- 2.
く
Everyone was pretty much there when I
arrived.
Huge angel wings made of roses covered the
wall at the entrance.
The whole place was decked out. Right
inside, there was a painting, too.
Mark had painted a girl from behind.
Everyone just assumed it was me, giving me
these ‘aww‘ looks.
“Gotta hand it to him,” said Lisa, “Mark’s a
romantic.”
“This is even bigger than last year.”
Mark and I had been together two years, and
he’d planned last year’s party, too.
I’d never really done anything big for my
birthday before. Just a dinner with close
friends.
But he was obsessed with throwing these
huge birthday bashes.
I remembered telling him it wasn’t necessary
last year, and he suddenly looked sad and
held my hand really tight. He asked if I didn’t
love him.
It was our first birthday together as a couple.
I nodded and agreed.
Mark picked me up and spun me around,
whispering in my ear, “I finally get to do this
Mark hadn’t let me down. Last year was all
daisies.
Daisies mean hidden love.
Not as fancy as this year, but still impressive.
There was a painting at the entrance last
year, too.
It was a girl’s profile.
Like this year’s picture, kinda similar.
“I brought my drone!” Kevin said. “If you go to
the roof to propose, I’ll get the whole thing!”
People were talking when Mark finally showed
- up.
With a girl behind him.
<
The room went silent.
Mark’s childhood friend, Dave, said “Holy
crap!”
I scanned the room. Everyone knew who this
girl was.
Mark sat down, not next to me.
He didn’t look at me once.
The girl sat beside him.
Then she gave a smile to the room. “Hi
everyone, long time no see!”
Nobody said anything.
<
The girl looked at me and held out her hand.
“Hi, I’m Sarah. You must be Amanda. Mark’s
told me all about you.”
Sarah.
That name felt too comfortable.
I shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.
Welcome to my birthday party. Have fun.”
She just smiled, a smile I couldn’t read, and
sat down.
I heard her whisper “Thanks” to Mark.
He brushed something off her dress, just like
that.
What did the thank you mean?
It was clear ne cared more about this girl than
he did about his girlfriend.
