Invitation Confirmed
My phone buzzed—Lia’s message: "Sister Amy! Told Mark about inviting you! He’s thrilled you’re considering! Sneaky grin. Awaiting your reply! Can’t wait! Starry eyes." Joyful words needled my eyes. I glanced up—Mark hunched in agony. Absurdity choked me. I picked up the phone. Finger traced cold glass. Typed each word like carving ice: "Lia, thank you for the invitation and trust." "Being your bridesmaid is an honor." "I’ll be there punctually." The send tone pierced the quiet. Mark jerked up, ashen, eyes bloodshot. He stared—disbelief and despair mingling—as if meeting a stranger. "You…" Voice raw, near breaking. "… Are insane?"
Final Calm
I rose slowly, looking down at his crumpled form. Beneath the numbness, a strange, cruel peace surfaced. "Insane?" My tone soft, icy as glass shards. "Mark, you’re the insane one." Meeting his frantic gaze, I spoke each word like a verdict. "You meticulously wove two separate worlds. Now, they collide." "That fire—you lit it." I inhaled. Announcing the decision brought ruinous relief. "I'm going." Clear, watching shock contract his pupils. "To your wedding. As your bride’s bridesmaid." "I’ll witness how your carefully built stage crumbles before you." Turning away, I strode to the bedroom. Behind me, a crisp click: lock engaged.
Packing Up
Opened the closet. His shirts hung entwined with my dresses. Like this twisted affair. I dragged out the largest suitcase. Unzipped. Began packing. Mechanical. Methodical. Clothes folded. Packed. Skincare. Cosmetics. Boxed. Books from shelves—mine—pulled out. Papers. Jewelry case. Photo frames. With us together—tore out my half. Left his half in the frame on the desk. Silent severance. Each item packed stripped a layer of shared life. Heartwood-numb. Only task-driven apathy. No sound from the living room. Mark likely still slumped—a soul-hollowed statue. Good. Sparing useless struggle.
Nearly done. Suitcase heavy. I wheeled it out. Mark remained on the sofa. Unmoved. At the sound, he looked up. Eyes red-rimmed. Vacant. Saw the suitcase. Pupils dilated. "Amy…" Voice rasped broken. "Keys." I held out my palm. Flat. Open. He didn’t move. Stared—despair, plea in his eyes. "Keys." Repeated. Low. Unflinching. Commanding. He stirred. Fumbled pockets. Pulled out keys—house, car. Fumbled to remove the house key. Hand trembled violently. "All of them." My demand. He froze. Met my gaze. "The car’s under my father’s name." The SUV he drove was Dad’s old one. He flinched, dropping the whole ring into my palm. Cold. "I… I…" He stammered incoherently. I turned away. Dragged the heavy suitcase. To the foyer. Changed shoes. Opened the door. Stepped out. Closed it softly. Click. Worlds sealed apart.
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