The broke boyfriend I walked away from years ago—Evan Cross—had somehow climbed his way to the top of the tech world.
Now he was a billionaire founder, sitting under studio lights during a prime-time financial interview, calm and composed, the kind of man people listened to with admiration.
Near the end of the program, the host smiled and asked, "Mr. Cross, before we wrap up—who would you say you're most grateful to for your success?"
Evan didn't hesitate.
"My ex-girlfriend," he said evenly. "Her leaving taught me that money is the most important thing in life."
The moment those words aired, the internet detonated.
Within minutes, my name was trending.
People dug up everything they could find—old photos, forgotten posts, scraps of my life I hadn't meant for anyone to see. Someone hacked my private X account and projected it onto a massive live screen behind the studio audience.
Post after post flashed by.
Links to discount bread—ten loaves for a few dollars.
Tips on how to sample free food at supermarkets without getting noticed.
The exact time bakeries threw out unsold pastries at night.
Which trash bins were clean. Which ones weren't.
There was even a shaky video of me walking down the street, phone in one hand, food in the other.
"These are still good," I'd said casually into the camera. "Something this small usually costs forty bucks, but honestly? It tastes just like those cheap sponge cakes."
Back in the studio, Evan watched the footage with a faint, contemptuous smile.
"You left me," he said coolly, "just to live like this?"
The audience burst into laughter.
"If Maya Reed hadn't dumped Evan Cross back then, she'd be having afternoon tea at Bulgari right now."
"She must regret it so badly. Honestly, she deserves it for being so short-sighted."
The host leaned in, voice sharp with curiosity. "How did you feel, seeing your ex end up like this?"
Evan pulled Lena Hart, the actress beside him, closer. Cameras zoomed in as he answered flatly, "She brought it on herself."
The fans screamed.
"Power couple! Billionaire CEO and national sweetheart!"
"This is just like a novel—Evan and Lena are the protagonists, and Maya is the villain who ruined everything and met a miserable end!"
They weren't wrong.
I did die miserably.
A slow, lonely, humiliating death.
But the truth was, I never did anything evil.
In my twenty-five years of life, the worst thing I ever did was leave Evan when he had nothing.
And I hadn't wanted to.
I just couldn't afford to drag him down with me.
Then, suddenly, the screen behind them refreshed.
My Slogram account updated again.
[Ten Goodbyes Before the Final Curtain]
The studio erupted in laughter.
"She's such a drama queen."
"Is she pretending to attempt suicide now? Pathetic."
The interview was live. Everyone assumed I was watching, trying to claw back a shred of dignity with theatrics.
They didn't know.
I was already dead.
The post had been uploaded by my best friend, Rachel Vaughn.
And today—of all days—was my birthday.