sided love.

The next morning, Maya was still at the hospital, claiming she didn't feel well.

Today was supposed to be our wedding photoshoot.

I didn't bring it up. I had no intention of showing up to the wedding anyway.

When I woke up, I had several missed calls from her.

I called her back, and she immediately started barking orders.

"I've moved the photography team to the hospital. We'll shoot here."

"When you come over, bring some homemade soup for me."

I blinked, stunned by her audacity. "Okay," I whispered.

The hospital room was buzzing with energy when I arrived.

Maya had hired a full glam squad and a team of photographers.

She looked at me and gave a flimsy excuse. "Kieran has the same build as you."

"I'm letting him try on your tuxedo first so you can rest."

Kieran gave me a mocking look. "I don't mind helping out. I've got plenty of time."

He was wearing the suit Maya designedDthe one that never quite fit me right.

I didn't say a word. I knew I wouldn't be at the altar anyway.

I stood there and watched as they took "hospital-themed" wedding photos together.

After the shoot, Maya checked herself out of the hospital.

"Let's go. We're going to a family dinner." I didn't even bother asking where.

In the car, Kieran handed me a box of almond shortbread cookies.

"Sorry about yesterday, Quentin. I shouldn't have worn your ring. This is an apology."

I didn't take them. I looked at Maya.

She didn't react at all, as if she had forgotten I was deathly allergic to almonds.

"Just take them. Ryker brought them all the way from Europe."

"He's apologizing. Don't be so immature. Just accept the gesture."

Maya knew exactly how dangerous almonds were for me.

Years ago, she used to bring them back as gifts all the time.

One time, she got annoyed that I kept refusing and shoved one into my mouth.

I ended up in the ER, struggling to breathe.

She had cried and promised she would never let an almond near me again.

Now, she had forgotten everything just to keep her precious Kieran happy.

To stop her from nagging, I took a bite of one cookie.

Within minutes, my face broke out in a thick, itchy rash.

Maya stared at me, finally remembering.

"Quentin, if you can't eat almonds, why didn't you say something? Why are you acting like a martyr?"

She sounded annoyed rather than concerned. "We have to see my mom in a few minutes."

"Thank God Kieran is coming with us, or I'd be totally humiliated."

The allergic reaction was making my head spin. I let out a bitter laugh.

Maya didn't care if I died. She only cared about appearances.

"You and Kieran go," I said quietly. "I'm not going."

Maya snapped. "What do you mean? You're making a scene again!"

"This is the pre-wedding dinner! You can't just skip it!"

She tossed a bottle of Benadryl at me. "Take this and get over it."

At the restaurant, Maya's mother was delighted to see Kieran.

"Mrs. Brooks, I brought this for you from my trip," Kieran said, handing her a gift.

She beamed at him and then scowled at me.

"Kieran is so thoughtful. He always knows what I like. Not like some people."

"Quentin, you really need to learn from him. And look at what you're wearing."

I looked down at my casual clothes and then at Maya.

She had that same look of disgust on her face.

I couldn't compare to Kieran, who was dressed to the nines and acting like a prince.

But I hadn't even been told about this dinner until we were in the car.

During the meal, Kieran was the life of the party, catering to everyone's needs.

He was pouring drinks and serving food like he was already part of the family.

Maya glanced at me and put a piece of food on my plateDsomething she knew I hated.

I almost laughed. I pushed the food to the side and ignored it.

The Benadryl wasn't working. I felt like my throat was closing up.

I made an excuse and walked out. Maya followed me to the door.

"Quentin, what is wrong with you? Show some respect to my parents!"

I didn't have the energy to fight. I pushed her aside and kept walking.

"If you walk away now, the wedding is off!" she screamed at my back.

She sounded so sure that I would turn around and beg for her forgiveness.

"Fine," I said. "The wedding is off. We're done."