After my husband's army buddy, Mike, died, our family really took care of his widow, Sarah.

I thought it was the right thing to do.

Then I found a locked diary at home.

That's when I realized Sarah was Tom's high school crush.

During the earthquake, he didn't hesitate to ditch me and go rescue her.

While I was fighting for my life, the whole internet was singing about their undying love.

I bent over backward for him for decades.

But right then and there, I was done.

...

I called Tom forty-eight times.

Nothing.

When I woke up, I was in a Red Cross tent.

If it hadn't been for that earthquake, I probably never would have known that, after thirty years, I still hadn't warmed up Tom Parker's heart.

I calmly grabbed my phone and texted him.

I had held onto hope.

But now I saw everything clearly.

Divorce was the only option.

After the quake and radio silence, my wonderful husband finally called back.

It was right after he got my divorce text.

I answered, and Tom's annoyed voice came through the speaker.

"I told you to listen to the community organizers and rest! I'll come home and check on you as soon as I can."

I didn't say a word.

He actually tried to explain, "You know Sarah's got a bad ticker. Any shock could send her into cardiac arrest. This earthquake came out of nowhere, and we don't know if there will be aftershocks. If she got sick and there was nobody to keep an eye on her, she could die! Lisa, you're not that cold, right?"

I said quietly, "Okay. So, whenever you have a minute, come home. Let's file for divorce and get this over with."

I hung up.

Leaving the tent, I saw a steady stream of orange-vested rescue workers and white-coated medics.

I did as I was told and picked up supplies.

My phone kept buzzing in my pocket.

I bit my lip and blocked Tom's number.

When he couldn't call, he sent a bunch of texts.

"There's nothing going on between Sarah and me. You know Mike sacrificed himself to save me. He left behind Sarah, his widow. We gotta help when we can."

"We've been married for a long time. Don't start a fight over this. It's embarrassing."

"Wait for me. I'll take care of things here and come back soon, okay?"

I didn't reply.

When the community center offered to move me to a better safety zone, I turned it down.

But as the sun went down, Tom was nowhere in sight.

Instead, I saw a screenshot from a trending Twitter post in the neighborhood Facebook group.

The headline read, "Love Triumphs Over Death in Earthquake Rescue."

Below was a picture.

It showed a middle-aged man and woman in a hospital room.

Her dark hair streaked with gray.

They were snuggled together.

The man was spoon-feeding her soup.

He was smiling, his eyes filled with affection.

It was Tom and Sarah.

Everyone in the group was gushing: "This is what true love looks like."

"Growing old together, supporting each other through thick and thin. I believe in love again."

Love?

They were in love?

What have I been all these years?

A supporting character in their drama?

Numb, I rubbed my fingers together, left the Facebook group, and deleted Tom's contact.