Chapter 1
For twenty years, Sophia Hawthorne rarely refused Victor Ashford anything. Homework, love letters, relationship crises, she handled it all. She was like a 24/7 customer service rep, always on call, never complaining.
Her friends called her crazy. She would just smile and say, "We've known each other for twenty years. We're like family."
But alone in the dark, she admitted she loved Victor. Ever since he chased away her bully at age six, that love had taken root and grown too deep to ever pull out.
Victor thought Sophia would always be there. He was used to her being in the background, quiet and steady. So when she finally turned and walked away, he panicked.
*****
Sophia sat alone in the corner of the café, her coffee long gone cold in her hand.
Outside, Victor was holding an umbrella for a girl, both of them laughing as they walked by. Rain streamed down the glass, blurring their shapes. But nothing could blur the sting in Sophia's heart.
This was Victor's third date this month, and he kept saying this girl might be the one he'd finally get serious with. Sophia had lost track of how many times she'd heard that.
For twenty years, she'd watched girls come and go in Victor's life like a parade, while she herself was forever stuck in the friend zone as his childhood friend.
Her phone buzzed with a text from Victor: [Sophia, want to come over for dinner tonight? And bring your Pork Chops with Gravy. Vivian's dying to try your cooking.]
Vivian Yates, the girl he was with, was Victor's latest girlfriend.
Sophia's finger hovered over the screen for ages before she finally typed back: [Okay.]
For twenty years, Sophia rarely refused Victor anything. Homework, love letters, relationship crises, she handled it all. She was like a 24/7 customer service rep, always on call, never complaining.
Her friends all thought she was crazy, but Sophia would smile and say, "We've known each other for twenty years. We're like family."
But alone in the dark, she admitted she loved Victor. Ever since he chased away her bully at age six, that love had taken root and grown too deep to ever pull out.
*****
At seven that evening, Sophia arrived at Victor's apartment, carrying an insulated food container. Vivian answered the door, dressed in comfy loungewear, looking every bit like the lady of the house.
"Sophia, you're here. Come on in," Vivian greeted her with a sweet smile, taking the food container. "Victor's on the phone in his study. He'll be out soon."
Sophia nodded and changed into the slippers. They were the pink bunny-ear slippers she'd given Victor for his birthday last year. He'd said they were too childish, but kept them anyway. Now, Vivian was wearing them.
"Those slippers really suit you," Sophia said, trying to keep her voice calm.
"Yeah. Victor said I look adorable in them," Vivian giggled, spinning around so the pink bunny ears on her slippers bounced with every step.
A needle pricked Sophia's heart. She remembered giving him those shoes. Victor had ruffled her hair and said, "Sophia, don't you think you've outgrown this kind of thing?" She'd thought it was playful teasing. Now she knew that he genuinely meant it.
"Sophia." Victor came out of his study, casually wrapping his arm around Vivian's waist. "Hope you didn't wait too long. Got held up by a work call."
"No worries," Sophia replied with a smile. "The food's still hot. I'll go set the table."
"Let me help you," Vivian offered.
"No, you two sit down," Sophia said, and headed for the kitchen. As soon as she was alone, tears broke free and rolled down her cheeks. She wiped them away fast, took a shaky breath, and grabbed the dishes and silverware from the cabinet.
*****
During dinner, Victor kept piling food onto Vivian's plate, his tone soft. "Try this. The Pork Chops with Gravy are the absolute best. I've been eating them since I was a kid."
"These taste incredible." Vivian's eyes sparkled. "Sophia, can you teach me how to make it? I want to make it for Victor."
Sophia's grip on her fork tightened. "Of course."
"Great. It's settled. I'll come over this weekend and learn from you," Vivian said with a bright smile, then turned to Victor. "Victor, when we're married, I'm going to cook for you all the time."
Vivian's words struck Sophia like a blow to the chest.
Victor laughed, messing up Vivian's hair. "Alright, don't set the kitchen on fire."
"I won't," Vivian replied with a playful pout.
Sophia kept her head down, eating like a robot, barely tasting anything. She could feel Victor glancing at her from time to time, giving her that warm, familiar look he always saved for his best friend.
But that gentle warmth was like a blunt knife, slowly carving away at her heart with every glance.
After dinner, Vivian took the initiative to clear the dishes, leaving Victor and Sophia sitting together in the living room. The TV was playing some mindless variety show, but neither of them paid it any attention.
"Vivian's a good one," Sophia said, her voice rough around the edges.
"Yeah, she's innocent and really considerate," Victor replied, leaning back on the couch. "My mom's met her. She's pretty fond of her."
"So, are you guys really getting married?" Sophia asked.
Victor paused for a bit. "Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. My family's been pushing me, and Vivian is a good girl."
"Vivian is a good girl," Sophia echoed the phrase, and the bitterness rose in her throat.
"Sophia." Victor suddenly turned to her. "You'll give me your blessing, won't you?"
His eyes were open and a little uncertain, as if he needed her blessing. For years, he'd always come to her for advice on every big decision, treating her like his most trusted confidant. Sophia used to feel a secret thrill.
But now she finally understood: it was because he never saw her as a woman, so he could share everything with her, no strings attached.
"Of course," Sophia said, trying to sound cheerful as she forced a smile. "If you're happy, that's all that matters."
Victor let out a sigh of relief. "I knew you'd understand. Sophia, you'll always be my best friend."
That label was like a trophy, glittering on the outside, but icy to the touch. Sophia wished she could toss it aside.
*****
When Sophia walked out of Victor's apartment, the rain had already stopped. The night sky was crystal clear, sprinkled with stars.
She tilted her head back, gazing up, and memories flooded in, back to that summer when she was eighteen, lying side by side with Victor on the school lawn, watching meteors streak across the sky.
"Hey, Sophia, what did you wish for?" Victor had asked.
"Can't tell you. If I do, it won't work," she'd replied with a smile. But deep down, Sophia muttered, "I hope that someday, Victor will see me, not as a friend."
Ten years had gone by. She'd watched a few more meteor showers since then, but her wish had never come true.
Her phone buzzed again. It was a message from her best friend, Holly Morton: [So? Did you meet Victor's new girlfriend?]
Sophia replied: [Yeah, I met her. She's nice. Looks like they're probably getting married soon.]
Holly called her up immediately. "Sophia, can't you live for yourself for once?"
"Holly, I—" Sophia began.
"Stop it," Holly cut her off. "Our company is opening a new branch in Hinston next month, and I'm fighting to get transferred there as the manager. Come with me. Let's get out of here and start fresh."
Sophia was stunned. Leave this city? Leave Victor? Could I really do that?
"I know what you're thinking," Holly said, her voice softening. "Sophia, it's been twenty years. If Victor ever had feelings for you, he would've shown it by now.
"You're never going to get the answer you want. Give yourself a chance. Go out there, see the world, meet new people."
Sophia stood beneath the streetlight, her shadow stretching out behind her. She stole one last look at Victor's window. The lights were still on, and she could barely make out two silhouettes holding each other close.
"Okay," Sophia said. "I'll go with you."
After hanging up, Sophia deleted all her chat history with Victor. She thought it would hurt more, but all she felt was an odd sense of freedom.
Maybe Holly was right. After twenty years of starring in her own solo act, it was time to let the curtain fall.