The moon is leaving me

The landslide happened so fast. Ashley and I tumbled down the hillside together. My boyfriend, Ethan, scooped Ashley up right in front of me and just…left. He left me there. Everyone rushed Ashley to the hospital. Nobody even noticed me. When I finally got rescued and taken to the hospital, Ethan never once came to visit. And now, now that I finally don't care about him anymore, he’s crying his eyes out, saying he loves me.

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It was Ashley who pulled me down. We were standing fine, and then she grabbed me, lost her footing, and took us both down. Ethan rushed down, frantic, but he only had eyes for Ashley. He scooped her up without a second glance at me. The truth was, I was hurt way worse than her. We’d both been stopped by a tree, but I’d hit it first. My leg was impaled by a branch. She just had a few scrapes because I’d cushioned her fall. When Ethan reached us, tears started streaming down my face. Before I could even speak, he’d picked up Ashley and left. He didn’t even look at me. It wasn't until Chloe and some park rangers got to me that I finally passed out from the pain.

I spent a month in the hospital. Every time Chloe visited, she’d burst into tears. “I’m so sorry, Maya,” she’d sob. “I’m so stupid. I thought Ethan would get you, so I just…I followed them.” She'd explain how she saw Ethan put a girl in the ambulance and assumed it was me. “I’m so sorry, Maya. I should’ve checked.”

I’d pat her head. “It’s okay, Chloe. It’s not your fault.” Honestly, I couldn't blame her. I thought Ethan would come back for me too. Even after he’d carried Ashley away, I held onto the hope that he’d send someone.

Thankfully, the branch hadn't hit any major bones. The doctors said I'd heal with time and physical therapy. Ethan was there to pick me up when I was discharged. He looked awful, exhausted and pale. He was super careful helping me into the car, like I was made of glass. But then we got to his place, and there was Ashley. My stomach dropped.

I loved being close to Ethan. Even though we didn't live together, I'd bought a condo across the street from him. We were practically neighbors.

His apartment was full of people, all his friends. “Maya, everyone’s here to celebrate you getting out of the hospital,” he started to say, but a bright, chirpy voice cut him off. “Ethan, honey, where do you keep the spices?”

“I’ll get them. You won’t be able to find them,” Ethan said, hurrying into the kitchen.

“Hey, how do you know I won’t find them?” Ashley’s voice, slightly pouty, followed him. Ethan’s reply was teasing, a kind of intimacy that shut everyone else out.

“Just try. I dare you.”

“Fine, I will. I’ll show you!”

“Hey, you two, always bickering,” one of Ethan’s friends called out, joining them in the kitchen. “Need any help in there? We can lend a hand.” Happy chatter and laughter floated out from the kitchen. I glanced at the others, engrossed in a video game. There were so many people in the room, but I felt completely alone.

Then I felt som...