As we were having supper on the rooftop, with the sky painted in all shades of orange and pink, Nick pulled out my chair, toasted to “our future,” and gave me the impression that this was a moment that would forever change the course of our relationship. As the golden dusk encircled us, we told stories, entertained ourselves with laughter, and fantasized out loud. That night, I went to bed with the conviction that this journey would be one that I would never forget.
After two days, it appeared that my prediction was correct. Our mornings consisted of eating breakfast in bed, taking hand-in-hand strolls along the beach, dipping our feet in the waves, and exploring the few stores that were located in the village. When Nick picked up seashells as if they were treasures, I thought to myself, “This is it right here.” Joy can be found in this. As we sat on the balcony and watched the sun go down, we muttered to one another that we did not want the weekend to end.
Nevertheless, the illusion was destroyed on Monday morning. As I awoke, I discovered Nick feverishly packing his belongings while grumbling about an important meeting at work. He then rushed left after kissing my forehead and telling me to check out of the room. I was dissatisfied, but I figured that work would come to an end; perhaps it was only a matter of timing.
It was at the reception counter where that illusion was broken. I grinned as I handed over the key card to Madison, the receptionist, and she handed me the bill at the same time. A total of $1,350 nearly caused my eyes to jump out of my head. Minibar, room service, and limitless costs are all included. I immediately dialed Nick’s number, but he did not pick up the phone. After after, a text message rang out, which read, “Just take care of it. I reserved the room; you are able to take care of this one.”
Despite the fact that I experienced the pain of betrayal, it was Maddison’s subsequent words that dealt the most severe blow. Her explanation was accompanied by a kind giggle, and it was that Nick had not paid for the accommodation in any way. All of the expenses had been covered by the benefits that his employer provided for frequent travel. It was he who had led me to believe that he had lavished money on me, but in truth, I was the only one who was responsible for paying the tab.
I feigned a smile, paid, and then turned around to go as my mind was spinning. My dissatisfaction had developed into something more severe by the time I arrived at my house. Avenging oneself.
As I sat at my computer, I prepared a post for my blog. Upon initial inspection, it appeared to be a dreamlike rehash, including the sunsets, the dinners, and the strolls down the beach. Following then, the unexpected turn of events occurred, which included the photograph of the $1,350 bill, the screenshot of Nick’s dismissive text, and Maddison’s casual confession. He was exposed by my caption, which described how he organized the ideal weekend, only to leave me with the responsibility of paying for it, while he pretended to be generous when he hadn’t spent a single penny.
I barely paused for a brief moment before clicking the “post” button.
People from many walks of life, including acquaintances, coworkers, and even distant relatives, voiced their opinions. Some were sympathetic, while others were enraged; but, they were all united in their recognition of the reality. The phone calls from Nick arrived in a hurry and were agitated, requesting that I take it down. My body did not flinch. In a composed manner, I informed him, “I only shared the truth.”
In a matter of days, the backlash was overwhelming for him. He attempted to disappear from the spotlight of embarrassment that he had created by blocking me, deleting his account, and deleting his profile.
As for me? It dawned on me that I had spent $1,350 on providing myself with clarity. Clarity of the true nature of Nick and the things that I deserved. It wasn’t just a bill; it was a ticket out of a relationship that would have put me in a much more difficult financial position in the long run.
I gave myself a grin, knowing that I had not been defeated. I was finally free from someone who had never actually respected me, which could be considered the most valuable thing of all.
