The Lie I Can't Take Back

It's been almost ten years, and I still think about it. It eats at me. My best friend, Liam, he was head-over-heels for Sarah. We were all in college, and he was planning on proposing. He showed me the ring, a tiny little diamond, but you could see how much it meant to him. He was so happy, so sure.

I knew Sarah was seeing someone else. Just casual, a fling with some older guy from her work-study job. But she was seeing him. And I didn't tell Liam. I told myself it wasn't my place, that she'd break it off. I told myself maybe it wasn't serious. Lies, all lies. I was scared. Scared of hurting him, scared of the fallout. Mostly, I think, I was scared of messing things up for myself. I didn't want to be in the middle.

He proposed. She said yes. I was the best man. I gave a speech about how perfect they were. I felt like scum. A few months later, she left him. For the other guy. It broke him. He dropped out of school, moved back home. We lost touch.

I saw him a few years ago. He seemed okay, happy even. He's married now, kids. I wanted to tell him. To confess. But I couldn't. I choked. What good would it do now, after all this time? It would just hurt him all over again. So I smiled and pretended I didn't know anything. But I do know. And it's a weight I carry every single day. I should have told him. I should have been a better friend. I was a coward. And I'm so, so sorry.