Broken Engagement, Berlin Escape

ous whisper. Britney, the socialite 'helpless' friend. Britney, the 'anxiety-rid

lways needs someone to hold her hand." He would vent about her constant demands, her inability to grasp simple concepts, her uncanny talent for turning every minor inconvenience into a ful

m always had some drama going on,

my phone, a cold dread creeping into my heart. The next morning, he finally called, his voice thick with sleep. "Sorry, Ka

siveness that wasn't directed at me. I felt a sharp pang of jealousy,

scribed her as a burden, but now there was a strange, almost tender note in his voice. Like a parent complai

this it? The long distance, the inevitable drift? I couldn't bear the thought. I needed to see him, to look into h

halfway across the world, armed with a surprise an

ped into my bones. I waited. Waited for his call, a text, anythi

dinner, his name flas

anxiety being better. I really can't miss it." His voice was apologetic, but I could hear the underl

n I come?" The words were out before I could stop the

e volumes. I could practically hear him we

ow, for Britney's close friends. It's really not... your

failed. Spectacularly. This wasn't a choice he was ma

th from the awkwardness. "You go. I'll just... order room service." The l

'll come pick you up in an hour. We'll grab some food first." The

ook me to a bustling pub, the kind of place you go when you don't want to hav

re she wa

fragile, like a porcelain doll. Her laughter was light, tinkling, drawing all attention to her. Graham' s friends, whom I barely knew, greet

oice was pure saccharine, dripping with false innocence. "It's so good to finally meet you! Graham talks about you

I managed, m

telyn. My girlfriend." His words were firm, but his eyes darted nervously between us. He

re already family." She giggled, a sound that grated on my nerves. Then, to my horror, she playf

ile, trying to smooth things over. But the damage was done. The way she had touched him, the

at the corners in a way they hadn't for me in months. He gently corrected her when she misspoke, his voice soft, almost tend

ce, every whispered word exchanged between them, was a knife twisting in my heart

much at dinner. Is the food here not to your taste?" He tried to sound

et-lagged. And the food was a little... rich for my s

g up as he typed furiously. A smile blossomed on his lips, a genuine, unforced smile. The kind I used to get. He was probably texting

a chat app flashed across the screen. My heart pounded. I shouldn't. I really shouldn't. But I needed to know. I had to k

ted, my conscience warring with my desperation. T

. My resolv

is face, but his eyes were distant even then. I tried our anniversary date. Inc

reen u