In the middle of our wedding photoshoot, my fiancé, Samuel Peters, left me yet again.

The reason? His childhood friend, Kaia Black, was having another seizure. He sprinted to the hospital, his white suit jacket flapping behind him, too rushed to even take it off.

Not long after, I saw Kaia’s update on Instagram.

"Even if the world abandons me, I still have you."

The caption accompanied a picture of her and Samuel, with him still in his suit jacket. They gazed at each other affectionately; it wasn’t an official wedding photo, but it might as well have been.

In the past, I would have confronted him angrily, demanding explanations. But this time, I simply smiled and turned to the photographer.

“We're stopping the wedding shoot. Let’s take some solo shots of me.”

From that moment, my life wouldn't include him anymore.

---

I had just slipped into the third strapless gown of the day, this one with a detachable train, when Samuel signaled for a break to take a phone call.

As he brushed past me, I heard him softly say “Kaia.”

A sinking feeling washed over me; I knew the shoot would be interrupted again.

Sure enough, Samuel returned minutes later with a concerned expression, grabbed his coat, and said he had to leave.

"Kaia's having another seizure. I need to be there for her."

Taking a deep breath, I tried to stop him, pleading.

“We’re one outfit away from finishing the shoot. Can’t we just get this done first?”

“Just two more hours, and I’ll go with you to see her, okay?”

Kaia’s seizures had been fairly controlled. She was already in a hospital, under doctors' care, not in immediate danger. Delaying our visit by two hours shouldn’t be critical.

Yet Samuel shook my hand off, glaring at me with disdain. “Indy, do you even hear yourself?”

“Is a photoshoot more important than Kaia’s safety?”

“Last time, because I wasn't there, she nearly bit through her tongue. This time, no matter what, I will be there!”

With those words, he shot me a furious look and rushed out, his suit jacket still on, leaving the photographer and me exchanging looks of disbelief.

I shook my head, letting out a bitter laugh.

I knew it too well. Every time Kaia had an episode, I ended up being the one left behind. The scales between Kaia and me were always tipped, with Samuel’s heart forever leaning toward her.

Without exception.

A member of the photography team approached, asking if I wanted to wait for the groom to return for more photos.

Silently, I glanced at my phone, noticing Kaia’s latest Instagram post.

"Even if the world abandons me, I still have you."

It was a photo of Kaia and Samuel embracing. Samuel, still in his suit, looked at her with a tenderness I'd never seen.

I glanced at the photos taken earlier; it was supposed to be a wedding shoot with me and Samuel, yet his eyes never held the same warmth when he looked at me. Instead, they seemed cold, distant.

Kaia and Samuel’s picture wasn’t a wedding photo, but it felt more intimate.

This stark contrast hit me hard, leaving me speechless.

Suddenly, I felt exhausted, worn out by it all.

In the two years together with Samuel, I constantly tried to accommodate his relationship with Kaia, telling myself not to be petty, even having heated arguments fueled by jealousy.

But in the end, I could never change Samuel’s favoritism towards Kaia.

This time, I wasn’t jealous or angry. Instead, I quietly closed Instagram, locked my phone, and turned to the staff.

“Let’s cancel the wedding shoot. Convert everything to solo portraits.”

Who said a bride couldn’t have photos without the groom? This time, I’d capture these memories for myself alone.

So, amidst curious stares, I completed the final set of portraits by myself.

When it was all over, it was six in the evening.

As I stepped out of the bridal boutique, Samuel finally remembered to text me.

“Kaia’s stable now. Are you still at the bridal shop? I’ll head back now.”

I replied calmly.

“No need to come back. It's already over, and they’ve closed for the day.”

“How about some pasta tonight?”

Samuel sent another message.

I had told him countless times how much I wanted to try pasta, but he always found excuses to decline, usually to be with Kaia instead.

His sudden suggestion was a peace offering, a way to smooth things over after today’s mess.

In the past, I would have been happy to accept the gesture, but today, I no longer wanted to.

“No thanks, I’ve already eaten.”

When I got home, the house felt as empty as ever. I sat on the couch, absentmindedly scrolling through my phone when I noticed Kaia Black had posted another update. It was a picture of her having Thanksgiving dinner with Samuel Peters. She captioned it, "Just like old times—the food, the company."

So, he had gone out to eat with Kaia again. I should have been accustomed to this by now—Samuel spent more time with her than with me.

Samuel and I met in college, and for me, it was love at first sight. When we graduated, I was determined not to let it end there, so I left behind friends, a promising job, and even my family to move with him to the small town in the Alps where he grew up. It was then that I learned about Kaia Black, his childhood friend who was like family to him.

Samuel and Kaia grew up in an orphanage together. Kaia had epilepsy since childhood, and the other kids avoided her—everyone except Samuel. He became her only friend, her sole "family." Whenever she had a seizure, Samuel would drop everything to be by her side. Sometimes it was during our meals, other times while we traveled, and even when I was sick in bed.

During the countless early mornings when Samuel left me behind, I would sit up and remind myself to stay calm, telling myself these were just small things. But when the small things start to add up, they can become overwhelming. I couldn't handle it anymore.

I called my parents to say I wanted to come home, to return to where I belonged. To my surprise, they were thrilled.

"We've been hoping you would come back. Your dad and I are getting older, and we need you," my mom said. "By the way, is Samuel coming back with you?"

"He's not coming. Not now, not ever."

There was a brief silence before my mom sighed. "Sweetheart, if you're hurting, just come home. Your dad and I will always support your decision."

I felt a lump in my throat as I hung up the phone and started looking for jobs in my hometown. There was nothing suitable for me in this small town. My degree was in chip manufacturing, and there was no demand for that kind of work in a place that shut down by nine in the evening.

Fortunately, back in my bustling hometown, chip manufacturing was thriving. It didn't take long before I found a company that aligned with my expertise and submitted my application.

Just as I hit send on the résumé, Samuel came home carrying a box of pulled pork.

"Here, I brought this for you."

I responded with a half-hearted "thanks."

He frowned, letting out an impatient sigh as he placed the pulled pork on the dining table. "Still upset?"

"No."

"I know you're upset, but Kaia and I grew up together, taking care of each other..."

"I said I'm not upset; I'm just tired."

When the warmth is gone, all that's left is exhaustion and indifference. I didn't want to hear another word about how he and Kaia were like siblings. I cut him off mid-sentence and stood up, ready to retreat to the bedroom for some rest.

Samuel suddenly called out to me, his voice a mixture of irritation and pleading. "Indy, you have to understand, Kaia isn't like you. She doesn't have parents who love her, no sisters or friends. She's not surrounded by love like you are."

"She... she's only got me!"

I turned around, looking at him with a wry smile, and nodded. "I know. I understand. I've let you go to her, haven't I? What else have I done wrong?"

Samuel looked taken aback, stepping forward as if to explain further. But I had no patience left to listen. I walked straight into the bedroom and closed the door behind me.