Ch. The Group Chat Without Me, The Life They Had Without Me 8 The Group Chat Without Me, The Life They Had Without Me 8

Chapter 8 

Three days after I blocked Caleb, my mother called. 

“Nora, what exactly happened between you and Caleb? Owen said you broke up.” 

“We did.” 

“Why? Caleb’s a good guy. He’s always treated you well-” 

“Mom, the eight of them created a group chat specifically to plan things without me. 

“Owen was in it too. It went on for more than two years.” 

The other end of the line fell silent. 

My mother was a practical woman. After the divorce, she had poured all her energy into her work 

and rarely involved herself in anyone’s relationship problems. 

After a while, she said, “Are you sure there hasn’t been some misunderstanding?” 

“I read the messages.” 

“Owen was really in it?” 

“Yes.” 

There was another silence. 

“I have a class today, so I have to go.” 

She ended the call. 

I knew she wouldn’t confront Owen on my behalf. 

She had always thought he was still young and that boys his age naturally did thoughtless things. 

But at least she knew now. 

I worked at the flower shop as usual that weekend. 

That afternoon, Dana suddenly asked, “Nora, have you been feeling better lately?” 

“Have I?” 

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“When 

alive.” 

you first started here, your eyes were red all the time. You’re finally looking a little more 

I smiled but didn’t answer. 

She handed me an iced latte. 

“You’re still young. You have a lot of life ahead of you.” 

“If that last relationship wasn’t worth holding on to, let it go. Don’t look back.” 

“Okay.” 

After the shop closed that evening, I walked home alone. 

When I reached the entrance to my apartment complex, I saw someone sitting on the steps. 

It was Owen. 

He stood when he saw me, looking uncomfortable. 

“Nora.” 

I stopped and looked at him. 

At nineteen, he stood several inches taller than me. But with his shoulders hunched like that, he looked the way he had at fifteen. 

“How did you find this place?” 

“I asked around.” 

He lowered his head. “Nora, I came to apologize.” 

“Let’s talk inside.” 

Once we were in the apartment, I poured him a glass of water. 

He sat on the small couch, holding the glass in both hands. For a long time, he said nothing. 

“Go ahead.” 

“I’m sorry, Nora.” 

I sat in the chair across from him. 

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“Do you know what you’re apologizing for?” 

He nodded, then shook his head. 

Finally, he said, “I shouldn’t have been in that group chat.” 

“What else?” 

“I shouldn’t have helped them lie to you.” 

“Why did you?” 

He pressed his lips into a thin line. It took him a long time to answer. 

“Caleb was the one who added me at first.” 

“He said it was just a regular group chat for friends.” 

“Then I realized that every time they planned something, they checked first to make sure you weren’t coming. I just… went along with it.” 

“Why?” 

He looked up at me. His eyes were bloodshot. 

“Because when I was with them, no one told me what to do.’ 

I froze. 

“You’ve always tried to control everything I do, Nora.” 

“What I eat, what I wear, who I spend time with, what time I come home.” 

“When I was with them, I didn’t have to think about any of that. We could just have fun.” 

His words left a faint sting. 

He was right. 

For years, I had treated him like a child. 

Whether it came from responsibility or simple habit, I had tried to manage too much of his life. 

But that didn’t justify lying to me behind 

my 

back. 

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“Owen, if you thought I was too controlling, you could have told me.” 

“I was afraid you’d be hurt.” 

“So instead, you lied to me for two years and hurt me even more.” 

He lowered his head and fell silent. 

The glass of water remained untouched. 

“I was wrong, Nora.” 

“I know.” 

“Can you forgive me?” 

I looked at him. 

He was nineteen. 

Nineteen was still young enough to do stupid things. 

“I don’t hate you. But I don’t want to see you for a while.” 

He nodded and stood. 

At the door, he turned back to look at me. 

“Nora, are you safe living here alone?” 

“Yes.” 

“Okay. I’ll go.” 

“All right.” 

After the door closed, I remained where I was for a long time. 

He was the first one to come and apologize. 

I didn’t know whether he truly understood what he had done or was simply worried that I would 

never lend him money again. 

Either way, it was a step. 

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At least one of the eight had been willing to face me. 

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