Post-breakup videotape

Chapter 1

I dumped my boyfriend, Jake, the year he was totally broke.

A year later, he hit the big time.

He married some bubbly blonde who was way hotter than me.

On some talk show, the host asked him if there were any regrets now that he’d won every damn award there was.

He put his arm around Brittany's waist.

"I just wonder how she’s doing, you know, after we split."

The host hesitated.

"She’s... not doing so great."

Jake finally cracked a smile.

"That's a relief."

"But, uh, her mom left behind a box of videotapes before she passed."

Jake's smile froze.

The tapes showed every day of my life after leaving him, right up to my death.

1.

"Passed?"

Jake's hand tightened on Brittany’s waist.

He forced a laugh.

"Is this some kind of gag? For the show?"

The host shook her head.

Behind her, on the giant screen, my face popped up.

"Hey everybody, it's me, Amy! Guess what? I'm single!"

"Wait, are you saying I dumped a talented, hot, sweet guy and I'm upset?"

The girl on the screen was bald, picking out a wig.

She glanced at the camera and grinned.

"Nah. He’d be more upset if he saw me like this, haha!"

"Uh, what's with the shaking? You can't even hold the camera."

I steadied the shaky hand of my best friend, Sarah.

Sarah was choked up.

"I don’t want to do this… I'm gonna cry my eyes out. Please, I can't."

"Too bad. You promised you'd document my last days."

Sarah's voice broke.

"Can I take it back?"

"Nope!"

I pouted. "This is my perfect exit strategy. Can’t trust anyone else!"

Seeing she was still crying, I tugged on her shirt.

"Come on, Sarah, you're all I got in this world."

Her sobbing got louder.

"Fine, fine. I'll film, okay?"

2.

[Goodbye World, 4/17/2023, 9:34 AM – Take it All]

After all these years, I’m back in my old house.

Sarah followed me, phone in hand.

I walked our dog down the dirt road.

I snorted.

"Can you believe Jake updated his Insta with some breakup song after you took Lucky?"

I turned around.

"What song? I blocked him after the breakup."

"Some guy named Ryan Adams, 'Take it All.'"

Sarah and I stared at each other for a second, then burst out laughing.

"Take it all,

“Everything you need.

“I'm taking the dog,

"Whether you like it or not."

Sarah was crying, but laughing too.

"He didn't want anything but the dog, and you didn't want anything but the dog!

"Haha!"

Our laughter echoed across the fields.

But soon, the crying took over.

3.

[Goodbye World, 4/17/2023, 10:08 AM – Does a dog know you're leaving?]

I pushed open the old wooden door.

Cobwebs everywhere.

"I told you, I barely came home after Jake and I left for college.

"After my parents died, we took Lucky with us. This is his first time back."

The camera turned to me.

"Hey everybody, it's Amy, and I'm giving you a full house tour!"

Sarah, wearing an apron and holding a broom, frowned.

"I'm the one cleaning! You're supposed to be resting!"

"I'm a patient! Cut me some slack!"

After a few laughs, I came out of the kitchen, covered in soot.

Sarah glared as she took the spatula.

"I told y...