On my twenty-second birthday, my childhood sweetheart boyfriend and my best friend presented me with an award. The title printed in bold letters read: "Best Doormat of the Year." The citation underneath expressed heartfelt gratitude for writing both of their senior capstone theses, acting as their human mouthpiece whenever they fought, and finishing whatever leftovers they didn’t feel like eating. The room erupted into hysterical laughter. Guests clapped, agreeing that the title couldn't be more deserved. Luther handed me the framed certificate, his hands shaking with laughter. "Lara, keep up the good work." Chaya, standing beside him, eagerly high-fived him in celebration. "I told you she’d accept it without complaining! You owe me fifty bucks, Luther." Luther glanced at me, his eyes gleaming with playful mockery. "Seriously, Lara, how did you turn into such a spineless turtle? You say yes to literally everything." I looked down at the certificate in my hands. Where my name was supposed to be written, someone had drawn a cartoon turtle retreating into its shell. The deafening waves of chuckles and whispers echoed off the venue walls. I pulled my lips into a slow, faint smile—and tore the framed certificate into shreds in front of everyone. "I'm not a turtle," I said, my voice cutting through the noise. "I'm a rabbit. And even a rabbit bites when it’s backed into a corner." ... A collective gasp echoed across the room. Luther stared at the paper fragments scattered over the floor, his brows pulling into a tight, dark line. "Lara, you’re taking this way too far." "Chaya spent hours coming up with that gag. Do you even know the meaning of the word respect?" Behind him, Chaya shrank back, her lower lip trembling as she put on her best victim facade. "Lara... I genuinely thought you’d find it funny," she whimpered. "Whenever we ask you to run errands for us, you always look so happy doing it. Why are you suddenly acting like this?" The way she described me didn't sound like she was talking about a friend. It sounded like she was talking about a stray dog trained to fetch. Several mutual friends stepped between us, trying to smooth things over and warning Luther not to ruin my birthday. Luther let out a harsh snort. "What kind of friend can't take a harmless joke?" He looked at me with a face full of bitter disappointment. "I fell for you in the first place because you were easygoing and open-minded. When did you become so petty?" With just a few casual words, he dumped the entire blame on my shoulders. I pressed my lips together, meeting his gaze head-on. In his eyes, I couldn't spot a single trace of remorse. My hands clenched into tight fists at my sides as past memories resurfaced with sharp, jagged edges. "A harmless joke?" I asked, my voice dangerously steady. "So when you two had that massive cold war and forced me to run back and forth playing messenger all night, was that a joke too?" "You both knew perfectly well that my final thesis defense was scheduled for the very next morning. Yet you kept me awake until dawn, airing out your petty drama." Because of that night, I had walked into my defense running on pure exhaustion. The committee tore my presentation apart, and I was publicly humiliated. They almost delayed my graduation. Meanwhile, Luther and Chaya patched things up by lunchtime, leaving me to pick up the broken pieces of my academic life alone. Luther crossed his arms, looking completely unbothered. "You’re our best friend, Lara. Friends help each other out. That’s what friendship is." He let out a long sigh, taking a step forward and reaching out to grab my wrist. "Besides, you’re my girlfriend. If you were unhappy, you could have just said so. You chose to bottle it inside." I stepped back, dodging his touch cold and clean. Talk to Luther about my feelings? From the day we started dating, he and Chaya had used me as a dumping ground for every toxic emotion they had. Whenever they felt off, I was expected to listen, soothe, and solve. But on the rare occasions I felt overwhelmed and needed a shoulder to lean on, they stepped back and watched from the sidelines, claiming they were helping me build "emotional resilience." Seeing me shrink away from his touch, Luther’s face darkened for a fraction of a second before he smoothed his expression back over. "Fine," he said, forcing his voice into a gentle, coaxing cadence. "Maybe giving you that certificate as a gift wasn't the smartest move today. If you're mad, be mad at me. Don't take it out on Chaya. Her intentions were good." Chaya nodded, her eyes rimmed with red. "Lara, I really didn't realize you were carrying so much stress. I promise I won't trouble you as much in the future." Luther patted her shoulder gently. "Hey, if you need anything in the future, you can always trouble me. I’d love to be useful." His eyes flicked toward me, waiting for a reaction. "If anyone wants the job," I said quietly, "they're welcome to it. I'm done." The air in the room froze solid. Fortunately, a waiter chose that exact moment to push a cart with the birthday cake into the room, breaking the agonizing silence. "Come on, Lara," someone chimed in quickly. "Don't overthink it. Let's light the candles so you can make a wish!" Seeing the cake, Luther’s eyes brightened, eager to sweep the awkward tension under the rug. But as the waiter uncovered the cake, his smile stiffened. It was a matcha cake—a deep, vibrant green, identical to the color of a turtle shell. Chaya let out a soft sob. "I'm so sorry, Lara... I only remembered that matcha was your favorite flavor." She and Luther watched me nervously, terrified I might blow up again. When I remained entirely calm, Luther let out a visible sigh of relief. He quickly stepped in to insert the candles and light them up. The lights went down. Soft golden flames danced in everyone’s pupils. Luther carefully took my hand, pulling me closer to the cake. "Make a wish, Lara." I clasped my hands together and closed my eyes in quiet reverence. In that brief, dark second, my mind drifted back to a conversation I’d had with my academic advisor earlier that week. She had mentioned an opening in a rural public service teaching program located deep in an isolated, impoverished mountain town in Appalachia. My safety net was already set. Naturally, my wish took shape. "I wish for a clean, permanent breakup from Luther." I opened my eyes and blew out every single candle in one long breath. "What did you wish for, Lara?" Luther asked the moment the overhead lights clicked back on. He leaned in close, his face filled with sudden urgency. "Tell me. As long as it's within my power, I'll make it come true." The crowd broke into playful teasing, mocking him for suddenly remembering how to play the devoted boyfriend. Luther chuckled, wrapping an arm around my waist. "How could I ever let go of a girlfriend this wonderful? If I lost her, I wouldn't even know how to run my own life." I dropped my gaze, making a quiet, cold calculation in my mind. He didn't need a girlfriend. He needed a live-in maid. Chaya suddenly squeezed herself next to me, grabbing my forearm with a needy tug. "Lara, I’m so jealous. You’re so lucky to have a guy like Luther." She sighed, pouting slightly. "Honestly, I feel like I'm the real doormat here—just an extra wheel tagging along with you two." A wave of nausea hit me so fast I almost yanked my arm away in disgust. Luther overheard her whining and waved his hand dismissively. "You're no extra wheel, Chaya. Since I lost that bet earlier, here’s your prize. I was planning to give it to you anyway." Chaya’s eyes lit up. She stared at him intently as he reached into his jacket pocket. When he pulled out the object, my heart climbed straight up into my throat. It was another award certificate. Luther cleared his throat, reading aloud in a booming voice while the rest of the room exchanged subtle, uncomfortable glances. "Congratulations to Chaya, officially voted Girlfriend of the Year!" The words felt like a serrated blade tearing through my chest, leaving a cold, hollow ache. Chaya hesitated, deliberately holding back from taking the paper. "Luther, this isn't right... Your actual girlfriend is standing right here." Luther offered a relaxed, effortless smile. "She already has the best boyfriend in the world. She doesn't need a paper certificate to prove her worth. Besides, if she were the type to get jealous over something like this, she wouldn't qualify as a good girlfriend anyway." Every pair of eyes in the room shifted to me, waiting in breathless anticipation. Nobody stood up for me. They were all just waiting to see how much humiliation I was willing to swallow. I leaned forward, took the certificate from Luther's hands, and placed it gently in Chaya's grip. "Congratulations," I said, my expression entirely peaceful. Chaya clutched the paper to her chest as if it were made of solid gold. "Thank you for understanding, Lara. I’ll keep this forever. I’d never ruin someone else’s hard work." At those words, several guests cast lingering looks at the torn paper scraps still resting on the floor near my feet, their eyes glinting with quiet amusement. I was famous on campus for my endless patience. Everyone wanted to test where my breaking point was. During the second half of the party, someone suggested a game of Truth or Dare. Chaya was picked in the very first round. "Dare!" she announced proudly. Her challenge was to princess-carry one of the guys present. She turned to me immediately, her face swimming with fake apology. "Lara, I'm so sorry... Luther is the only guy here I'm actually comfortable with. Can I borrow your boyfriend for a second? I'll give him right back!" Luther agreed instantly, looking entirely unbothered. "Lara’s naturally generous. She’s helped us out so many times—she won't mind a small thing like this." I watched in silence as they attempted the dare. Chaya couldn't lift Luther's weight, so the dare flipped: Luther picked Chaya up instead, cradling her snugly in his arms. His warm breath brushed across Chaya’s cheek as he lifted her, and the tips of her ears flushed a deep, crimson red. I offered a faint smile, my heart completely still. Luther was right. I "was" generous. Generous enough that once my boyfriend was borrowed, I had no intention of ever asking for him back. A few rounds passed before the bottle finally pointed at me. "Truth," I said calmly. The room fell quiet. Nobody dared to ask the birthday girl anything too risky. Luther quickly intervened, suggesting that everyone write down a question on a slip of paper so I could draw one at random. A pile of folded paper slips quickly accumulated in front of me. I reached out and picked one from the top. Unfolding it, I read the text: "Do you ever feel like a complete third wheel when you're around Luther and Chaya?" The room plunged into silence, followed by a sudden ripple of nervous whispers. Luther bolted up from his seat. "Who wrote this? What a stupid, immature question! Lara, don't answer that. Let's just move to the next round." Watching his righteous indignation, I smiled faintly and dropped the paper slip into the ash tray. "I can't answer this," I said quietly. "I'll take the penalty drink instead." A flicker of relief slipped across Luther's eyes before he could catch himself. I turned away from him, pouring myself a full glass of bitter draft beer. Did Luther really believe I wouldn't recognize his left-handed handwriting? Back in high school, in order to help him finish his late homework assignments, I had spent months imitating his left-handed script until even he couldn't tell our penmanship apart. The birthday party ended on a sour note. Before leaving, Luther drank heavily, getting himself completely plastered. He stumbled toward me, leaning in for a drunken hug, but I stepped aside swiftly, letting him stagger past. "Lara..." he slurred, catching himself against the table. "I promise I'll make it up to you with a real birthday present... something you'll actually love..." Chaya stepped in, wrapping an arm around his waist to steady him. "Lara, I know how much you hate the smell of alcohol. I'll take Luther home tonight." I watched the two of them climb into a cab together, then turned to walk back to my rented apartment alone. The night sky was deep and suffocating. As I walked, memories flooded back unbidden. In our three-way friendship, I had always been the one giving everything away. I was the one who planned every detail of our road trips, the one holding the camera for their photos, the one carrying their bags while shopping. Luther used to comfort me by saying they simply couldn't function without me, that my usefulness was proof of how deeply they loved me. I had believed him. I had believed him right up until today. Now, the veil had been torn away. All his past tenderness was nothing more than an efficient way to squeeze every last drop of labor out of a willing doormat. The cold night air hit my face, making me shiver. Pulling out my phone with trembling fingers, I opened my email app and formally submitted my application for the Appalachian volunteer teaching placement. The confirmation email stated that processing would take one business day. I lowered my phone and jogged the rest of the way back to my apartment. I stepped inside and looked around. Framed photos of Luther and me covered almost every surface. Taking a deep breath, I pulled out storage boxes and systematically packed away every single item that had anything to do with him. There was only one object I couldn't bring myself to throw away. I held a smooth, icy jade pendant in my palm, staring at it in a quiet daze. Luther had given me this pendant when he confessed his feelings to me after high school graduation. He told me that before his mother passed away, she had handed it to him with a strict instruction: it could only be given to the woman he intended to spend the rest of his life with. Back then, Luther had looked into my eyes and whispered that he couldn't imagine giving it to anyone else. I closed my eyes, deciding that I would hand it back to him before I left the city for good. I didn't expect him to show up at my doorstep early the next morning. He stood in the hallway, looking down at his shoes, his voice low and subdued. "Lara... about the certificate thing at your party yesterday... just forget it, okay? I was out of my head. I promised I'd get you a proper birthday gift, and I will—something completely unique." I shook my head gently, signaling that it didn't matter, but I kept my body firmly blocking the doorway so he couldn't step inside. His gaze flicked down to the jade pendant tucked in my hand, and his posture shifted instantly. "Actually, I came over because I need to ask you something. Can you give that pendant back to me for a bit?" "Chaya's grandmother fell ill recently, and her medical bills are piling up. I was thinking I could sell or pawn the pendant to help her family out." He looked up at me, his eyes entirely calm. "You're Chaya's best friend, Lara. I know you want to help her." I looked into his eyes, struck by how effortless it was for him to care about someone else. When my own parents were involved in a severe car accident two years ago and I was short a thousand dollars for their emergency surgery, I had literally dropped to my knees to beg Luther for a loan. He had refused, claiming Chaya had a severe case of the flu and needed emergency funds for her clinic visits instead. In the end, I had to take out a high-interest payday loan to cover my parents' hospital bill, working two part-time jobs night and day for a full year to pay off the debt. A bitter, quiet smile touched my lips. Luther’s favoritism had always been glaringly obvious. I had just chosen to be blind. I tossed the pendant toward him. He caught it instinctively. "If you don't have anything else to say," I said, my voice flat, "you should go." At least it saved me the trip of returning it to him myself. The moment the pendant landed in Luther's palm, the worried, subdued look vanished from his face, replaced by a triumphant, mocking grin. "Lara, why are you always so obedient?" he chuckled, tossing the stone in his palm. "I ask for something, and you just hand it over. You really can't blame me for calling you a turtle." He turned toward the stairwell and called out, "Chaya! You can come out now! You won the bet again!" Chaya came bouncing out from around the corner, her eyes curved into cheerful crescents. "Thanks for playing along, Lara! You made me win another fifty bucks!" She giggled, leaning against Luther's arm. "Luther said you treated this pendant like your own life, but look at you—you handed it over without even asking a single question." I stared at the two of them standing side by side in the dim hallway, a cold numbness creeping from my fingers straight to my heart. It had been another setup. A bet. From beginning to end, I was nothing more than a clown performing for their entertainment. Luther weighed the pendant in his hand, then casually thrust it back into my palm. "A bet's a bet. I have to take Chaya out for a high-end dinner now," he said lightly. "Hold onto this stone, Lara. But if you hand it over so easily next time I make up an excuse, I might not give it back." I watched their retreating backs as they walked down the stairs, laughing together. Once they vanished from sight, I turned around and tossed the jade pendant into the trash bin by the door. "There won't be a next time, Luther." That afternoon, I received an email from my academic advisor. My application for the Appalachian teaching program had been officially approved. Because my application was submitted late, I was required to board a transport van heading for the rural mountain site in three days. Three days. In three days, Luther, you and I will never cross paths again. Three days passed in a blur. Luther was buzzing with energy, preparing a grand gesture to surprise Lara. He knew he had pushed things too far at her birthday party, so he had spent the last three days meticulously planning a graduation trip for just the two of them. Lara was always complaining that she was the only one who ever made travel itineraries. This time, Luther had handled every hotel reservation, route, and activity himself, ensuring she wouldn't have to worry about a single detail. He even made a mental note to carry all the heavy luggage himself throughout the trip. With a setup like this, he was certain Lara would be moved to tears. After all, Lara had always been an easy woman to coax. Still, a strange melancholy hovered over him when he realized how few words Lara had spoken to him over the last three days. He shook his head, pushing the creeping unease out of his mind. From the very first day they got together, he had always known that he wasn't the one dependent on Lara. Lara was the one who couldn't survive without him. Just as he was double-checking their flight details, his phone rang. It was Chaya. "Luther! Come down to the shopping district right now and help me carry my bags!" Chaya was panting into the receiver. "I bought a mountain of clothes, and my arms are falling off!" Luther knit his brows, annoyed. "Why are you calling me? Call Lara! You know she’ll run right over to play pack mule for you." At the mention of Lara’s name, Chaya’s voice dropped an octave, turning ice-cold. "She blocked my number. I can't reach her at all." Luther froze in place. The subtle anxiety that had been brewing inside his chest over the past few days suddenly expanded, clawing at his heart. A rush of heat surged into his cheeks. "I've clearly been spoiling her too much lately. She actually dared to block her best friend?" "Hold on," Luther snapped into the phone. "I'll text her right now. Let's see if she has the nerve to block me." He pulled up his messaging app and typed out a text. "Message failed to send. You have been blocked by this user." He tried dialing her number directly. The call went straight to a dead, automated tone. A cold, unfamiliar panic seized Luther by the throat. Without wasting another second, he grabbed his keys, picked up Chaya, and rushed straight to Lara’s rented apartment. When they arrived, the front door was wide open, but Lara was nowhere to be seen. Only an elderly landlady was inside, sweeping the bare floorboards. Sweat broke out across Luther's forehead. "Where's the girl who lives here?" The landlady paused, giving them a slow, unimpressed look. "You looking for the young lady?" "She broke her lease and cleared out early this morning."
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