Love Faded in the Wind

Seizing the time when Martin wasn't around on her birthday, Stacy packed her things, before gathering the photos she had taken with Martin over the years and burned everything in the garden.

There was no reason to keep that stuff as the sentiment they embodied was gone.

She took none of the things that Martin had given her too, and took only that which was hers, just like how Martin was no longer hers.

With that done, she registered a new SIM card. The current card wouldn't be used as she left, as she had no reason to contact the people she knew now.

And once that was done, she sat in the garden, swiping through trending videos when she reached an interview video.

She recognized Rachel, standing at the center of the video, while a single hand was holding her around the waist.

So Martin was busy keeping her company as she tried on wedding dresses.

"Please be understanding as the groom is refusing to show his face on stream," the news anchor disclaimed, before moving on to the first question, "So how did you two meet?"

Rachel giggled. "It's an arranged marriage…"

"No way!" The anchor exclaimed right then. "You both look so very much in love!"

Rachel smiled shyly as she looked aside when Martin spoke, "Is there a reason arranged marriages can't be true love?"

"Oh, right, yes, apologies," the anchor quickly nodded. "So when's the wedding?"

Martin turned so that the camera only caught the side of his face, but his loving gaze was not disguised at all. "In four days. It will be the wedding of the century—you'll see."

All the livestream comments were offering their blessings, while Stacy felt her heart clenching, like a hand seized her heart and squeezed it violently.

The sun that should be offering warmth felt like it was gone, as every comment of blessing on video was a blade slicing through her flesh.

She laughed self-deprecatingly—she had nothing, and was just a caged bird, never to see the light of day.

That night, Martin returned with a box containing a dress.

Seeing that it was meant for bridesmaids, she fought back her bitterness to ask calmly, "Are you asking me to be a bridesmaid at your wedding?"

"What?" Martin blurted blankly, his heart skipping a beat as he thought Stacy caught on.

Stacy giggled and calmly repeated, "Is that not a bridesmaid's dress?"

Though relieved, Martin promptly threw the dress on the floor and exclaimed panickedly as he rushed up to hug her, "I'm sorry—I didn't know it's that type of dress. I'll get you a new dress in a few days, okay? Also, who would you be a bridesmaid to? You're the only bride for me."

Stacy calmly stayed in his arms and thought of Rachel.

-

Over the next few days, Martin stayed in the house constantly.

Stacy had no idea why at first, until the second day when she overheard him on the phone, "That's enough. I'll just placate her for now, okay? So that the wedding won't be ruined. Just be good, okay?"

Stacy smiled silently as she listened—so they were worried she had caught on and would crash their wedding.

They were truly paranoid.

Then, the night before Martin's wedding, he was holding Stacy firmly in his arms and said, "Be a good girl and don't go out tomorrow, okay? I'll have a surprise for you in the evening."

Stacy didn't want to say anything, but he was bent on her responding, so she gave him a nonchalant grunt.

Martin woke up before dawn the next morning, giving her a peck on her brow before leaving.

Stacy quietly opened her eyes, listening to his car's engine speed off into the distance.

She lay still on her side, quietly staring outside the window until daybreak.

It was when she picked up her phone that she noticed the wifi was disconnected, and the tv was as well when she tried to turn it on downstairs.

The maid came up to her then, saying nervously, "Sorry, Mrs. Spencer. There's no connection today since they're fixing the cables in the area."

Stacy stayed impossible and said quietly, "Then I'll go out for a stroll…"

The maid shook her head. "M-Mr. Spencer was asking for you to stay at home to wait for him."