The screenshots came from my neighbor, Carol.
Carol lived two houses down and knew everything that happened on our street.
She was not the type to spread rumors, but she paid attention.
The evening before I was supposed to fly home, my phone buzzed.
“Anna, I think you need to see this.”
A second later, several screenshots appeared.
My stomach twisted.
Melissa had blocked me from seeing her social media posts.
But she had forgotten about the rest of the neighborhood.
There she was, smiling beside my pool with a drink in her hand.
There was Jake, standing at my grill.
There were their friends, lounging on my patio furniture.
One caption read:
“Another perfect weekend at home ❤️”
At home.
My home.
Another post showed a group picture in front of my pool.
The caption underneath made my blood boil.
“Backyard barbecue round 2 tomorrow!”
I stared at those words.
Round 2.
The first party had not been enough.
She was planning another one.
And she thought she was completely safe because I was not supposed to return until the following day.
I immediately changed my flight.
I did not text Melissa.
I did not call her.
I did not confront her.
