The Priority Rule

For six years, Chloe has believed her boyfriend Caleb's golden rule was simply how he loved: he prioritizes people not by affection but by urgency. When she and her best friend Jasmine both fall ill, he drives Jasmine to the ER first because her fever is barely higher. When Chloe's mother finally reaches the top of the transplant list, he begs her to give the directed kidney to Jasmine's mother instead.

Then one night, after Chloe drinks with a distraught Jasmine, Caleb arrives at the bar. Pretending to sleep, she watches him lift Jasmine into his arms, kiss her, and promise to blame the drinking on Chloe. In that moment she understands why Jasmine's crises always came first, and who the boyfriend Jasmine constantly fights with truly is.

At breakfast the next morning, the two sit at opposite corners of the table, yet their legs intertwine beneath it, and Caleb praises Jasmine using compliments Chloe never gave. Seeing the truth at last, Chloe walks out and heads to her office to resign.