"Yeah, I got fired. Georgie fired me. Because I broke a promise to him and to myself. He told me that the last time Claire and I were together and we broke up, if I was with her again and he saw me crying, he would end his friendship with me. And that I couldn't work for him.

Maybe you're thinking, 'He has no right.' But no, he does. He absolutely had the right and he did the right thing. I would have done the same thing, but he found the love of his life, built his business and is living the life of his dreams.

You know what I'm doing? I'm struggling to pay my rent, I can't get my master's degree because I can't pay my tuition, and all because of my relationship with Claire. I fell in love with her as soon as I saw her on the first day of school. Maybe not love. I'm a psychology major, but I don't really have an explanation for it. Then maybe my hormones played a trick on me, or maybe I was drawn to her eyes that attracted even you, I don't know.

She always took it from me. She took everything from me. I worked all through college, I spent my savings on her. I built that bedroom, the room you're sleeping in now, for her. I did it because she wanted a separate room in case we broke up when we moved in together. I was always hypnotized when I was with her. When I was separated from her, I'd get my shit together, but when I was with her, everything would fall apart. When I told her I was tired of breaking up and making up, she walked away telling me that she organized her whole life around me and that I was ruining her life.

Last month, she called me to say that she was back in town and wanted to meet again. How stupid of me. I agreed to see her knowing what would happen to me. And the result was disappointing again and do you know why this time? She used you as an excuse. 'There's another woman sleeping in my room Ezra. I can't believe that you love me as much as you used to. I'm going to marry Arthur.' Don't interrupt, Meryem, no, wait. It's not over yet. You're not to blame for this. She's just using you as an excuse. She's grateful to you for giving her an excuse to leave me. All she wants is to know she can use me every time she wants to. And I gave her that confidence. This morning when Claire told me she was getting married, I was a mess. Of course I was at the bar. Georgie gave me exactly what I deserved. 'Dude, you know what, Claire's doing really well. Because I'm more comfortable not offering to pay for your grad school and pay me back over time. I've seen that you're never going to wise up.'

Yes, he said a lot of things to me, but that's the one I'm most upset about. I'll start looking for another job tomorrow, and I apologize to you again. I can't imagine the weight of what you've been through. I'm a son of a bitch to offer to use your life to forget mine. Forgive me whenever you want."

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

Ezra finally stops talking, but I don't know what to say. I've learned too much at once and it's going to take me a long time to digest it all. But just to say something, "You know, I wanted to know this story when I met Claire a month ago, but I didn't want it to happen this way. I'm sorry."

He smiles, "You have nothing to be sorry about. I've been through this process many times and I'm actually relieved to know that this time you're getting married. That way, maybe I'll be rid of her for good."

I look at the small canvas I have just finished painting, a little away from myself. There is a clownfish wearing a king's crown and looking at himself in the mirror. Ezra stands behind me and looks at the painting with me. "Wow, you're really talented."

I put the picture away to dry. "Ezra, you know, neither of our talents are worth a shit. One of us has turned his life upside down because of a woman and the other one is a grown woman who will probably have to get married because she can't obey her parents."

Ezra stands up and comes to me. With a tenderness I never expected, he hugs me. "Don't be hard on yourself. Just like Nemo, you tried so hard to get out of that tank. But Nemo needed help too. So let's think about what we can do for you."

Ezra's show of compassion is the first contact I've had in a long time. The last time I had hugged my mother was about two months ago, and even that hadn't been genuine affection. My eyes are full of tears. When Ezra pulls back and looks at me, the tears can't stay in place any longer and start rolling down my cheeks.

He wipes them away with his hands, "You don't deserve to be so sad."

He cries too. Oh, my God. Through my tears I ask, "Are you still drunk?"

"What? No, I've been sober since you washed me soaking wet." He leaves me, and goes to his room. He closes the door.

I smile to myself and go to my room.

Not a few minutes later there's a knock on my door. "Hey, are you awake?"

"Yes, since you won't let me sleep."

"Then come here, I have an idea."

I open the door and he is looking at me at the entrance of the room with the light of a bright idea in his eyes.

"What, what are you so excited about?"

"Marry me."

"What are you saying, are you crazy?"

I try to close the door, he puts his body in the way. "Wait a minute. Listen to me first. Look, we can somehow live in the same house. It's something that can work for both of us. It's not a love marriage, since we're not in love with each other."

He lowers his voice. Almost in a whisper, "Look, if we get married, you won't have to leave after four months. You can live with me. We'll just cover for each other until you get your citizenship. And I'll tell you what I get out of this before you ask, you'll help me pay for my master's degree. So it's a win-win. So, what do you say? Are you in?"

I doubt he's still drunk. I push him out of the room. "I'll sleep on it. Go to sleep."

I close the door. "Think about it, Meryem. This could be good for both of us."