I felt Leah, who had just put some food on my plate, go completely still.

Leo just smiled and shot back, “Nah, man. I’m in love with someone.”

“Oh yeah? Who?” another friend asked, his curiosity piqued.

Then his eyes lit up as if he remembered something.

“Wait, don’t tell me. It’s Leah, isn’t it? You two were inseparable in high school.”

Leo’s smile faltered a bit.

“We were close,” he said. “But she got married, didn’t she?”

Just then, another friend dropped a bombshell.

“What do you mean, ‘were’? You guys are a total missed connection! Hey, has anyone seen Leah’s secret Reddit account? You should see what she wrote. She doesn't love Ethan at all. It's always been about Leo!”

“For real? Her profile picture is even a candid of Leo!”

As soon as they heard there was drama, everyone pulled out their phones and started searching.

Leo looked up at Leah, his eyes filled with a complicated, unspoken question.

In that moment, I felt like I was stripped naked in front of everyone.

All our friends, all her friends, now knew.

My wife didn’t love me.

She loved this other man, Leo.

I started to tremble, an uncontrollable shaking that ran through my whole body.

I didn't know what to do.

All I wanted was to escape, to run away from this humiliating scene.

I could feel their eyes on me, their pity and their morbid curiosity.

After what felt like an eternity, the woman at the center of it all, Leah, finally spoke.

“My account was hacked,” she said flatly.

“Ethan and I are fine. Stop making stupid jokes.”

Her words didn’t help.

They just made me feel an even deeper sense of shame.

I needed to leave. Now.

I glanced at my phone and pretended to see a message.

“Max hasn’t finished his homework,” I said, standing up. “I should get back and check on him.”

“I’ll come with you!” Leah said, grabbing my hand.

I gently pulled my hand away.

“You stay,” I said, my voice steady. “Keep Leo company. He just got divorced, he could use a friend.”

“I’m fine. It’s not far.”

Yeah, go on.

Comfort him.

After all, I’m just the pathetic husband who can’t even keep his own wife happy.

Go on and humiliate me in front of everyone.

Maybe then I’ll finally get the message.

I didn't go straight home.

I went to the bar across the street and ordered a couple of beers.

Through the blurry window, I saw two figures under a streetlight.

The moonlight stretched their shadows long across the pavement.

I recognized them instantly.

It was Leo and Leah.

I could hear Leo’s voice, low and pleading.

“Leah, you love me too, right? I know I screwed up. I was vain and stupid. Please, just forgive me.”

Leah’s brow furrowed.

“I’m married to Ethan, Leo,” she said. “You’re drunk.”

Leo looked at her, his voice raw.

“Why won’t you just answer my question?”

“What did your Reddit post mean? You don’t love him, do you? You love me!”

“I know you’re married to him, but I can’t control how I feel!”

“I divorced her for you, Leah! After I married her, all I could think about was you. Leah, I can’t stop myself!”

I watched as he pushed her against the wall.

I watched as they kissed, passionately, like nothing else in the world mattered.

How wonderful.

After all this hardship, the star-crossed lovers were finally together.

My one-man show was finally over, wasn't it?

I didn’t realize when it started, but my face was wet with tears.

And yet, I didn't make a single sound.