Chapter 3
It hit me, suddenly, that with my decision to leave now within reach, none of this mattered anymore.
After I turned him down that night, William froze, his body stiff with tension. Perhaps his pride wouldn’t let him ask why I had rejected him. He simply muttered a quiet “Okay” and turned his back to me.
That night, the distance between us felt as vast as the Milky Way.
The next morning, William was gone by the time I woke. Maybe he was avoiding me, afraid I’d become jealous of Ava’s friends, though I couldn’t bring myself to care.
On the dining table, however, was a surprise
1/8
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
-a plate of slightly burnt tcast, a fried egg, and a glass of milk. A rare gesture from someone who had never once made breakfast for me.
Next to the plate, a sticky note read: “For my wife–enjoy!”
My phone buzzed with a message from him:
“William“: [Honey, I’ve put the wedding dress in the study. Try it on and send me a photo–1 know you’ll look the most beautiful.]
I finished the toast (a little charred but edible) and headed to a stationery store. There, I bought a countdown calendar. Back home, I tore off the first page. Six days left.
Then I began packing.
I started in the den, clearing away framed
2/8
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
photos, books we’d shared, papers, and all the trinkets we’d collected. As I placed the last item into a box, something fell out–a diary.
I flipped through the pages, each one filled with happy memories–dates, anniversaries, little notes about the silly things we’d done. The paper had yellowed with age, but the memories were still so vivid.
I hesitated, but ultimately decided to leave it behind.
But the wedding dress? It mocked me, hanging there as if nothing had changed. Unable to resist, I grabbed a pair of
scissors and slashed it to shreds with swift, emotionless motions.
It felt oddly satisfying.
3/8
Chapter 3
5 Points
I didn’t stop there. I listed all the expensive gifts William had ever given me online–free to anyone who’d pay for shipping. By the time I finished packing, almost everything was sold. I scheduled a courier to pick it all up the next day.
Later that evening, my phone buzzed again, reminding me of my tickets to the immersive play that started at seven. It had been sold out for weeks, and I’d bought the tickets long ago, back when I thought William and I would go together.
I didn’t even bother to ask if he was still coming. He’d long since forgotten. Just before the show started, he sent a message saying he was too busy with work and asked me not to wait for him for dinner.
I rolled my eyes and went alone. I didn’t get front–row tickets, so my seat was on the right
4/8
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
aisle, not too close to the stage. The play was incredible–a heart–wrenching love story about life and death. By the end, I was in tears.
When the play neared its end, the actors began interacting with the audience. A giant screen lit up, announcing a random audience member had been selected for interaction. The screen revealed William’s face, sitting beside Ava.
Oh, so “work” meant accompanying Ava. They had the privilege of front–row seats. The spotlight shone on them as they looked perfect together–William, sharp and handsome; Ava, radiant and elegant.
The actors asked if they were a couple. Ava giggled, leaning into William’s arm without waiting for his answer. The crowd roared with cheers and teasing.
5/8
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
Then, in a move straight from the play’s final scene, the actor asked if they would kiss deeply to symbolize the depth of their connection, their fate as a couple.
Ava smiled, tilted her head, and kissed him without hesitation. Her lips brushed his, fully visible to the audience.
But William–his expression frozen for a brief moment–flinched, pushed her away, and stood up abruptly. His face was unreadable as he turned slightly to the side.
Our eyes met across the theatre.
I felt nothing. No anger, no sadness, just a strange sense of relief. I broke our gaze, grabbed my bag, and walked out of the theatre.
6/8
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
As I reached the exit, I heard hurried footsteps behind me. William was chasing after me, his hair disheveled from running. Maybe it was because he saw that I remained calm, untouched by the scene.
Different from before, William began to explain, his breath coming in quick, uneven bursts. “Victoria–seriously,” he panted, trying to catch his breath. “Listen, it’s not what it looked like. There were so many people watching. I couldn’t embarrass her–or myself.”
I nodded, giving a faint smile. “Uh–huh, I understand.”
He stared at me, confusion crossing his face. “Wait… are you saying that, or are you just being sarcastic because you’re jealous?”
I let out a soft laugh. “William, what’s there to
7/8
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
be jealous of?”
Just then, Ava came rushing out, but in her high heels, she stumbled and twisted her ankle as she neared us.
8/8
