I packed my bags. When Mark finally came
home, I didn’t even look up. I treated him like he
was invisible. He grabbed my hand. “Sarah, we
need to talk.”
“About?”
“The wedding dress…”
“Didn’t get one.”
“The wedding…”
He stammered. I finished his sentence. “We’re
not getting married. It’s off.”
My decisiveness seemed to stun him. “Off? I
didn’t say we weren’t getting married! I was
going to say…maybe postpone it a week or
L
“I’m saying it’s off. It’s for the best.”
I went into the bedroom and dragged out my
suitcase. He frowned. “What’s with the
suitcase?”
“Stop pretending, Mark,” I said. “First loves are
powerful, I get it. Go be with your precious
Ashley.”
His eyes widened. “Did…did you see my Quora
answer?”
“Yep. Well–written.” Not as good as mine,
though.
He looked defeated, ashamed. “I…I don’t know what to say. I can’t forget Ashley. She was my first love. I was crazy about her. She just
thought I was too young, immature back then. Since you know…”
I cut him off. “Now that she’s divorced, you can
pick up where you left off. I approve.” I didn’t
bother telling him that Ashley hadn’t dumped
him for being immature. She’d dumped him for
being poor. He was luckier than me. At least his
first love was still alive.
I wheeled my suitcase out the door. Mark didn’t
follow. Good.
- 12.
Dusk had settled. I walked out of the complex,
dragging my suitcase.
“Sarah! Over here!”
My heart leaped. Jake stood under a tree. Tears
stung my eyes. “Jake!” I ran towards him.
Under the streetlight, he wore a black jacket. A
cigarette glowed between his fingers. The city lights shimmered behind him.
<
He smiled. “You came. Aren’t you afraid I’ll
kidnap you?”
“Not at all. Take me with you.”
“Give me your suitcase.”
A car sped past, Jake’s image dissolving into the night. My smile froze. I looked around
frantically. “Jake…?” Autumn leaves swirled
around me. He was gone. Just a hallucination. I thought he’d really come for me…
A car pulled up. Ashley stepped out, looking much healthier. She saw me crying. “Whoa, what’s wrong?”
“Having a lovers‘ quarrel? It’s not because of me, is it?”
I turned away, wiping my eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself. How are you feeling?”
“Much better! Thanks to Mark’s TLC and all
those nutritious meals. You’re so lucky to be marrying him.”
“Yeah,” I said, “I’m passing that luck on to you.”
Her face fell. “What’s that supposed to mean? Rubbing it in my face that I’m divorced?”
“Don’t overthink it. You’re his first love. He’s
head over heels for you. Get together already.”
