
A week before our wedding, I borrowed my fiancé Colin's computer to edit a video of our relationship memories. Unexpectedly, I stumbled upon a scheduled email from a decade ago. Curiosity got the better of me, so I clicked it open and found a brief letter inside.
"Hey, Colin. This is you from ten years ago."
"I'm writing this to remind you that she loves stargazing, her favorite flower is the lily, and her favorite time of year is the summer solstice."
"If, ten years from now, you still love Ariya Vasquez…"
"Promise me you'll give her a wedding she'll never forget, okay?"
I froze. Colin had planned every single detail of our wedding. The theme was starlit, the bouquet was lilies, and next week was the summer solstice. After all these years, he had remembered each detail perfectly. I should have been touched. If only Ariya Vasquez wasn't the name of my best friend.
The door opened.
I stayed rooted in front of the computer, my thoughts a tangled mess. Colin and Ariya walked in, one after the other.
"Hey, Tallulah! You were so busy editing your video you missed dinner with us, so I brought you some chicken noodle soup," Ariya chirped happily, unpacking the container and holding it out to me like treasure.
"See? I still treat you better than Colin does."
Colin chuckled, crossing his arms. "Tallulah's going to be my wife. No matter how much you spoil her, you can't outshine me—"
Before he could finish, Ariya playfully nudged him.
Their playful banter was nothing new to me. Just half an hour earlier, I'd believed I was the happiest person on earth, with a boyfriend and best friend who both adored me. But now, watching their easy affection, my mind buzzed with confusion.
"I can't eat," I muttered.
Ariya frowned. "What do you mean? Your stomach's never been strong. Come on, just have a bite…"
Colin nodded in agreement. "Ariya's right. You need to take care of yourself."
Their exchange ignited the anger I was desperately trying to suppress. I shoved the soup away. "I said I don't want to eat!"
Caught off guard, Ariya lost her grip, and the steaming hot soup spilled. She gasped, and Colin quickly grabbed her hand to check if she was burned.
"Tallulah, what on earth are you picking a fight for?" His reprimand, laced with suppressed anger, hit me like a bucket of ice water. I hadn't realized just how deep his concern for her ran.
Never before had I despised my own naivete so much.
Seeing my silence, Ariya tried to ease the tension, smiling warmly at Colin. "It must be pre-wedding jitters. Tallulah never gets upset with me…"
I couldn't bear it any longer. "Ariya, what do you think of the wedding plans?"
She paused for a couple of seconds before smiling. "I love them."
I curled my lips into a bitter smile. "How could you not? The date, the theme, the bouquet—this wedding was practically tailor-made for you. Ariya Vasquez, you're wasted as my bridesmaid. You only truly belong as the bride!"
I stood up, yanked off my engagement ring, and tossed it onto the computer keyboard. Both of them followed my gaze to the screen, which displayed the decade-old email.
Ariya's face paled instantly.
In the silence that followed, Colin finally spoke. "Tallulah, there was a past between Ariya and me. We didn't tell you because we didn't want you to overthink it."
"But believe me, this wedding is for you. Those details are just coincidences."
I nodded sarcastically. "Fine, coincidence, is it? Then let's change the wedding date."
Colin didn't respond immediately, seemingly unprepared for such a request. Sometimes silence speaks louder than words.
An overwhelming sense of absurdity washed over me, and I laughed—a laugh more painful than tears.
Colin sighed. "It's not like that. But the invitations are already out. Changing the date now wouldn't be right…"
What a flimsy excuse.
The anger of betrayal consumed the last bit of my reason, and I raised my hand, striking Colin sharply across the face.
"Smack!"
Both Ariya and Colin were stunned.
I didn't understand. It should have been Colin who felt the pain, so why were tears streaming down my face? Not wanting to show them my vulnerability, I rushed out the door, not even bothering to change my shoes.
Outside, a heavy rain poured down. The rain mixed with my tears, blurring my vision.
Behind me, I heard Ariya's panicked voice calling out.
"Tallulah! Listen to me! Let me explain!"