Four Years Built On Deceit

d with Damari. The air was thick with the weight of my shattered trust. I wandered aimlessly, my mind replaying his word

resence suffocating me. I grabbed my car keys and drove, the city lights a blur. I di

d, hot and angry, down my cheeks. My hands fumbled with a cushion, and a small, velvet box fell out, tumbling to the floor. Insi

dropping to one knee, "You are my everything. Marry me." I remembered the joy, the absolute certainty that our future was final

me to clear him out of my life, piece by painful piece. I started with the photos, then his clothes, his books, every single item that bore his pre

and emotional exhaustion. I packed everything into boxes, intending t

l estate agent. "I want to sell," I said, my voice surprisingly steady. "As quickly as possible." Th

pt the crushing weight of my heartbreak at bay, at least for a few hours at a time. I ignored Damari's relen

ore button, but then I hesitated. I needed to cut ties cleanly. This needed to

elief. "I'm out of the hospital. I'm coming to see you. I h

livious, completely wrapped up in his own narrative of red

it our old spot. The place where we had our first real date. I even got them to recreate t

same naive girl who would fall for his performative devotion. But that girl was gone. Buried under four

teeling myself. The bell rang. I opened the door. He stood ther

said, his voice soft, teasing

osed my eyes, letting him tie the blindfold. The forced intimacy felt like a violation. He l

wandered. I remembered our first date at that little Italian restaurant. The nervous laughter, th

blindfold. "Surprise!" he whisper

garlic and herbs filling the air. There was a small table, set f

t getting married." He chuckled, a self-deprecating sound. "I know it's a bit early, but I

rsary. Today was Eldridge's birthday. The very day Damari had chosen to alter the approval documents,

. He' d forgotten. Or he hadn' t cared. He was recreating a memory, but it was

oses looked a bit wilted. The candles weren't quite straight. The tablecloth had a faint stain. It was all a little... o

my lack of enthusiasm. "What

e," I lied. "

on bringing these herself. She said they were 'more authentic to the period'." He gestured vaguely at the slightly sad-looking bouquet. "And the spec

a furious glare at the waiter. "

aiter stammered, shrinking under his gaze

me back, her shadow loomed large. She hadn't just been present; she had orchestrated it. Sabotaged his attempt. Or

alvage the moment. "It's nothing, Augusta. Just Cydney being

n forgive her, then she would be back, clinging to him, more ind

licker of hope, of longing for the man I once knew, had finally died.

his eyes. "What are you talking about?

crossing his face. I saw Cydney's name flash on the caller ID. He hesitated,

" I knew he would. He always did. He always ch

s it? What's wrong?" His face paled, his eyes wide with alarm. "What? Are you

have to go. Cydney... she's in trouble. She s

ed. My jaw tightened. This was it. The final straw. He was leaving me,

my voice empty

n his face. "Augusta, I swear, I'll be right

rmth. "There is no 'us' anymore. There hasn't been for

vered the last thread between us. He turned, tearing out of the restaurant without another word, leaving me alone at the