- Chapter 1
- Seeing Liam again after five years was at my
- best friend’s wedding.
- He was the groom; I was a bridesmaid.
- My best friend, Sarah, giggled, sharing their
- love story with me.
- “I saved him from a car accident, you know? I
- heard he had a fiancée, but I whisked him
- away overseas for treatment.”
- “Pretty badass move, right?”
- I didn’t hear a word Sarah said after that; my
- ears were ringing.
- Five years, almost two thousand sleepless
- nights. The man I loved was hidden away by
- my best friend for five whole years.
- I bent over, gasping for air, my body shaking
- uncontrollably.
- Sarah noticed my pale face and helped me
- L
- into the restroom.
- “Lily, what’s wrong? Is your depression acting
- up again?” she asked gently.
- For five years, I searched everywhere for
- Liam, asking countless people, putting up
- missing posters, even buying trending
- searches.
- Even his family gave up. Only I persisted.
- Countless nights, I stood on the edge of
- roads, trying to end this hopeless life.
- But now, it’s all a joke.
- Looking at the countless scars, old and new,
- on my right wrist, my eyes burned, my heart
- felt ripped apart.
- Sarah sighed. “Are you thinking about your
- fiancé again? Forget it, he’s probably dead by
- now. I’ll set you up with one of Liam’s
- friends.‘
- As soon as she finished speaking, Liam
- walked in, tall and handsome in a black suit
- く
- looking exactly as he did five years ago.
- Our eyes met. He merely glanced at me
- before straightening Sarah’s dress.
- His groomsmen followed–his old friends,
- most of whom I knew.
- Their eyes held unspoken words when they
- saw me.
- Before, I could have told myself he might
- have amnesia.
- But his friends told me he remembered
- everything.
- He just didn’t love me anymore.
- Sarah said quickly, “Honey, keep your friends.
- tonight; let’s have some fun.” She winked at
- me.
- Liam nodded casually, not giving me another
- glance.
- As if we’d never met..
- I slowly closed my eyes. My heart felt
- squeezed, then ripped out and thrown into a
- <
- I’ve never felt this much pain. I needed an
- outlet.
- I ran into the bathroom and slammed my head
- against the wall, a dull thud followed by the
- hot rush of blood.
- My vision blurred. I slid down the wall, my
- heart aching.
- I banged my head against the wall again and
- again, as if it was the only way to find
- temporary release.
- It hurt so much.
- I curled up, a sharp pain spreading across my
- chest.
- Then, I laughed softly.
- “Liam… you don’t want me anymore…
- The wedding had started by the time I left the
- bathroom. Sarah had found someone to
- replace me as a bridesmaid.
- I stood at the back, watching Sarah on the
- stage, her smile radiant as she said. “I do.”
- <
- Liam solemnly knelt, placing a ring on her finger. A wave of jealousy washed over me.
- I wanted to stop them, scream at Sarah for
- stealing my fiancé, for hiding him, for making
- me search for five years. I wanted to ask
- Liam why he pretended not to know me, why
- he didn’t look for me when he returned, why
- everyone kept it from me.
- I wanted to ruin this wedding.
- But I didn’t.
- I just sat in the corner and applauded when
- they finished their vows.
- I clapped loudly, drawing stares.
- I didn’t care. When Liam looked at me, I met
- his gaze.
- Our eyes locked. My tears fell.
- Liam’s brow furrowed slightly. He quickly
- looked away, his dark eyes devoid of emotion.
- I clenched my fists. I thought I might go
- insane.
- <
- I texted him:
- “Liam, I don’t want to wish you happy
- marriage.”
- “I curse you, I curse you to never get what
- you want.”
- Then, I laughed at my own foolishness. The
- I
- woman he loved was his wife. My curse was
- meaningless.
- I went home before the wedding ended.
- Staying any longer, I feared I’d lose control.
- Three years ago, when Liam’s news went
- cold, I tried to kill myself.
- i failed, and a neighbor found me and sent me
- to the hospital.
- When I woke up, Liam’s mother, tearful, held
- my hand, urging me to live, to live for him.
- But life without Liam was excruciating.
- We met when we were six, fell in love in high.
- school, and got our marriage license right
- after college.
- <
- But he had a car accident on his way to get
- it, disappearing without a trace.
- I visited the police station countless times,
- questioned everyone near the accident site,
- but to no avail.
- No one had seen him.
- Now he’s back, but he doesn’t love me
- anymore.
- I fell into a restless sleep. When I woke up, I
- checked my phone.
- There were calls from Sarah and comforting
- messages from Liam’s mother.
- And a stark reply from Liam.
- A single, cold word:
- [Go away.]
- I chuckled bitterly. My persistent feelings
- were just a joke to him.
- I isolated myself, plagued by insomnia. My
- hair fell out in clumps. I didn’t leave the house.
- for ten days, and I lost a significant amount
- く
- of weight.
- Sarah found me when she couldn’t reach me,
- Liam behind her.
- I hadn’t showered in ten days, and I reeked.
- But Sarah didn’t care. She hugged me and
- dragged me to the hospital. She knew what
- she feared.
- I calmly pulled away, my voice polite and
- distant. “I’m fine, thank you.”
- I didn’t know how to face Sarah, whether to
- resent or bless her. I couldn’t do either, so I
- instinctively wanted to distance myself.
- She didn’t mind my sudden coldness,
- assuming I was just upset.
