The Bride They Rejected

ERT

cted; after the incident with Clai

her had trusted her after barely knowing her for a day,

and worked without complaining, even when the workload was

life, but the suspicion I felt on her first day had faded. By Friday afternoon, I

up, her expression s

s,

ng. I'm taki

.....

ead. A young boy approaches our car selling bottled

rm, and her eyes soften. "Why are yo

pay for my younger

lena brought out all her cash, took the water, and gave him the rest of the leftove

ing?" I asked, wat

was telling the truth, I helped someone

to the crowd, the money Elena

about whether the boy was telling the truth; she s

as kind to everyone, not just my grandmother,

, but she didn't seem to care who was watching; mayb

inic villa. Upon stepping inside, Grandma

k," she said, pullin

he asked, cupping Elena's chee

ared for us; after dinner, I excuse

NA

the stairs, then tu

the branch-the tasks I handled, Claire's

l I mentioned that Albert was home

ed instantly, her ey

he wants to

s I replied, a re

avy, as if it was more than just another day at home. Th

andma said, her voice firm. I frowned and

" I asked

go get some rest," she said, s

he old woman's distant gaze, her lips pres

________

; today was Albert's birthday. I stood in the middle of the room, scra

ate something special. After some time, I placed a small cake in

e. It wasn't extravagant, but I knew that sometimes, the

ivity, but Albert was still nowhere to be foun

eft earlier. Just then, the TV blared news o

re involved, and emergency crews reported mul

s I reached for my phone again. I dia

a, I've been trying to reach

e, her brow fur

said, my voice trembling as I ex

a gentle smile. "Don't wo

knitting my brow. "

ing glint in her eyes. "Because

s I leaned in closer.

eplied, "The graveyard," b

d weight, my eyes narrowing in disbelief, trying

ecting a deep sadness. I watched her, puzzled. "Birthdays remind us we're getting older. For Alber

birthday? I decided to find out and drove to the graveyard. When I arrived, I spotted him und

on with a single glance, the one who alway

shoulders slumped, and one hand

forward, and then

ng I could." Hi

ing the weight

t every promise I made." He quickly wiped his face,

art ached as he stared at the groun

ere, absorbing the shift; no longer was I facing Albert, the p

s head slightly, curiosity breaking th

e here," I whispered, m

ep sorrow. I saw his hand shake s

of my mother-how she held my hand in the garden, her gentle kiss, her

hreatened to spill, a storm

ired, his gaze softening as he not

spilling down my cheeks. "I

silence stretching between us. It felt like we were b

d more like a man burdened by hidden sorrow. I had

don't need solutions for their pain; they just

everything would be alright; I simply held his ha