PROTECT MY HEART

THE PERFECT

Z'S

, my phone rang. I w

hen the familiar ringtone

fumbling for the ph

name I hadn't seen in a

beat. Jane, my old-

years. I swip

my voice a little

e from the other end. "Oh my G

e, wow!, is this r

nd only!",

st, but then I saw the announcement on Sarah's status, and this mor

rt, It's been forever, I'm doing well, thou

e 13th July. Tell me everything! Who's the lucky guy?, where the wedding taking pla

e! Okay... where do I start?, I said, w

i, we met at a friend's birthday d

. there, Quiet, observant, with this warm smile that made yo

cholas Sparks novel. So what happened next?,

m. Then he DM'ed me something simple, like, 'Hey, you seemed

so low-key smooth. What

maybe we were twin flames

id still pretendi

but somehow it

movie nights turned into Sunday brunches, He's the most thoughtful

romantic tale, She had the idea that the man Lizz described so fondly the very same Kalix she has dated and who never loved Lizz like she thought. Simply because of his selfish rea

lways had this quiet strength, even back in school, I could still r

ubmitting the science project, but you'd been taking car

iced, everyone else was too busy trying to please t

d someone to see them when they're not

ized love was supposed to

k we all crave that deep down, even if

Jane, are you seei

tes than I care to count, but I haven't given up hope. He

though. Remember your crush on Mr. Bi

anonymous poetry. Oh my gosh. The cringe!

r with a dream, that's allowed."

aven't told me of the we

se. Small and intimate. I've always wanted something na

utiful. Can I co

me?, of course! Jane, I want you there. It

alize how much I needed this

atin?, ball gown?, Mermaid?, come on, giv

ory white, fitted bodice, and a flowing skirt with the softest t

eves. It feels like something out

oing to look like a goddess. Who

r her?, always had opinions l

once told our math teacher his shoes were 'fa

ss, she actually got teary. Molly said, 'That's it, Liz

iting your own v

e every time I think about Kalix, it's like there's

real. Love that doesn't fi

l party?, who are your b

wo of my closest friends from work. But I ha

ait, are you ser

y. You've always been part of my story, ev

wedding will be a success or not.

fitted for the dress this weeken

ime, nothing's stop

ane. I didn't realize how

fe just got... busy,

ike picking up a thread that n

we just took a long commercial break

er, and possibly me falling over during

t me, "You? Clumsy Li

heels without looking like a newbor

have to see.

... can I tell you something I'

se." I s

k I stopped coming to school and every

you told me it was fa

elling at my mom, throwing things. I was scared, Lizz. Really scared. I locked myself in my roo

..." I sa

on my door with a thermos of tea and that ugly knitte

"The mustard-yellow one wi

ust sat there. We didn't even talk. You played some soft music on your phone and gave me the bl

t knew you needed to not be alone

times, when things got really bad at home, I'd close my eyes and imagine you sitti

huh?" I said still