Love That Transcends Even Death

Lawso

Kyle. Identical in style, design, down to the tiny, glittering diamonds. They weren't just gifts; they were matching halves of a whole, designed to intertwine, to belo

darting from the necklaces to Kyle, then to me,

dy, a little too bright. "Oh my goodness! What a coincidence! You two have such similar taste!" I forced a laugh, a bri

ated flourish, I picked up the mountain pendant and, despite the suffocating lump in my throat, put

It's like you both knew exactly what I wanted. Thank you both, so much." I even bl

nting on my collarbone. "Okay, everyone smile! Birthday picture!" The flash went o

thing, a suffocating blanket. Kyle's jaw was clenched, a muscle working furiously. His eyes were dark, filled wit

minds think alike! I was telling Kyle about how much you loved the ocean, and he must have just... pic

more lies. His silence was a scream. He let her carry the weight of their deception

emotionally entangled; they were intertwined, their lives, their gifts, their secrets. And I, unkno

y bright. I grabbed a bottle of champagne from the cooler, my hands shaking only

nk deeply, letting the sharp burn of the alcohol cut through the raw pain in my chest. I wanted to feel nothin

energy began to wane, replaced by a slightly slurred speech and heavy eyelids. She was the first to succumb. Her

or her... for me..." Her words trailed off

d for whom? What did she know? But my throat was tight, ch

oped her up effortlessly, her head resting against his shoulder, her arm draped loosely

s voice soft, almost tender, as he looked down at

fragile glass, his steps light and purposeful. The door clicked shut, leaving me alone in the silent livi

eir connection was undeniable, a silent force pushing me out of their orbit. I was the relic, the placeholder,

d bland, uninspired, like everything else in my life had become. I took one bite, then set it down, the sw

leave Kyle. I was packing for a different kind of journey. One I had been prepar

ly tucked away, were miniature objects, symbols of our shared memories: a tiny seashell from our first beach trip, a miniature telescope from the ni

s. My heart ached for the purity of that love, for the innocence of those days. I traced the ou

n the back of the bird. A tiny, etched script. My heart ham

od. It was writing. Tiny,

gh that lights up the room. Alycia was quiet, a

ore. I picked up another item, a min

edible. I feel a pull towards her strength, her fire. Alycia always seems so

ny journal of his shifting affections. His complaints about my quiet nature, his admirat

r her. I wanted to just hold her, tell her everything would be o

. They had grown, slowly, insidiously, right under my nose, while I was so focused on battling my own s

days ago, on the back of a miniature mo

but... something has shifted. I think I' m in love with Carmelita. And

s going to tell me. He was going to break up with me. But he hadn't. Not yet. He was j

urned, a sharp, metallic taste filling my mouth. When the spasm finally subsided, I lo

e the evidence, trying to compose myself

e dim light of the hallway. "Alycia? Are you asleep?" His voice was hesit