Memo of Dazzling Starlight

Back then, I was deeply moved, convinced I had married the best man in the world.

One bracelet I treasured in the safe, too precious to ever wear.

The other he had locked away as well, saying it was for our future daughter.

But now, the "Echo of the Stars"—meant for my daughter—was glaringly, boldly wrapped around the wrist of this arrogant woman before me.

My world spun violently in that instant.

An icy chill shot from my soles to the crown of my head; I felt my blood begin to freeze.

Five years.

Mark and I had journeyed from shy college sweethearts to walking down the aisle. A full five years.

Everyone said we were a match made in heaven, a real-life fairytale.

I had believed it, too.

Yet this bracelet before me was the sharpest dagger, piercing straight through the heart I had sheltered in a bubble of happiness.

"Ashley? Ashley, what's wrong?" Ruth asked, seeing my pallor, and reached out to steady me.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed her hand away and walked slowly, step by step, toward Cynthia.

My voice trembled with the effort of control. "Where did you get that bracelet?"

Cynthia instinctively touched the chain, a flicker of smug pride crossing her face.

"What? Jealous?" she said. "It's called 'Echo of the Stars.' Mark gave it to me. He said it's one of a kind, just like my place in his heart."

One of a kind?

A bitter laugh choked in my chest; a tight ball of cotton seemed to stuff my lungs, stealing my breath.

So every sweet nothing he'd ever whispered to me could just be copied and pasted to someone else.

"What are you to him?" I asked, my gaze locked on hers, each word deliberate.

She seemed to savor my agony. Deliberately straightening, she leaned close, her breath a hot, taunting whisper in my ear. "I'm the one in his bed—the one who makes him happy. And you? What exactly are you?"

That was the final blow, shattering the last sliver of my restraint.

With every ounce of strength I possessed, my hand shot up and I slapped her across the face.

*Crack!*