Updated Feb 20, 2026 • ~6 min read
WESTLEY
The photos Jonah showed me were grainy—security camera footage from Phoenix. A woman who looked like Carmen. Same height, same build, same dark hair. But the image quality was terrible.
“This could be anyone,” I said.
“The PI confirmed it. Facial recognition software. It’s her.”
“Then who the hell have I been dating?”
Jonah’s expression darkened. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”
I shook my head. “No. You’re wrong. Carmen is back. She’s here. I’ve seen her. Talked to her. This is some mistake.”
“West—”
“I need to go.” I grabbed my keys and headed for the door. Jonah called after me but I didn’t stop.
This was insane. Carmen was Carmen. She had to be.
LUCIA
My phone rang. West. I stared at the screen, heart pounding. Did he know? Did Jonah tell him?
I answered. “Hey.”
“Can I come over?” His voice sounded strained.
“Now?”
“Yeah. I need to see you.”
Panic clawed at my throat. “Is everything okay?”
“I just… I need to see you. Please.”
I closed my eyes. “Okay. Yeah. Come over.”
Twenty minutes later he was at my door. He looked wrecked—hair disheveled, eyes wild.
“West, what’s wrong?”
He pulled me into a hug so tight I could barely breathe. “Tell me you’re real,” he whispered into my hair.
“What?”
“Tell me you’re here. That this is real.”
My heart was breaking. “I’m here.”
“Promise me you won’t disappear again.”
“West—”
“Promise me, Carmen.”
That name. It cut every time.
“I promise,” I lied. Because that’s all I did now. Lie.
PALOMA
I found Lucia at the coffee shop the next morning. She looked like she hadn’t slept.
“We need to talk,” I said.
“Not now, Paloma.”
“Yes, now.”
I dragged her to the back room. “You have to tell him.”
“I can’t.”
“Lucia, this is getting dangerous. What if Jonah really did find Carmen? What if he shows West proof?”
“He won’t. The FBI has Carmen hidden. There’s no way—”
“You don’t know that!”
She flinched. I softened my voice. “I’m scared for you. This is going to blow up in your face.”
“I know.”
“Then end it.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because I love him!” She was crying now. “I love him and it’s killing me but I can’t let him go.”
I pulled her into a hug. “Oh, Lucia.”
“I’m a terrible person.”
“You’re not terrible. You’re human. You made a mistake.”
“I’m still making it. Every day. Every time I see him.”
“Then fix it. Tell him the truth.”
She pulled away. “And lose him forever? At least this way I get to keep him a little longer.”
“That’s not fair to him.”
“I know.”
But she wasn’t going to stop. I could see it in her eyes. She was going to ride this lie until it destroyed her.
LUCIA
West took me to dinner at Canlis. It was fancy, expensive—the kind of place you go for special occasions.
“What are we celebrating?” I asked.
“You,” he said simply. “Being here. Being back in my life.”
Guilt tasted like ash in my mouth.
We ordered wine. We talked. He told me about a new project—a library in Tacoma. I told him about the novel I’m working on. He wanted to read it. I told him it wasn’t ready. Another lie.
“I’ve been thinking,” West said over dessert.
“About?”
“Us. The future.”
My heart stopped. “West—”
“I know it’s fast. I know we’re still figuring things out. But Carmen, I can’t stop thinking about what it would be like. You and me. For real this time.”
Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I’m in love with you.”
And there it was. The words I’d wanted to hear my entire life, from a man who didn’t even know who I am.
“You can’t love me,” I whispered.
“Too late.”
“West—”
“You don’t have to say it back. I just needed you to know.”
Tears spilled down my cheeks. “I’m so sorry.”
“Hey, don’t cry.” He reached across the table to wipe my tears. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t. I just—”
I couldn’t finish. Because what I wanted to say was: I love you too. I love you so much it’s destroying me. I love you and I’m the worst person in the world.
“I love you too,” I finally said. And I meant it. God help me, I meant it.
WESTLEY
She loved me. Carmen loved me. Everything I’d wanted for five years was finally happening.
I walked her home. We held hands the whole way. At her door, I kissed her. She kissed me back like she was drowning and I was air.
“Stay,” she whispered against my lips.
My heart raced. “Are you sure?”
She nodded.
But when we got inside, she pulled away. “I’m sorry. I can’t. Not yet.”
“It’s okay. We can wait.”
“You’re not upset?”
“Carmen, I’ve waited five years. I can wait a little longer.”
She looked at me with such sadness. “You’re too good for me.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is.”
I cupped her face in my hands. “Whatever you’re afraid of, we’ll figure it out together. Okay?”
She nodded but didn’t believe me. I could see it in her eyes.
LUCIA
After West left, I sat on the floor of my apartment and called Carmen’s old number. Disconnected. I tried her email. Bounced back.
I opened the folder Paloma gave me and started making calls. Old friends, former coworkers, anyone who might know where Carmen went.
“Carmen Santos? Haven’t heard from her in years.”
“Sorry, can’t help you.”
“She owes me money. If you find her, tell her to call me.”
Dead end after dead end.
I found a name at the bottom of the list. Vera Chen. Former roommate. I called.
“Hello?”
“Hi, is this Vera?”
“Who’s asking?”
“My name is Lucia. I’m Carmen Santos’s sister.”
Silence. “Vera?”
“She has a sister?”
“Twin sister. I’m trying to find her.”
More silence. Then: “Meet me tomorrow. I’ll tell you what I know.”
Hope surged in my chest. “Thank you. Where?”
“Cafe Allegro. Two PM. Come alone.”
The line went dead.
Finally. Finally a lead.
If I could find Carmen, maybe I could fix this. Maybe I could end this lie before it destroyed everything. But deep down, I knew it was already too late. The damage was done. And when West found out, it was going to break him. It was going to break us both.
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