Read Chapter 23: — WHAT LOVE IS NOT

Ben recovered before Adrian did.

He was discharged to home isolation with instructions he actually followed.

The first thing he did after returning to his apartment was delete the birthday-party group chat.

The second was call Claire Palmer.

She had also recovered.

“I’m sorry,” Ben said.

“For getting sick?”

“For blaming you for everything with Lena. For being too drunk to know what was happening. For acting like women around me were responsible for managing my feelings.”

Claire was quiet.

“I sent those photos because I wanted her to leave you,” she said. “Nothing happened between us. You were drunk and asleep. I knew exactly what I was doing.”

Ben shut his eyes.

“That was cruel.”

“Yes.”

“Why tell me?”

“Because nearly dying makes manipulative romance feel pathetic.”

He almost laughed.

They ended the call without forgiveness, which was more honest than pretending the apology repaired everything.

Ben later wrote Lena a message.

I kept thinking love meant giving someone a better life. I never asked whether the life was better by their definition. I’m sorry. You don’t owe me an answer.

Lena read it between patients.

She replied only once.

Take care of yourself. I mean that.

Then she returned to work.

Not every relationship needed to be rescued.

Some needed to end without becoming hatred.