Chapter 4
That night, we stood at the school gate. He held me close, and I cried my eyes out on his shoulder.
Students passing by stared at us, but he didn't care. He just kept holding me, gently patting my back.
"What are you crying about? From now on, I'm here. I won't make you cry anymore," he said softly.
Only later did I learn that the sadness in his eyes that night wasn't because of me. It was because of Lily.
After we'd been together for a year, he proposed to me.
That day, after dinner, we took a walk by the river.
He took out a ring box from his pocket, opened it, and revealed a diamond ring inside.
"Mia, will you marry me?" he asked.
I covered my face, tears streaming down, so overwhelmed I couldn't get a word out.
Some people clapped, others snapped photos.
Everything else faded away; all I could see was him kneeling there, his eyes locked on me and me alone.
"Yes. I will," I said.
He stood up, slid the ring onto my finger, then picked me up and spun me around.
I screamed in surprise, and he laughed like a child.
That night, as we walked home hand in hand, he kept talking.
He promised, "Mia, one day we'll have a place to call our own. I'll cherish you, for the rest of my life.
"We're going to have two kids—a boy and a girl. The boy will be like me, and the girl will be like you.
"When we're old, we'll find a quiet place to retire and watch the sunrise and sunset together every day."
Listening to him, my heart felt so sweet, like it was overflowing with happiness.
Back then, I really thought this was it—my whole life, just like that.
Our wedding was low-key, nothing extravagant—just our closest friends and family.
He stood on that tiny stage in his crisp suit, addressing everyone there.
"The best thing that's ever happened to me is getting to marry Mia," he said.
I watched him from the audience, tears streaming down my face.
Wendy quietly handed me a tissue and whispered, "Stop crying, your makeup's getting smudged."
I took the tissue from Wendy, smiling as I spoke.
"I'm not crying, really. I'm just so happy."
That night, he got drunk and held me close, rambling nonsense in my ear.
"Mia, you're mine now, and you'll be mine for the rest of your life.
"I'll be good to you, always."
I gently patted his back, coaxing him to sleep like he was a little kid.
After he drifted off, I lay beside him, studying his profile for a long, long time.
I thought to myself, 'Maybe this is what happiness is all about.'
Later, I realized that was the day Lily went public with her boyfriend on her feed.
*****
I spent a week in the hospital.
Wendy was there every day.
She took time off, dropped everything, and stayed with me from morning till night.
Sometimes she'd talk with me, other times she'd just hang out with me in silence.
Sometimes she'd peel an apple, then eat it herself, laughing and saying something silly.
"I'm here for the free apples."
I knew she was really just worried I'd start overthinking things if I was left alone.
I didn't say anything—I went along with her act.
On the day I was discharged, Wendy came to pick me up.
I thought she'd drop me off at Spencer's place, but instead, she headed somewhere else.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"My place," she replied.
"Wendy, I..." I tried to say.
"Shut up!" she cut me off.
She didn't even glance back at me.
She continued, "What you need right now is someone to take care of you, not to go home and cry in an empty house.
"Besides, who knows when that jerk Spencer will show up? What are you going back for? To cook for him?"
I didn't say anything.
She glanced at me in the rearview mirror, her tone softening.
"Mia, I know what you're thinking.
"Are you still hoping that when he comes back, you two can work things out and get back together like before?"
"I'm not..." I started to say.
She cut me off.
"Come on, Mia. You've loved him for years—it's not like you can get over him in a snap.
"But can you do me a favor?"
"What?" I asked.
"Don't make any decisions too quickly. Just stay at my place for a bit, take care of yourself, and really think things through.
"Once you've figured things out, no matter what you decide, I'll support you."
Watching her from behind, my eyes grew misty.
"Wendy," I called softly.
"Hmm?" she responded.
"Thank you," I said.
She gave me a playful glare in the rearview mirror.
"Come on, no need to thank me—we're best friends! If you really want to show your gratitude, just get back on your feet and take me out for a great meal," she teased.
I smiled.
It was the first time I'd genuinely smiled in days.
I stayed at her place for two months straight.