Chapter 5
“River, this is my girlfriend. I’m transferring her to your school–look after her.”
Soon after, River’s brother died in a training flight accident.
The Kingsley family treated this girl–the only thing River’s brother had brought home–like a daughter–in–law.
They let her live with them, gave her the best resources, arranged her entire future.
Just like that, River’s and my normal life got completely turned upside down.
Serena would suddenly appear when River was helping me with coursework, flashing this bright smile. “Willa, can I borrow your boyfriend for a sec? I’ve got some questions.”
She’d call during our dates. “River, my cat’s missing. It’s the only thing your brother left me. Could you help me find him?”
She’d crash my birthday party uninvited, get drunk after a few drinks, then insist River drive her home.
But she always acted so casual about it that I had nowhere to direct my anger.
Over time, River and I started fighting more and more.
I asked him, hurt and cautious, “Could you maybe not always put her first? I’m supposed to be your girlfriend.”
But River said, “Don’t be jealous of her. She’s my sister–in–law. Before he died, my brother made me promise to take care of her.”
Later, we fought even more, even talked about breaking up.
Then Serena would come lecture me. “Willa, don’t overthink it. River’s just being protective of me. Don’t be such a little girl, constantly threatening to
‘break up‘–it’s really damaging to relationships.”
I was furious and said without thinking, “If you know it damages our relationship, why do you keep bothering River? He’s not your boyfriend–why should he buy you tampons and stuff? What, you got the hots for your brother–in–law?”
River yelled at me, “Willa! After all these years, you still don’t know how to talk to people? Apologize to Serena!”
“Hell no!”
“Fine, have it your way. We’re done!”
And he really did ignore me completely.
Left me lying awake night after night.
Eventually I couldn’t take it and went crawling back to make up.
Over and over, until River was convinced I could never survive without him.
Until a month before graduation, I was pulling an all–nighter studying for my final exam.
Suddenly I couldn’t breathe, and my head was spinning.
My parents were overseas on business.
So I called River. “River, I’m feeling really sick. Could you maybe-”
Before I could finish, I heard Serena’s whiny voice: “Ugh! This is my first time seeing a case like this. What should I do? River, this is the patient you assigned me–y
-you have to help me figure out treatment tonight. I’m not letting you go home!”
River said indulgently, “Okay.”
Then he hung up.
I called back, desperate.
He just hung up again.
I had no choice but to call my best friend.
Then I passed out.
I woke up in the hospital the next day.
My friend had texted that she was getting me breakfast.
So I slowly walked to River’s office.
I could hear Serena inside: “River, you’re awake? You should call your girlfriend back. She’s probably pissed you hung up on her last night.”
“No need.”
Serena whined, “Come on! Just go make up with her! Otherwise she’ll blame me for ruining your relationship again.”
“I don’t care what she thinks.”
“You’re really not gonna make up?”
“Nope.”
“What if she threatens to break up again?”
“Then we’ll break up.”
In that moment, I completely gave up.
