Broken Engagement, Berlin Escape

yn," she purred, her voice dripping with m

s, Britney," I said, my voice flat, devoid of emotion. "I lost." I had lost the moment Graham chose to ignore my fears,

aham's birthday next week, who do you think he'll

have to choose, Britney. I'm choosing for him. You ca

ised by my easy ca

" I squeezed my eyes shut for a brief moment. I had once flown halfway across the country, just to be with him on his birthday, just to prevent h

's the only one who can save you. But he needs to feel saved too, sometimes." I paused, a faint, sad smile touching my lips. "He's very good at giving, but he

er of suspicion in her eyes.

happy. And I want to be left alone." My voice was w

uld see through her. That he would eventually realize what he had lost. I needed to know, with absolute cert

hotos of lavish birthday decorations, a gourmet meal, a perfectly wrapped gift. She was executing my advice, but with her usual flai

ming a tune. He turned to me, a tentative smile on his face. "Hey, Katelyn. Ready for t

hing mine tightly, as if afraid I'd disappear. He led me down a narrow, cobbled street, his smile faltering as he pointed to a smal

d. Our street. Our

himmering with rain. "This is where Britney and I came to relax after

ials here. Yours are buried under some moss, but I can still find them." He laughed, a nervous, hollow sound. Our initials. And hers, fresh and new,

ptly, turning to face him. "Graham," I said, my voice ba

n. "My wish?" He chuckled, a genuine, unfor

a frantic vibration against his leg. He pulled

it

emanding: "Graham, please. I don

at pocket, froze. The simple, heartfelt ring I had chosen for him,

attle raging in his eyes. It lasted only a second. Then,

gaze. "I... I have to go. Something just came up in

dull, familiar ache. He was leaving. Again. For her. Again