My husband’s “girl bro” brought over a batch of her homemade granola bars. I saw the little green specks of mold in the oat clusters and immediately told my husband not to eat them. That just made his friend, Gina, roar with laughter. “God, you’re so high-strung. It’s a granola bar, not poison. Your husband’s eaten way worse. Hell, he’s practically licked my boots clean on a dare before.” I was so angry I threw the whole tray in the trash. Leo, my husband, thought I’d embarrassed him. He gave me a hard shove. I wasn’t ready for it. The back of my head hit the corner of the counter with a sickening crack. I felt a warm wetness and the world started to tilt. It was intracranial bleeding. Gina just stood over me, looking down her nose. She pursed her lips. “See? This is why I don’t hang with girls. You breathe on them wrong and they act like they’re dying. So dramatic.” And then, ignoring my wide, pleading eyes, she grabbed Leo’s hand and dragged him out for a night of bar-hopping. Because they didn’t call for help in time, I was left paralyzed. Eventually, I died. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on that same day. The day he got the moldy granola bars. This time, I pretended I didn’t see the mold at all. *** **1** “What are you staring at? It’s not every day I grace you mortals with my baking skills. The least you could do is gobble it down and thank me.” That was Gina, her voice a sharp prod in the quiet room. Leo’s ears went red, and he had a weird, flustered look on his face. Me? I was still in a daze, sitting there like a statue, my mind struggling to catch up. “Maya, you gonna stare a hole through it, or are you going to eat one? What, you think my cooking is beneath you?” I balled my fists in my lap, looking down to hide the hatred burning in my eyes. The silence got awkward. Leo finally spoke up to defend me. “Hey, lay off her. Maya’s been sick the last couple of days, just picking fights over nothing. It’s been driving me nuts.” Gina let out a sharp curse, then leaned in so close I could feel her breath on my face. “Wait, you guys haven’t been fighting about… me, have you?” she asked, a smirk playing on her lips. “We’re just bros. God, she’s so insecure. I can’t.” I shot up from the couch, tossed the granola bar I was holding onto the coffee table, and fled to the bathroom. The cold water felt like a shock against my skin. I looked in the mirror and pinched my cheek, hard. It hurt. A lot. It wasn't a dream. I was really back. And this time, I wouldn’t stop a single damn soul on their way to hell. **2** I splashed more cold water on my face, forcing myself to calm down. From the living room, I could hear Gina’s teasing voice. “Alright, spill it. What did your wifey get all worked up about this time? Tell your big sister Gina, I’ll teach you how to handle her.” Leo’s voice was muffled as he explained our fight from a few days ago. “I told her a million times, I only changed my profile pic to your photo because I lost a bet. She won’t believe me. You really screwed me over with that one.” Gina just howled with laughter. When I came out of the bathroom, she was sprawled all over him on the couch, her body pressed against his, no space between them. She didn’t move when she saw me. But Leo tensed up, pushing her away and quickly grabbing a throw pillow to cover his lap. He gave me a weak, forced smile. “Honey, you okay? What happened?” I shook my head. My eyes flicked to the now-empty plate on the table. “Did you eat all the granola bars?” I asked, as if I was just making conversation. Leo practically tripped over himself to explain. “Yeah, I had to. Gina’s such a tomboy, she hardly ever sets foot in a kitchen. I had to show some support, you know?” Gina’s lips curved into a smug grin as she shot me a challenging look. Then she slung an arm around Leo’s neck. “That’s right, buddy. You ate my food, now you owe me. We’re going out drinking tonight, and we’re not coming back ‘til sunrise.” She turned to me. “Sorry, Maya. It’s a bros-only night. No girlfriends allowed. Don’t take it personally.” “Oh,” I said. Then I asked, “So, are you a man or a woman?” Gina rolled her eyes with an exaggerated sigh, then stood up and literally dropped her pants for a second. Three seconds later, she pulled them back up with a smirk. “See? Happy now? I’m basically a dude who got born in the wrong body. None of the guys see me as a girl. If you’ve got a problem, just say it. Don’t play these passive-aggressive games.” I nodded. “You’re right. If there was anything between you two, you would’ve gotten together ages ago. There’d be no room for me.” The smile on Gina’s face froze. Leo looked like he was about to jump to her defense, but I beat him to it. “In that case, I’ve got nothing to worry about. You guys go have fun.” “Just don’t drink too much. And try to come home at a reasonable hour.” Gina shot me a massive eye-roll and yanked Leo towards the door by his collar. **3** I watched them leave. The second the door clicked shut, I bolted to the kitchen, grabbed the biggest knife I could find, and started hacking away at everything in the fridge. I didn’t stop until I was panting, exhausted, and collapsed on the floor. Lying there, staring at the ceiling, I finally felt a moment of release. I bit my lip, silent tears streaming down my face. The last time. The last time, I was lying just like this, my body numb. My consciousness faded in and out as I desperately tried to move, to call for help. But it wasn’t until the next afternoon, after he’d sobered up, that Leo came home and finally took me to the hospital. It was too late. The doctor’s words echoed in my memory: “The intracranial bleeding is extensive and has affected critical areas of the brain. It’s highly likely she’ll have severe conscious impairment. The family needs to prepare for the worst.” Even though my eyes were closed, I was aware. I heard everything. I heard Leo’s broken sobs. I felt him collapse next to my bed, whispering his apologies. “I’m so sorry, honey, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have done that. Please, wake up. If you just wake up, I’ll never make you angry again.” But as the days turned into weeks, the doctor’s tone changed. “Your wife has likely entered a persistent vegetative state. The chances of her waking up are now significantly lower. If she doesn’t regain consciousness within a month, the prognosis is very poor. You need to be prepared.” This time, Leo seemed to accept the news much faster. That very night, I heard Gina’s voice by my bedside. “Dude, are you really gonna waste your life on her? Think about it. You’ll be her free nurse, wiping her ass, changing her diapers. You won’t be able to hang out with me anymore.” Leo’s laugh was bitter. “We owe her this. I’ll be the one to pay the price.” “What do you mean, *we* owe her?” Gina snapped. “If you ask me, she’d be better off dead. It’d be a relief. If you’re gonna blame me for this, fine. I’ll leave. I’ll get out of your life right now.” I heard her angry footsteps stomp away, then stop. A moment later, someone yanked the privacy curtain around my bed. And then, I heard the sound of their tangled breaths, their soft murmurs, right next to my ear. My heart shattered. **4** During the four years I was a vegetable, Leo and Gina were constantly intimate by my bedside. After being heartbroken countless times, I just went numb. When I heard them discussing stopping my life support, planning to announce their engagement to our friends, the numbness turned to hate. I wanted, more than anything, to wake up and tear their smiling faces to shreds, to make them pay. But the reality was, I was trapped. I couldn’t live, and I couldn’t die. Not until Gina got pregnant. That’s when Leo finally made his decision. In the middle of the night, he quietly pressed a pillow over my face… **5** Once I got some strength back, I sat down on the couch. I checked the date on my phone: 2021. I suddenly remembered something from my time in the hospital bed. I’d overheard a news report on another patient’s radio: “Breaking news, gold prices have hit another record high, now topping over $2,000 an ounce…” The people in the room started talking about it. One woman’s voice was particularly smug. “I got my wedding jewelry back in ‘21. Back then, it was only about $1,700 an ounce. The price has skyrocketed. I’m almost tempted to sell my gold bracelet.” I looked down at the date again. It *was* 2021. Forgetting all about the two scumbags partying at some bar, I felt a surge of excitement for the future. I immediately bought a bus ticket to the city, packed two changes of clothes, and left. In the city’s jewelry district, I spent every cent I had on gold. I didn’t even have enough left for a ticket back. As I was standing on the street corner, wondering what to do next, my phone rang. It was Gina. “Hey. Your husband is wasted. You need to get back here and take care of him.” Her voice was slurred. “It’s so weird, he didn’t even drink that much last night, but he just puked all over me. I’m not gonna bother going home, so I’m just gonna take a shower at your place. And don’t get your panties in a twist. I’ll borrow one of your T-shirts, but I’m not interested in your husband’s fifteen-minute performance.” “Gina, you shut your damn mouth or I’ll show you what a performance really looks like!” Leo’s voice, angry and loud, suddenly cut in. But before he could say more, the line went dead. I smiled to myself. Gee, I wonder. Was he sick from the booze… or from food poisoning? Suddenly, I wasn’t in any hurry to go back. I’d stay away for a while. If I saw their disgusting faces right now, I was afraid I’d grab a knife and ruin my own future. I put my phone away, hoisted the heavy black backpack onto my shoulders, and walked towards a cheap motel down the street. **6** The city had a lot of warehouses that were always hiring temps during the busy season. I found a job with daily pay pretty quickly. After my first shift on the assembly line, I checked my phone. Dozens of missed calls and texts. [Honey, why aren’t you back yet?] [Where did you go?] [I miss you, come home.] [Babe, my stomach really hurts. Where’s that medicine you bought for me last time?] Before I could even finish reading, Leo called again. “Honey, when are you coming home? I feel awful. I think I’m gonna throw up again.” His voice was weak. Weak from being sick, or weak from guilt? Who knew. I sent him my location. “I went out for a bit, but I lost my wallet and my phone. I’m stuck out of town and can’t get back.” I could hear him take a sharp breath. Then he exploded. “Maya, are you an idiot? How do you lose something that important? Did you lose your brain, too? Just taking off like that without a word, who are you trying to scare?” I held the phone away from my ear. When I hung up, I blocked his number. I gave it a day. The next evening, after getting paid and treating myself to some decent takeout, I got a call from an unknown number. It was him. “Honey, can you please stop this?” His voice was pleading. “I feel really, really sick. Please, I’m begging you, just come home.” I took a slow bite of my food. “Isn’t Gina there to take care of you?” I asked innocently. “You guys are best friends, after all.” “Is that what this is about? Her? I told you, we’re just friends! You’re my wife! I paid for that whole damn wedding, shouldn’t you be the one taking care of me?” He was losing his patience. “I’m giving you 12 hours to show up here. Or else…” He hung up, trying to sound tough. I felt nothing. I finished my dinner and went back to my room for a good night’s sleep. On the third day, I handed in my phone at the start of my shift and got back to work. When I got paid for the three days, I realized I had enough to buy another gram of gold. But I resisted the urge. Instead, I bought a bus ticket home. **7** After a few hours on a bus with rock-hard seats, I was home. I pushed open the bedroom door. Leo was still in bed. And as I got closer, I saw there was someone else in there with him. I took out my phone, snapped a quick picture of the two of them, and posted it to my social media. Caption: [So grateful to Gina for taking such good care of my husband while I was gone these past three days. You’re a true friend ?.] No one liked the post. I took the groceries I’d bought on the way home and went to the kitchen. I was on the second dish when Gina wandered in, drawn by the sounds of cooking. “Whoa, look who’s back. Leo was about to lose his mind looking for you. That whole ‘running away from home’ trick was pretty good. Which novel did you get that from?” I kept my eyes on the sizzling beef in the pan and smiled sweetly. “It’s fine. Leo loves my cooking. Once he eats, he’ll probably forget he was ever mad.” I turned my head just in time to see the thoughtful, calculating look on her face. **8** When the food was on the table, Leo finally got out of bed. He was clutching his stomach, glaring at me from across the room. “What are you even doing back here?” I went to the medicine cabinet and got him an ibuprofen. He took it, and a few minutes later, the tense lines on his forehead started to relax. “You always know what to do,” he said, his tone softening. “Alright, I’ll let it slide this time. But if you ever pull a stunt like that again, I won’t forgive you so easily.” I smiled, my eyes flicking over to Gina. I put a piece of beef on Leo’s plate. “I’m sorry,” I said softly. “I was just so angry that day. Here, try some of your favorite cilantro beef.” Now that his stomach felt better, Leo dug in with gusto. This, apparently, was too much for Gina to watch. She suddenly made a series of loud spitting noises, hacking up a piece of chewed beef onto the table. “Dude, I’m not trying to be a bitch, but you could do better. I could make something better than this with my feet.” An awkward expression flashed across Leo’s face. He shook his head at me and pointed to his own temple, mouthing the word “crazy.” I just smiled at him. Gina saw our silent exchange and it was the last straw. She flew into a rage and tried to flip the dining room table. But the table was solid wood and didn’t budge. Flushed with embarrassment, she stormed towards the door. “Fine, fine! You both think I’m crazy, right? I’ll go! I’ll disappear! Is that what you want?” The words sounded familiar. I turned and saw my husband rush after her, grabbing her hand. A sharp pain stabbed me in the chest. I remembered now. This little act—playing the victim, turning the tables, leaving in a huff only to be begged to stay—was the exact move that had sealed their “special friendship” the last time around. Calling it a friendship, while doing things that screamed affair. Kissing by the bedside of his comatose wife. The irony was sickening. **9** By the time I tuned back in, Leo had already dragged Gina back to her seat. After a barrage of soothing words from him, she lifted her chin again, arrogant as ever. “Look, I’m not bragging, but your wife’s cooking is average at best. This weekend is your birthday. I’ll cook for you. Then you’ll see what real food tastes like.” Leo laughed and agreed immediately. Gina looked at me triumphantly. “In that case, we’ll just have the party at my place. Maya, you can come over early and be my assistant.” I shook my head. “No, that’s okay. You guys should just celebrate. I’d just be a third wheel.” Gina clicked her tongue, her tone aggressive. “You can just leave after you’re done helping in the kitchen. Don’t you even care about your own husband’s birthday? Seriously, what did my boy ever see in you?” I lowered my eyes. Under the table, my thumb ran over the new gold beads on my bracelet. After a moment, I decided to fully support their get-together. In fact, I wanted as many people as possible to witness their very special… friendship. **10** After Gina left, I texted her a long list of dishes I knew Leo liked. She replied with a sticker that said, “Women are so extra.” On the day of the party, Leo got all dressed up. He used gel in his hair, put on a crisp white shirt, and even used some breath spray. Before he left, he asked me one more time. “Are you sure you don’t want to come? They got a two-layer cake. I thought you loved the frosting.” I shook my head again. “It’s just going to be a bunch of guys. I don’t really have anything to talk about with them.” Leo smiled and nodded. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” He was already halfway out the door. “I wonder what Gina got me this year. She said it’s something I’m gonna love. She’s so confident.” “Anyway, I’m heading out. I’ll send you a video later so you can see her amazing cooking.” He turned and walked, almost bouncing, into the dim hallway. About two hours later, he sent me a video. The sound was deafening. Gina, wearing a sheer purple top, had her face smeared with cake frosting. She was laughing and swearing at the camera. “You sons of bitches! It took me two hours to do my makeup and you ruined it before I could even get a selfie! Now you all have to lick it off!” For Gina’s punishments, her “bros” were always eager to comply. I switched over to my social media feed and kept refreshing. Sure enough, another one of Leo’s close friends had just posted a new video. In this one, Gina was leaning back on the couch, swearing a blue streak, her arms crossed over her chest, which pushed up her cleavage. Leo, as the birthday boy, was being teased mercilessly by his friends, his face flushed red. At the end of the video, only a thin layer of frosting was left on Gina’s face. She glared at the camera. “Are you guys trying to kill me? If you’ve got so much energy, why don’t you go have a stamina contest with Leo?” The guys around her whooped and hollered. “How do we do that? You gonna test us all out?” “Damn, Gina! You’re not playing fair! You didn’t get us a gift this big on our birthdays!” “Gina’s a legend! Look at Leo, he’s about to explode! Hahahaha!” “Dude, you guys better chill. Leo’s a married man. Maya would freak if she saw this.” The group of friends just laughed and used the chaos as an excuse to grope at Gina. I saved the video and watched it a few times. I paused it at the 0:56 mark and zoomed in on the food on the table. A cold cucumber salad, cilantro beef, BBQ chicken wings, braised ribs, and a pork rib soup. Everything looked… fine. Totally average. A slow smile spread across my face. I called Leo immediately. “Wow, Gina’s cooking actually looks pretty good. You should eat a lot. Don’t let your best friend’s hard work go to waste.” It took him a few minutes to answer. He mumbled a few words and hung up in less than ten seconds. **11** The next morning, I was making coffee when the girlfriend of one of Leo’s friends suddenly contacted me. “Hey, Maya? It’s Megan. Is my boyfriend, Kevin, still at your place?” I paused for a second. “No, he’s not here. They had the birthday party at Gina’s place last night. My husband, Leo, isn’t home yet either.” “That damn Gina again!” Megan sounded furious. “Kevin told me he was going to your house! Of course he went to see *her*. A dog will always go back to its own vomit.” I thought for a moment, then added her as a contact. I sent her the video from the party last night. A few minutes later, Megan added me to a group chat. A few other people joined after me. When there were six of us in the chat, Megan forwarded the two videos and tagged everyone. [@all Who’s free to go bust some cheaters with me right now?] The message was immediately met with a few question marks. But then two other women quickly agreed. Megan dropped Gina’s address in the chat and told everyone to meet at the apartment complex gate in an hour. Something this good? Of course I wasn’t going to miss it. **12** An hour later, I met Megan in person. She had a sharp black bob, a simple black t-shirt, and tight jeans. When she saw me pull up, her eyes narrowed. “You here for Gina?” I nodded. “I’m Maya. Leo’s my husband.” The suspicion in Megan’s eyes faded, and she immediately launched into a rant about Gina. “Remember that stupid ‘three best friends’ challenge on TikTok? She posted a video and tagged my boyfriend and a bunch of other guys, talking about how her ‘bros’ are closer than family. How they all slept crammed into one room for six months when they were broke. How it’s been ten years, and even though they all have girlfriends or are married, she just has to say the word and they’ll all come running.” Megan let out a bitter laugh. “And I was the idiot who didn’t see the massive red flag waving in my face.” She looked at me with a sort of pity in her eyes. “I’m going up there and dumping Kevin’s ass. What about you, Maya?” I managed a weak, sad smile. “I haven’t decided yet. I’ll see how it goes.” Megan looked like she wanted to say something else, opening her mouth a few times, but then she just shook her head. She was probably going to tell me to get a divorce. But divorce means paperwork. A waiting period. It’s so much trouble. And besides, there might be a better way. **13** Once the other two women arrived, our little group went up and started knocking on Gina’s door. No one answered. Finally, Megan found a spare key under the doormat and we let ourselves in. The second we opened the door, we were hit with a wall of stale smoke and booze. Three or four guys were passed out on the floor and couches in the living room. Megan walked over to her boyfriend and stared down at him like he was something she’d scraped off her shoe. “Kevin. Are you dead? Get your ass up. Now.” The other women went to find their own boyfriends, their faces grim. I didn’t see Leo in the living room. I was about to check the master bedroom when someone behind me let out a piercing scream. “Ah!” I spun around. One of the women, the one in a yellow jacket, was clutching Megan in terror. Megan looked completely bewildered. “What? What’s wrong?” The woman in yellow was shaking uncontrollably. “He’s… he’s dead.”
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