Too Late For Your Proposal

ie

art of me, the old, naive me, almost believed him. Almost hoped that maybe, just maybe, he genuinely regretted it all. I used to fall for it every tim

It was Bridget's phone, vibrating insistently in her pocket. She glanced at

nt communication passing between them, a hurried, knowing glance. "She's wondering if we're s

gaze darting to me, a cruel jab.

ned. "Carter, honey, maybe we should just go. Ellie obviously doesn't appreciate anything you do. Look at her. C

's go. She doesn't deserve you. You deserve someone who will apprecia

of genuine confusion, perhaps even regret, flickered in his gaze.

ost imperceptible lurch.

er walk all over you again? Or are you going to finally grow a spine and realize what you

thetic glimmer of indecision, then he

ut not to stay. It was a gesture of defiance, directed at m

ent door slammed shut with a sickening thud, rattling the frames on the

alone.

cologne heavy in the air. On the kitchen counter, the elaborate dinner I had planned still sat, half-prepared. His favorite roasted

I had cooked it, after all. He had expecte

arted to eat. I ate slowly, mechanically, each bite a struggle. The rich fla

ing champagne glasses on the ski lift. "Cheers to new be

aughing as Bridget playfully wiped snow from his face. "Som

d malice. They were enjoying my weekend, the weekend I had g

a perverse act of self-punishment. The food fel

umbled to the bathroom, collapsing over the toilet, emptying the contents of my stomach, tears streami

h shallow. Every thought was a chaotic storm, every memory a fresh wound. I couldn't ea

ble. A sharp, searing ache that doubled me over. I man

ong? You sound aw

vision. Emily, bless her heart, was there in twenty minutes. She

track to my misery. They hooked me up to an IV, the cold liquid seeping into my veins. The docto

motional strain, haven't you?

d, unable to

ing pain in my gut, I couldn't stop my

silhouetted against a breathtaking sunrise, perched on a mountain peak. "Some people just make everything bett

in his eye. They looked happy. Carefree. As if I had never existed. Comments poured in: "OMG,

comments, he had liked them. While I was in urgent care, fighting a stress-in

ate cruelty. He was allowing her to twist the knife

sterile, impersonal room, a profound clarity washed over me. It wasn't just about the ski trip. It w

over me. He chose to let Bridge

h was nothing compared to the complete emptiness that settled in my heart. He didn'