We Are Passersby

My boyfriend sent me, five months pregnant, hiking in Death Valley. All because I blacklisted his old flames breakfast spot.

We had been together for eight years, and he always put me first.

Until he took me to her caf.

His old flame, Stella, deliberately put something I was severely allergic to in my food.

My face was nearly ruined, and I was slapped with a massive penalty clause from my modeling agency for breach of contract. When my manager tried to protect my career by warning others away from Stella's caf, my boyfriends punishment was swift.

He abandoned me in the desert.

On the brink of death, I managed to escape, only to overhear him laughing with his friends.

"It was just a little lesson for her. Does she still think she's who she used to be? Pregnant before marriage who else would want her besides me?"

"Her face will never be the same. Her grandfather found a younger wife and cut her off. And in her state, she dares to challenge Stella? So what if her face is scarred and she owes some money? Thats what she gets for messing with my girl."

Standing outside the door, I trembled as I listened to Landon Crofts words.

It had taken me ten days, alone, to escape that hell. When I was close to collapsing, the only thing that kept me conscious was my love for him. The thought of him kept me moving. Now, the dozens of cuts and scratches covering my body felt like a cruel joke.

The architect of my suffering had been the man Id loved for years.

"Landon, what if she finds out and breaks up with you? What if she calls off the wedding?" one of his friends asked.

Through the crack in the door, I saw Landon sneer.

"Her? She wont leave, whether she knows or not. No one else loves her or cares about her. Besides, shes pregnant. Who would take her in now?"

He was gloating, basking in his victory. "And you all know, I'm the center of her universe. It's pathetic, really."

His words sent me plunging into an abyss, shattering me on impact.

He was so certain I would never leave.

I stumbled to the security office and borrowed a phone to call my grandfather. I needed to prove Landon wrong, to hear that someone still loved me.

The moment the call connected, the words rushed out. "Grandpa, it's me, Ingrid."

Before I could say more, his harsh voice cut me off.

"Why are you calling? We have no relationship anymore. I've thrown out all of your things. I'm sending you the disinheritance papers. Don't contact me again. I'm not having this family's name dragged through the mud."

Landon was right. Even my own family didn't love me.

Eight years ago, he had pulled me from the ocean, saving my life. He gave me a new one.

He told me my eyes were beautiful.

Only later did I learn that my eyes were the one feature I shared with Stella.

Rain fell, tracing the bloody scratches on my skin, making them stand out in stark relief. I walked into the hospital's maternity ward.

After the examination, the doctor sighed. "The previous allergic reaction did significant damage to your system, and you're suffering from severe malnutrition. Youre quite far along. Terminating the pregnancy at this stage would pose a serious risk to your own life."

My face was a mask. My body wouldn't stop shaking from the pain.

"Do it."

"I'll schedule the procedure for seven days from now. You need to spend this week resting and building up your strength."

When I arrived home, Landon and his friends were in the middle of a boisterous drinking session.

"Ingrid, what's with the ghost act? You should be taking it easy, with the baby and all." Landons face was smug.

Shouldnt I be calling him a master actor? To feign love for a woman for eight years, to turn my eight years of happiness into a lie.

I didn't answer, just turned and went to my room.

Our wedding portrait was still on the wall, a monument to irony. The wedding was just a month away. Making sure everyone saw his pregnant-out-of-wedlock bridethat must have been part of his plan, too.

A message popped up from my manager. She had successfully negotiated a payment plan for the contract penalty.

I smiled bitterly. I had no one in my corner.

That night, Landon pressed up against my back, his hand covering my belly.

"Are you and the baby okay?"

"Yes," I answered, my voice cold.

He stiffened, surprised by my tone.

"Landon, do you still want to marry me?"

He didn't hesitate. "I do."

The next second, the special ringtone I knew was for Stella chimed. The hand on my belly was instantly withdrawn.

"Landon, please don't leave me, okay? Don't leave me all alone. I don't want to lose you." Stella was sobbing on the other end of the line.

"Stella, don't be scared. I'm always here for you. I'm on my way."

After hanging up, he turned back to me. "Ingrid, you heard her. Stella needs me. You need to put aside your little tantrums for now. I'll give you what you're owed. Just take care of yourself."

Perhaps it was guilt. For the first time in a long time, he sounded concerned.

Then, without another word, he was gone.

I guess it wasnt the crying child who gets the candy. Its the beloved child who gets the candy.

I looked around our room. The walls were covered with sticky notes hed written for me, filled with declarations of his love and care.

In the early hours of the morning, Stella posted a photo of Landon cooking in her kitchen. He would cross the city for her at a moment's notice, remembered every little thing she liked.

Landon wanted me to be understanding.

But the understanding girl never got her candy.

I tore every note from the wall, shredding them into tiny pieces. The residual adhesive stung the raw cuts on my hands.

The next morning, just as I was taking down our wedding portrait, I heard a key in the lock.

It was Stella.

"Well, look what the cat dragged in," she sneered. "I was wondering who the ugly hag was. So it's you, Ingrid. Let's see you try to compete with me now."

She wasn't even trying to hide it.

"What do you want?" My voice was flat, my expression unreadable.

"Rory, darling, I only came to take care of you. If my moving in really bothers you, I'll leave right now. I wouldn't want to get in the way of your life with Landon." Her voice cracked with a sob.

A performance, I realized. For Landon's benefit.

She stepped closer, then jabbed her sharp nails into my pregnant belly.

I recoiled, pushing her away instinctively.

She stumbled back into a side table. A glass tumbled to the floor, shattering. Shards flew, cutting her arm and leg.

Stella let out a piercing shriek, her eyes welling with tears.

"Stella!" Landon dropped his luggage and rushed to her side.

"It's okay, Landon. As long as Ingrid feels better, it's fine. Please, don't blame her." A single tear traced a path down Stella's cheek.

Landon exploded.

"Ingrid! Stella and I have put up with you because you're pregnant, but can't you tolerate her for one second?" His face was dark with fury as he pointed at me, as if I were a hardened criminal.

"Landon, it's not her fault! It's mine. I shouldn't have come here, I shouldn't have disturbed you. It's all my fault. Please, don't blame Rory because of me," Stella whimpered, tugging on his sleeve, the perfect picture of a wronged, benevolent victim.

"Ingrid, I'm telling you, stop being so paranoid! If there was really something going on between Stella and me, do you think you'd still be here? What do you possibly have to offer?"

I listened to him in silence.

The old me would have already been apologizing, begging for forgiveness.

I had been a fool for eight years. Not anymore.

After a long, heavy silence, Landon's expression shifted from anger to suspicion. He was confused by my lack of reaction, my failure to immediately admit fault.

"I'm tired. I'm going to sleep."

I turned and walked back to the bedroom. No explanations, no tears.

Now that I knew the truth, I no longer had to fear losing him. I had never possessed him in the first place.

That night, Landon slipped into bed beside me, sliding his arm under my neck.

"Ingrid, be reasonable. Stop going after Stella. I've been so tired lately. But don't worry, I promised you a wedding, and I'll give you one. You'll be the most beautiful bride."

The most beautiful?

Maybe once.

Landon, I don't want anything from you anymore.

And I don't want to be your bride.

The next day, Landon drove Stella and me to a gathering with his friends. He thoughtfully put me in the back seat, saying it would be more comfortable. I stared out the window, my heart twisting as I listened to their flirtatious banter.

When we arrived, his friends started whispering, cooking up some scheme.

"Well, if it isn't Landon's wife number one and wife number two," one of them smirked, winking at Stella.

"Oh, stop it," Stella said, blushing prettily. "It's not like that between Landon and me. Besides, Rory is more than five months along. I could never compare."

"Alright, alright," Landon cut in, not because he found their words inappropriate, but because he was afraid I'd make a scene.

"Ingrid, sit here." He pulled out a chair for me, then one for Stella.

When the waiter came to pour wine, Landon stopped him. "Not for her. She's a lightweight. Even a little bit makes her feel sick."

I looked at the full glass of red wine in front of me, a bitter taste in my mouth. The same gesture, a world of different feelings.

After a few rounds of drinks, his friends suggested a game. Spin the bottle, and whoever it landed on had to do a dare.

The first spin landed on Stella.

The dare was to touch noses with a member of the opposite sex.

Her cheeks flushed as she looked at Landon. "Landon, is that okay?"

He glanced at me. Seeing no reaction, he nodded.

The catcalls grew louder. I grew calmer.

After the dare, Landon and Stella were visibly flustered and shy.

"You two have to get married, there's no other way this ends!" a friend shouted. "I always said you were a perfect match. I still remember all the stupid things Landon used to do for you, Stella."

Landon cleared his throat, and the friend fell silent.

He reached over and ruffled my hair. "Ingrid, don't mind them. They're just joking."

I forced a smile and shook my head.

He looked satisfied.

The bottle spun again. This time, it stopped in front of me.

"Hey, sister-in-law, how about you act like a clown for us? Its perfect casting, really. Your face after the allergic reaction just as ugly, just as pathetic as a clown."

The table erupted in laughter.

I turned to look at Landon.

He showed no sign of discomfort. He acted as if it were completely normal. And why wouldn't he? It wasn't the first time his friends had insulted me. I had played the fool for them so many times, just to fit into his world. Today, I finally woke up.

"Landon, what do you think?"

He looked at me, his patience wearing thin. "Ingrid, can you not make excuses? We're all here to have fun. Are you going to ruin it for everyone? No one means any harm. And it's not like this is the first time."

In his eyes, I must have seemed so unreasonable right now.

I stood up, poured the expensive red wine onto the table, and then smashed the bottle down in the center.

Everyone stared, their eyes wide with shock. Landon was frozen in his seat.

I strode towards the door.

He grabbed my wrist. "What is your problem? Can't you take a joke? Ingrid, I'm giving you a chance to apologize. Don't ruin everyone's fun."

I yanked my arm free and stared at him with cold eyes.

"Landon, I don't want to be with you anymore. I don't want to marry you. I'm done with you."

He burst out laughing. "Ingrid, are you trying to negotiate with me? What leverage do you have? You have nothing. You're pregnant and alone. You should be grateful I haven't dumped you yet."

I didn't answer. I just turned and walked away.

He followed me, blocking my path. "Fine, Ingrid. I was too harsh just now. We'll call it even. You don't have to apologize. But can you promise me you'll be more reasonable?"

He leaned in, resting his chin on my shoulder and wrapping his arms around me. He used to say this was the moment when their hearts were closest.

My arms hung limply at my sides.

Our hearts were miles apart, and they would never be close again.

"Ingrid, there's one more thing. I promised Stella I'd spend these last few days before the wedding with her in Paris. Think of it as compensation, from both of us. You stay home and take care of our baby. When I get back, we'll get married."

My heart no longer pounded for him. The overwhelming love I once felt had finally calmed.

When I didn't respond, he murmured, "Good girl." He kissed my forehead, and then he left.

I had told him I wanted to honeymoon in Paris. I wanted to walk through the city of romance with him, to attach a lock to a bridge, a symbol of our love.

That would never happen now. Landon, this time, I'm really done with you.

As soon as I got home, I started packing. I didn't take a single thing he had ever bought for me. They were all just things Stella didn't want. I packed a few changes of clothes.

As I closed the lid, I realized that my entire eight years with him couldn't even fill a small suitcase.

I left without a backward glance.

Just before I was wheeled into the operating room, I received a text from him, letting me know he was at the airport.

As the anesthesia flowed into my veins, he was taking Stella's hand and boarding a flight to the city of romance.

As the instruments entered my body, the tiny life inside me was extinguished.

Landon, this was the most painful lesson you ever taught me.

I woke from a dream to a night that had swallowed all the light.

I touched my stomach. It was empty. The little life was gone.

I opened my phone. The first thing I saw was Stella's social media post.

A picture of her and Landon holding hands in Paris, a small padlock engraved with their initials hanging from a bridge behind them.

After several days of recovery, my phone buzzed with two messages.

One was from Landon. The other was from my manager.

"Ingrid, that massive penalty fee you paid it all off in one go?"

"Ingrid, I'm coming home. How are you and the baby?"