I screenshotted the post and flung it at Curtis, demanding an explanation.
He told me not to worry. He'd handle it.
"That's just how Gretchen is—she's like a kid, always getting into trouble without thinking. But she really doesn't mean any harm. Trust me, I'll get her to set the record straight."
What I got instead was a brand-new Instagram post from Gretchen.
I want to publicly apologize to Imogen. I shouldn't have gone hiking with Curtis. I shouldn't have clung to him for photos. I shouldn't still need to be around him every second the way I did when we were kids. I'm sorry. I'm just so used to it being just the two of us.
The comments piled on: Who's Imogen? Whoever she is, can she back off? Can't she see these two were literally made for each other? Way to kill the vibe.
Seriously, bullying a sweet, gentle girl like Gretchen? What kind of person does that?
Curtis replied with a hug emoji:
There's a part of my life that can never be replaced. It will always belong to you.
Everyone praised how pure and real their bond was after all these years. And through all of it, Curtis never once stepped forward to acknowledge me. He just let me become the single ugly stain on their beautiful story.