Seven Years a Shadow, Forever Her King

Serena and I had been tangled up for seven years, and whenever she called, I would cross half the city just to drink in her place. Afterward, her best friend asked her, “Don’t you feel even a little bad for Logan? Aren’t you afraid he’ll leave you?” Serena sneered. “He wouldn’t dare! He’s spent seven years chasing after me like a lovesick fool, so he’ll never give up on me.” I clenched my fists, turned around, and found someone else to marry. At my wedding, Serena begged me to reconsider, but I smiled and told her, “I can’t. My wife said she’ll never give up on me for the rest of her life.” I stayed with Serena for seven grueling years. In that relationship, all I ever did was give, endlessly and silently. She bossed me around, mocked me to my face, and apologized afterward, only to repeat the exact same cycle the next day. I couldn’t bring myself to let go. Every single time, I gritted my teeth and endured it, constantly reminding myself of the good moments we shared. This time, Serena wanted to protect her first love from humiliation. With a single phone call, she dragged me across the entire city just to drink on his behalf and entertain his client. "Logan, this client is a big deal. Please, help me out. Once the contract is signed, we'll finally have the money to get married." I swallowed the burning pain in my stomach and downed glass after glass with the client, pushing myself right to the edge of passing out. Right before everything went black, I heard a smooth, arrogant male voice. "Serena, your boyfriend can seriously handle his liquor! Next time I have a situation like this, I’m definitely calling you!" As my vision faded, I caught a glimpse of a familiar face. It was Christian—Serena’s untouchable, unforgettable ex. When I woke up, the sterile smell of a hospital room hit me. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Serena standing by the door with her back turned, on a FaceTime call. Her friend’s voice echoed through the speaker: "Don’t you feel bad for Logan at all? Aren't you terrified he’s going to walk away from you?!" Serena sneered, completely dismissive. "He wouldn't dare! He's been worshipping the ground I walk on for seven straight years. He’ll never leave me." Lying in that hospital bed, tears silently blurred my vision. Seven years. What I had treasured as a seven-year relationship was nothing more than pathetic, desperate groveling in her eyes. I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms, burying my head beneath the thin blanket, my entire body trembling without making a sound. Serena kept chatting. Unable to listen to another word, I let out a dry cough. She hung up instantly. Turning around and catching my bloodshot eyes, she frowned. "What's wrong?" "It hurts..." My stomach was on fire, but my heart ached a million times worse. Serena stepped closer, patted my head like I was an obedient dog, and said, "You did good. I’ll go grab you some food." I watched her walk out. The moment she stepped into the hallway, I pushed the blanket aside and walked over to the window. Down below, I saw her smiling brighter than the sun at a man standing by the curb. It was Christian. I wasn't seeing things. It was really him. I rushed downstairs as fast as my weak legs could carry me. From a distance, I saw Serena reach out, tenderly tucking a loose strand of hair behind his ear. Her eyes held a warmth and gentleness she had never once shown me. Right then and there, I knew. I couldn't do this anymore. I went straight back, signed my own discharge papers, and took an Uber to the private medical clinic owned by my best friend’s family. After a thorough exam and some IV fluids, I pulled out my phone and sent Serena a text: Serena, let's break up. She didn't text back right away. Hours passed. Finally, well past midnight, a cold reply popped up: Whatever. Suit yourself. A couple of minutes later, she sent another message on SnapChat: What is your problem? Logan, are you really throwing another tantrum? I saw the little bubble showing she was typing, but nothing came through. A bitter, humorless laugh escaped my lips. Look at that, Serena. You didn't even notice I had already checked out of the hospital. I blocked her immediately. The very next morning, I called my best friend to help me move out. "Logan, are you dead serious this time? You’re really ending it?" Leo asked me over and over, terrified I'd cave and crawl back like before. I looked him dead in the eye and nodded. "It’s over. If I ever look back, I’m an absolute fool." Reassured, Leo brought the movers up to the apartment. Serena wasn't home, which made it so much easier. I packed up my things, stripping away every single item that held our shared memories. Leo decided that wasn't enough. He grabbed a tube of red lipstick from the vanity and scrawled across the mirror in huge letters: Serena, I’m done with your bullshit! I couldn't help but smile. He was right. I was done. Before walking out the door for good, I took one last look at the apartment. This was the third place we had rented together since graduating college. It had a great location and a sleek layout. Piece by piece, I had decorated it, turning a sterile space into a cozy, warm home. I had poured so much of my heart into this place. Now, I was walking away from all of it.Three full days went by without a single call from Serena. Then, on the third night, the moment I walked into my new place after working late, my phone lit up with an incoming call from her. "You're not home? Where the hell are you?!" "Logan, what is the meaning of this?!" Her voice suddenly screeched through the speaker. She had clearly just seen the lipstick on the mirror. A quiet chuckle slipped past my lips. I could picture her face—veins popping, eyes bloodshot with rage, looking down her nose like she always did. I kept my voice deadpan. "Can’t you read plain English? Are you blind?!" Serena gasped sharply on the other end, completely stunned. Without waiting for her to recover, I hung up on her face. She probably never imagined I would ever dare speak to her like that. Seconds later, a message buzzed on my screen: Logan, you want to break up? Fine! Don't you dare come crying back! After seven years of bending over backward for her, I knew her playbook inside out. That was just who she was. In two days, she’d call me again, acting like she was generously "giving me a chance." It was the same routine every single time. And every single time, I would be the idiot running back to apologize first. Why should I? If we were breaking up, then let's make it clean. Still, after chasing her for seven years, my chest felt hollow and tight seeing that message. Leo dragged me out to a high-end lounge that night. "Logan, the quickest way to get over an ex is to find someone new." He shoved me down onto a VIP leather booth and snapped his fingers. A few gorgeous women immediately strolled over. "Look around! Seductive, sweet, whatever type you want—just say the word, and she's yours!" Leo was clearly pulling out all the stops and spending a fortune to snap me out of it. I opened my mouth to decline, but he grabbed my arm, cutting me off. "You're just too damn loyal. You've barely dated, so you gave Serena your whole damn soul." "Once you see the entire ocean, you’ll realize Serena wasn't even a drop of water!" I had nothing to say to that. Serena was a tiny sapling I had watered with seven years of devotion. Just as it was about to grow into a towering tree, she trampled all over my efforts. After downing a couple of stiff drinks, my head began to spin with a pleasant buzz. I randomly pointed toward a stunning brunette. "Her." Leo grinned wide. "A little vixen. Good choice!" The girl slid into the booth beside me, taking my hand with a bright smile to play a drinking game. She wasn't pushy, and she knew exactly where the line was. For the first time in a long time, I felt genuinely relaxed. Just as I lost another round, a familiar, sickeningly sweet voice drifted down from above: "Serena, isn’t that your boyfriend over there?" Boyfriend? Hearing Serena's name caught me completely off guard. I glanced up instinctively. A few people were sitting in the adjacent booth, and every single one of them was an acquaintance. Christian was clinging to Serena’s arm, wearing an arrogant smirk. Our eyes collided out of nowhere. Before I could even pull my hand back from the edge of the girl's short dress, Serena spoke up, her tone icy. "No. We broke up." I scoffed internally. Turning back toward the brunette beside me, I wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Come on, loser drinks! Don’t stop now!" That irritating voice behind me chimed in again. "Wait, is this because of me? Though honestly, looking at how comfortable he is here, he must be a regular. Does he come here all the time?" Leo had no idea who this clown was, so I leaned over and muttered, "That's Christian." Leo’s eyes flared, and he raised his voice so the whole room could hear: "Damn, why does it smell like cheap drama in here?!" "Must be some expired, thirsty snake nobody wants! Guess he can only try his luck crawling back to old flings!" The girl sitting next to me, Chloe, caught on instantly and let out a soft giggle. "Totally. Even discounted drinks sell better than desperate exes. Can’t blame him for having zero game." She even threw Christian a playful, mocking wink. Christian's face turned completely pale, then bright red. "You—!" Unable to come up with a comeback, he tugged desperately at Serena’s sleeve like a kicked puppy. Serena stood up abruptly and marched right over to my booth, glaring down at me. "You dumped me over her?"I leaned back and looked up at her. This was the first time I had seen Serena since walking out. Her outfit was impeccably styled, and the faint scent of expensive perfume drifted from her hair. She had clearly spent hours putting herself together. It was obvious my departure hadn't affected her in the slightest. In fact, she looked like she was thoroughly enjoying her newfound freedom. Otherwise, she wouldn't have bothered dressing up to the nines. Christian hovered behind her, continuing his pathetic act: "Is this about that night I asked you to drink with the client? Did you misunderstand something? I swear, I can explain everything." I crossed my arms and kicked one leg over the other, lounging on the couch. "Sure, go ahead and explain. You didn't have the guts or the liver to close the deal, so you dragged me in to drink until my stomach bled." "Now that the contract is signed, shouldn't you be wiring me my cut of the commission?" "Wait, don't tell me you never planned on paying me? After all, I'm the one who actually closed the client!" I waved my phone in front of his face. "Mr. Vance even added me on WhatsApp. What do you say I shoot him a quick message and steal the whole project for myself?" "Enough, Logan! When did you become so damn petty?!" Serena snapped. Leo instantly barked out a laugh. "Petty? Why don't you try drinking until you're hospitalized with internal bleeding, you psycho!" "Look at you, acting all high and mighty! Whore out your own boyfriend to entertain clients for your high school crush? Who the hell do you think Logan is, your personal escort?!" "Even an Uber Eats driver gets paid a delivery fee! You're parading around with this loser right after a breakup, trying to mark your territory?” “ I’ve seen shameless people before, but you two take the damn crown!" Serena’s hands clenched into tight, trembling fists. "Shut up! Or else—" Leo didn't flinch. "Or else what? You gonna hit me? Touch a single hair on my head tonight, and I’ll sue you for every penny you’re worth!" "You broke-ass clown, acting like you run this town!" Serena turned on me, fuming. "Logan, are you really just going to sit there and let him talk to me like this?!" "Why wouldn't I? Did he say a single lie?" I locked eyes with her, completely detached. "Serena, I worshipped you for seven years. Now that I’ve stopped caring, you can’t handle it? Do me a favor—take your boy toy and get the hell out of my sight." She parted her lips to argue, but I deliberately pulled up my contacts and hovered my thumb over Mr. Vance's name. Christian panicked, instantly grabbing Serena’s arm and dragging her away. The mood was completely ruined. I stood up to leave. Chloe reached out and caught my hand, looking up at me softly. "Let me call you an Uber and make sure you get home safe." "No need, Chloe. See you around." I gently patted her shoulder, helped the slightly tipsy Leo out of the lounge, and stepped into the cool night air. The breeze instantly cleared my head. Across the street, I spotted Serena leaning against her car, smoking a cigarette. Christian was sitting in the passenger seat. Through the rolled-down window, he looked up at Serena and reached out to fix the collar of her jacket. Serena followed his gaze and caught me looking. She froze for a split second. Then, she crushed her cigarette out, opened the driver's door, and sped off, leaving nothing behind but exhaust fumes. Childish. Absolutely pathetic. I said nothing, hailed a cab, and got Leo home. The next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache. I pulled myself together and dragged my feet to the office. The moment I reached the lobby of my corporate building, I saw Serena standing by the entrance, holding a massive bouquet of fresh flowers. In seven years, she had never set foot near my office. Whenever the weather was terrible and I had asked her to pick me up, she would always scoff with irritation: "Just call an Uber! It’s pouring, why should I sit in rush hour traffic for you?!" So I would spend an hour crammed into the subway, drenched from head to toe. And when I finally unlocked the front door, she’d be curled up on the couch watching reality TV. And I would still have to dry off, step into the kitchen, and cook her dinner. I lived like that for seven entire years. Back then, I thought love conquered all, that sacrificing my dignity was romantic. Looking back now, how pathetic was I? My parents raised me with love and care, yet for Serena, I had completely erased myself. The second she spotted me, she marched over and shoved the massive bouquet straight into my arms. "Alright, are you done being dramatic? It was just a few drinks." "Stop throwing tantrums. Who else would put up with you besides me?"