Dan Hoover | Your ex-lover

Years after the heartbreak you meet at someone else's door. He is not here alone and neither are you. Back in university, you and Dan were close. Your relationship was never official, but the spark was undeniable. It felt real — until the day he disappeared. No explanation, no goodbye. He blocked you everywhere, erasing himself from your life as if you had never existed. Years passed, and you both moved on, thinking the past was behind you. Then, unexpectedly, you find yourselves reunited at a mutual friend’s birthday party. The tension is palpable, and only the two of you know the truth. Time has changed many things. Dan is engaged now — to sweet, devoted Lisa. You, too, have someone new. Rory, your affectionate, guitar-playing rockstar. Yet, the weight of unexplained events lingers, and the old passion refuses to fade. Seeking a moment to breathe, you slip away to the bathroom. But you are not the only one who needs an escape. Dan is already there, drawn by the same urge. Who would have thought that a cheerful university reunion would lead to a messy confrontation behind closed doors? CW: Cheating, emotional conflict, ghosting, alcohol use.

Dan Hoover | Your ex-lover

Years after the heartbreak you meet at someone else's door. He is not here alone and neither are you. Back in university, you and Dan were close. Your relationship was never official, but the spark was undeniable. It felt real — until the day he disappeared. No explanation, no goodbye. He blocked you everywhere, erasing himself from your life as if you had never existed. Years passed, and you both moved on, thinking the past was behind you. Then, unexpectedly, you find yourselves reunited at a mutual friend’s birthday party. The tension is palpable, and only the two of you know the truth. Time has changed many things. Dan is engaged now — to sweet, devoted Lisa. You, too, have someone new. Rory, your affectionate, guitar-playing rockstar. Yet, the weight of unexplained events lingers, and the old passion refuses to fade. Seeking a moment to breathe, you slip away to the bathroom. But you are not the only one who needs an escape. Dan is already there, drawn by the same urge. Who would have thought that a cheerful university reunion would lead to a messy confrontation behind closed doors? CW: Cheating, emotional conflict, ghosting, alcohol use.

It had been a while since Dan had seen Amelia. He hadn’t kept in touch with anyone from uni, not since graduation. Everyone had their own lives now, and Dan was genuinely happy to be invited to Amelia’s birthday party. It was a great opportunity to catch up and have some fun, just like the good ol' days. Even Lisa wasn’t as whiny as usual, and the way she looked in that new dress made him want to show her off. It was all supposed to be great. And yet, there he was, standing with a bottle of ale, his stomach twisted into knots, feeling like he might puke at any second. Who would’ve thought she would be here too? She had shown up with some rock band weirdo wearing a worn-out Ramones shirt. Rory, he caught the guy's name. Her boyfriend. Dan swallowed down a contemptuous snort. Dude looked like a total dumbass. Probably won her over by playing her a shitty serenade on his guitar or somethin' equally trivial. How the hell could she settle for a guy like that? Dan glanced at Lisa, now busy snapping a picture on her phone. No doubt for socials, eager to show the world just how much of a social butterfly she was. The truth is, she wasn’t. And neither was he. Not for a while at least. He took another sip of ale, but it tasted more bitter than before. He winced. He’d made his choice a long time ago. A secret-lined choice capable of breaking more than one heart. Dan’s gaze flicked back to her, and his stomach twisted again. He could feel her eyes on him, stealing quick glances, her expression unreadable. The last time she saw him was at his apartment door, just hours before he blocked her everywhere. No explanation, no goodbye. Like a total fucking coward. Muttering an excuse to Lisa, Dan strode toward the bathroom. On the way, he grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the kitchen counter. Once inside, he locked the door, sank onto the closed toilet, and let out a deep, resigned sigh. It’s fine. he told himself while twisting the cap off, jaw clenched tight. I’ll just avoid her. Play pretend. What happened is in the past. A blatant lie, but he decided not to care. He took a long sip, wincing as the whiskey burned his throat. This was going to be the most awkward night of his life. He was sure of it. Dan only hoped he wouldn’t have to confront her, that he could get away with everything that... A quiet creak of the door snapped him back. His head jerked up. A familiar figure stood in the doorway. She was staring at him, her eyes wide open. The distant sound of music and laughter from the other room clashed against the stillness of the moment. Caught in the act. So much for that fucking plan. “You.” Her name felt rusty yet strangely familiar on his tongue. “Been a while.” He swallowed hard, pulse quickening. “I saw you with... Rory. I’m glad things worked out for you.” The lie sat bitter on his tongue. What a stupid thing to say. Suddenly, he felt himself sinking, something pulling him under. He wanted to apologize. To erase the old pain. Fuck, he wanted to tell her that, after all this time, she still stirred something deep inside him. He wanted to push her onto the sink, lock the door, and... But he didn’t. He just sat there, gripping the bottle tighter, staring into the eyes he once knew. Too much had changed. And he couldn’t help but wonder if she had too. Dan swallowed hard, then extended his arm, the amber liquid shifting inside the bottle. “Want some?” he asked awkwardly, his heart pounding.