A Wedding With Another Bride

The next morning, I found Leonard in the kitchen making breakfast. It was something he'd never done before.

In our eight years together, he hadn't cooked me a single meal. Actually, he usually expected me to leave my research and come home to make dinner.

Seeing the effort he'd put into this carefully prepared breakfast, it hit me that he was never incapable of romance. He just couldn't be bothered to try for me.

I didn't touch the sandwich Leonard had left out for me. Instead, I grabbed a packet of meal replacement powder.

Leonard frowned at me, then suddenly yanked it out of my hands and threw it aside. "What's your problem?"

Before he could say anything else, Selene walked out of the master bedroom. Her face brightened the second she saw me.

"Mabel, perfect timing! Tell me what you think—does this wedding dress look good? Lenny arranged it as a surprise just for me!"

She stood in a puffy white wedding dress, the skirt so light it almost seemed like she was floating. She smiled as she ran her hands over the fabric, glowing with happiness.

Before I could respond, she turned to Leonard. "Lenny, thank you! You've got amazing taste. I love this gift!"

My chest tightened, and I forced out, "Well, anything Leonard picks out is bound to be gorgeous."

Leonard's face went stormy. "What's with the attitude, Mabel? Selene could've died under those boulders. Her dying wish was to marry me. The fact that she's even alive is a miracle. Is it really that hard for you to be a little understanding?"

My boyfriend was marrying someone else, and somehow, I was supposed to be okay with it. It felt like someone had knocked the wind out of me. I couldn't breathe.

Selene smirked, her eyes daring me as she spoke. "Lenny and I are getting married tomorrow morning, Mabel. You should come."

I didn't say a word.

Leonard didn't even glance back as he left with her. I sank to the ground, covered my face with my hands, and sobbed like my heart was breaking.

…

I couldn't stay away when the day came. Some part of me had to see it for myself before letting go.

The venue was stunning. Radiant light spilled over elegant flower arrangements, turning the whole place into something out of a dream. Delicate drapes swayed as petals drifted like snow, wrapping everything in a warm, magical glow.

Around me, guests chatted happily, their glasses clinking in celebration. My chest ached. This was exactly the kind of wedding I'd always wanted.

Leonard and I'd been together for eight years. Every time I brought up marriage casually, he'd brush it off, insisting he needed to focus on his career.

"Be reasonable, Mabel. I'm climbing the ladder. This isn't the time to settle down." And yet, there he was, marrying someone else.

The officiant quieted the crowd and called the bride and groom forward. As everyone cheered, Leonard and Selene slipped rings onto each other's fingers—the rings that should have been his and mine.

A sharp ache flared in my nose, and my eyes burned like I'd gotten sand in them. I didn't know why, but my chest felt hollow like nothing could hold me down anymore.

I finally realized there was no grief deeper than a heart that had gone cold. Then, my assistant's voice cut through, telling me it was time to leave.

She was right. I'd seen love die right before me, and there was nothing left to stay for.

The car bumped along the mountain road as we drove deeper into the disaster zone, the night stretching on. Without thinking, I pulled out my phone and opened Instagram. Selene's wedding photos were at the top of my feed.

The caption read, "I finally had the perfect wedding with the one I love. He's my salvation and the brightest star in the galaxy. He's the same guy who made my heart race when we were young and still does today."

I tapped the like button, my expression empty.

A second later, Selene's message popped up on my screen. "I'm sorry, Mabel. I really do love Lenny, but if you're upset, I'll back off."

"Don't worry about it. He's all yours."

I sent the message and slipped my phone back into my pocket. I didn't even have time to breathe before Leonard's name lit up on my screen.

The second I picked up, he was already yelling, "Mabel Holt! What the hell did you say to Lene? I told you nothing is going on between us. Why do you keep going after her like this?"

"We're done. I don't care about your marriage, so don't contact me again," I said.

Leonard's face twisted with rage as he snarled, "The doctor said Lene can't handle any stress. If anything happens to her today, I'll make you pay ten times over!"

Even after everything, they still tried to put it all on me. I didn't feel much of anything and was ready to hang up when a deafening crash erupted outside.

One of us screamed, "Move! Another slide is coming!"

The next thing I knew, the vehicle was flipping. The last thing I heard was Leonard yelling for me, his voice tight with fear. "Mabel, are you okay? Say something…"