Shattered: The Truth She Took to Her Grave
Liora · Completed · 6.0k Words
Introduction
I let him believe it. It was easier for him to hate me than to watch me decay.
A year later, he was on national television, his arm wrapped around a beautiful new starlet. When the host brought up our sudden breakup, Evan laughed coldly.
"I'd pay to see her face right now," he told the audience. "As long as she's living a pathetic life, I can finally move on."
The host didn't laugh. Instead, he stared at Evan with a heavy gaze.
"She hasn't been living a pathetic life, Evan. Actually, she sent us these recordings... before she died."
Chapter 1
My ex-boyfriend wrote a hit song about me. He told the whole world I dumped him for being poor, painting me as the heartless ex who took nothing but his dog when I left.
I let him believe it. It was easier for him to hate me than to watch me decay.
A year later, he was on national television, his arm wrapped around a beautiful new starlet. When the host brought up our sudden breakup, Evan laughed coldly.
"I'd pay to see her face right now," he told the audience. "As long as she's living a pathetic life, I can finally move on."
The host didn't laugh. Instead, he stared at Evan with a heavy gaze.
"She hasn't been living a pathetic life, Evan. Actually, she sent us these recordings... before she died."
"Before she died?"
Evan Mercer went still, his hand resting on Sabrina Hale's waist. Then he scoffed at the host.
"What is this? Some stunt for your show?"
The host shook his head. On the screen behind them, I appeared, smiling into a camera.
"Hi, everyone. I'm Nora Bennett, and I broke up with my boyfriend today."
I was sorting through wigs, my shaved head bare.
"Am I sad? About dumping a sweet, gorgeous guy who's going to be a star?"
I looked up at the lens.
"Nope. Now, him seeing me like this? That would be sad."
I laughed. The camera shook.
"Hey. What's going on? You're making me blurry."
In that first recording, I reached for my best friend Tessa Reed's hands and held them steady around the phone.
"I can't do this," Tess said. "I can't stop crying. I don't want to film anymore."
"Too bad. You promised to record every day I've got left."
"Can't I take it back?"
"No. Who else am I supposed to trust with my big exit?"
She kept crying. I caught the bottom of her shirt and gave it a little tug.
"Come on, Tess. You're all I've got."
That made it worse.
"I know," she said. "I know. I'll do it."
[Before She Goes — April 17, 2025, 10:11 AM — Take What's Yours]
After years away, I was heading back to my childhood home in rural Tennessee.
Tess followed with the phone while I led Scout, our big yellow dog, down the dirt path between the fields. She started laughing behind me.
"So that's why Evan Mercer put a song on his Instagram Story. You took Scout."
I looked back. "What song? I blocked him after we broke up."
"Take What's Yours."
We stared at each other. Then she played it.
"Take whatever you want.
I'll keep what's left.
Just leave me the dog.
Don't ask me why."
Tess laughed so hard she had to stop walking.
"He didn't ask for anything except the dog. And you left everything except the dog."
I started laughing, too. Scout waited while we leaned against each other on the path.
By the time we could walk again, neither of us was laughing.
[Before She Goes — April 17, 2025, 10:55 AM — Do dogs know when you're leaving?]
The old wooden door creaked open. I brushed the cobwebs out of the way.
"Evan and I hardly ever came back after we moved to Nashville for college," I told the camera. "We took Scout with us after Mom and Dad died. This is his first time home since then."
I took the phone from Tess and turned it around.
"Welcome to Nora Bennett's house-cleaning extravaganza."
Tess stood in an apron with a broom in her hand.
"I'm doing all the cleaning, Your Majesty."
"I'm sick. Be nice to me."
"We were still laughing when I tried to help fire up the old stove for lunch. I came out of the kitchen coughing, with smoke and soot on my face."
Tess took one look at me and snatched the spatula.
"I told you to stay out of there. You know you can't cook. Go sit down."
I laughed through another cough and did as I was told.
As soon as she went back into the kitchen, I set the phone against the table. I couldn't get enough air to keep smiling. My hands shook as I reached for the portable oxygen tank beside my chair.
After a few breaths, I looked into the camera again.
"Sorry. It's getting harder to breathe lately."
I coughed and waited for it to pass.
"But don't listen to her. I'm a great cook. Seriously."
"Time for another heroic attempt at lunch."
I picked up the phone, ready to go back into the kitchen.
Just then, Scout let out a low whine from the corner of the room.
He walked over and rested his heavy head on my knee.
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