rs is a l

life into "Pixelated Promises." It was more than a game; it was the story of my life with Liam. Every quest was a memory, every

rive in my pocket, ready to show it off at our small, self-funded booth. I pushed through the crowds, the

I saw

him in a brilliant, electric glow. But the name on the sc

ess... they were mine. They were the characters I had drawn and

nd. A popular streamer I' d only ever seen online. She held the microphone, he

d to a dull hum in my ears. I stood there, frozen, th

applause was still ringing out. He was flushed with excitemen

Did you see that? The

y towards the stage, where our game's

as that

o register my tone.

ell through at the last minute. She was devastated. I thought we coul

t? By giving

rebranding. It' s a better name, anyway. More modern. Sophia has a

ers, his grip feeling more li

way, right? You hate the spotlight. Just think of it as.

ng it hard to breathe. I had to get back to my booth. Our booth. The one he had forgotten about. I had to pretend everything was fine. I h

le on my face. I demoed a small puzzle game I' d made years

nd influencers. He was laughing, putting a proprietary hand on the small of her back as she answere

ds started to tremble, a familiar, terrifying symptom I' d been trying to ignore for mon

n simmering inside me finally caught fire, a hot, searing rage that burned away the shock and left only a bitter, a