Lost Futures

"I don't know what kind of game you're playing," Joey said, his pace quickening as if to escape her. "But I would prefer it if you would just leave me alone."

Madison stopped in her tracks, the words striking her like a slap.

She had never truly had her heart broken before, not until that moment.

Joey. Her Joey. Her future. Her destiny. And he didn’t want her.

She blinked rapidly, her vision blurring with tears she refused to let fall. Crying in public wasn’t something Madison Ashford did. Not ever. Yet here she was, standing frozen on the sidewalk, shattered by a boy she’d only truly noticed this morning.

No, that wasn’t fair. She’d always known Joey Granger existed, but he had been background noise to her life, a quiet, unremarkable figure she’d dismissed without a second thought. He was beneath her, or so she’d believed. Madison Ashford had bigger fish to fry, and Joey Granger was... nothing.

How wrong she’d been.

Now, with every step he took away from her, her chest tightened painfully. The truth of his words earlier that day burned in her mind:

“You’d be lucky to have a guy like me.”

“A guy like me would be the best possible thing for a girl like you.”

“You’re just too dumb to have figured it out on your own.”

He had been right about all of it.

Her Joey—the best possible thing for her—was walking away, and she had no one to blame but herself.

Madison’s knees wobbled slightly, but she steadied herself. She had followed him this far, even though her house lay in the opposite direction, hoping to convince him that she was sincere, that she was sorry, that she was worth his time. But now, it was clear. He didn’t believe her, didn’t trust her, didn’t want her in his life.

The sting of rejection was almost unbearable. For someone like Madison, who had always gotten what she wanted, this was unfamiliar, agonizing territory. Her future, once bright and full of possibility, seemed to crumble before her eyes.

Her Joey didn’t want her.

The thought echoed in her mind, heavy and final. She pictured her life without him—without his guidance, his clarity, his presence. The idea of moving forward without his wisdom to illuminate her path filled her with dread. How could she trust herself now, knowing how blind she’d been before he’d spoken the truth to her?

She tried to imagine someone else filling the void, someone to distract her from this devastating loss. But it was useless. Joey’s words had rewired her, changed her. Anyone else would be second best. A consolation prize. She couldn’t escape the certainty that her life would always be lesser without him in it.

Across the street, Joey’s figure grew smaller and smaller, his head bent low as he walked. Madison knew he would never truly fade from her heart. Without him, doubt would creep into every decision she made. She would always wonder if she was missing something, if her choices were flawed.

If only she could check with him, seek his approval, hear him explain the things she couldn’t see for herself. But no. That was gone now.

Her chest heaved, and for a moment, she thought she might run after him, beg him to reconsider. But she didn’t. She’d already done enough damage.

Instead, she stood still, watching him disappear into the distance, and for the first time in her life, Madison Ashford felt truly and utterly lost.