Chapter 1

My boyfriend, Ethan, has a severe hearing impairment in his left ear. He can barely hear anything on that side.

But whenever the three of us go out together, he always shields my best friend, Maya, on his right side. He would lean down, hanging on her every word, responding to everything she says.

Meanwhile, I, his actual girlfriend, am always pushed to his deaf left side.

For a long time, I thought he was just being nice to her because she was my friend.

Until we went to a theme park and got on a roller coaster that rose a hundred feet into the air.

As the coaster slowly climbed to the highest peak, it paused, dangling us in mid-air.

I was terrified. I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them slightly, reaching out to hold Ethan’s hand.

"Ethan, I'm scared."

He didn’t react at all.

In the next second, he turned around, pulled Maya tightly into his arms, and began whispering comforting words to her.

The coaster plunged. I closed my eyes, and my heart plummeted faster than the ride.

Ethan, if your world has no room for my voice.

Then this time, I won’t wait for you to turn around.

...

The roller coaster slowly glided back to the station, and the safety bars unlocked.

My hands trembled so much I could barely unbuckle my harness. Ethan didn’t even look my way.

Instead, he immediately turned to his right, leaning down to help Maya with hers.

Maya playfully nudged his shoulder.

"It’s all your fault. You squeezed my hand so hard it hurts."

Ethan smiled dotingly, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Oh really? Then who was the one screaming and crawling into my arms a second ago?"

They laughed and joked like they always did, excited about how thrilling the ride was.

I sat there, feeling a cold shiver run down my spine.

Suddenly, Maya looked at me.

"Chloe, what about you? I didn’t even hear you scream."

"I..."

I froze, struggling to find the words.

"Achoo!" Maya sneezed.

It was a tiny, quiet sound, but Ethan heard it instantly.

He snatched the jacket from my hands and draped it over Maya’s shoulders, nagging her.

"I told you not to wear a short skirt on a roller coaster. Now you’re freezing!"

"I don't care! It was fun!"

Maya stared straight into Ethan's eyes, her eyebrow arching in a barely noticeable tease.

In the next second, I saw a flush creep up Ethan’s neck all the way to his ears. His Adam's apple bobbed nervously.

Maybe it was the lingering weightlessness from the ride, or maybe it was the sharp, stabbing pain of betrayal.

I felt dizzy. My stomach churned, and I wanted to throw up.

"Ethan, my head is spinning... my blood sugar is crashing..."

Panting, I crouched on the ground and reached my hand out to Ethan.

There was no response.

When I looked up again, the two of them were already thirty feet ahead of me.

Under the bright sunlight, his long shadow merged with my best friend’s. They walked closer and closer, leaving me further and further behind.

A park staff member helped me up and handed me an energy drink.

"Are you okay, sweetie? Make sure to take care of yourself. Hope you have an amazing day! Happy Birthday!"

I managed a bitter smile and touched the birthday button pinned to my chest.

Today was my twenty-fifth birthday. Since entering the park, dozens of strangers had wished me a happy birthday.

Yet, the two people closest to me hadn’t said a single word of blessing.

My phone buzzed. It was a Snapchat location pin from Ethan:

[Get over here quick! We have a surprise for you!]

My fingers tightened around the phone. I hesitated for a long time. Maybe a tiny, foolish part of me still held onto a shred of hope. I typed back: [Okay.]

When I arrived at the location, a crowd had gathered around a stage where a dozen couples were standing. Ethan and Maya were among them.

The sign on the stage read: Couples' Trivia Challenge.

Couples? Trivia?

I stared blankly. The host was asking the first question:

"What is the first thing she does when she wakes up from a nightmare?"

"Grabs my hand!"

Ethan and Maya answered in perfect unison.

"What is the most touching thing your partner has ever done for you?"

"On the day my left ear went deaf, when I was at my absolute lowest," Ethan’s voice softened, his eyes looking incredibly tender, "she held me and told me that from then on, she would be my right ear."

...

After a few more questions, only three couples remained on stage.

The host asked the final question:

"What is your favorite physical feature on your partner?"

"The tiny beauty mark on her collarbone," Ethan said with a warm smile, looking lovingly at Maya.

Maya blushed and gave him a playful shove. "The scar on the back of his neck from playing basketball!"

Ethan laughed.

The host laughed.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Only I couldn't laugh. My heart felt like it was being ripped apart by a dull knife.