LOVE AFTER BETRAYAL

the hotel room window as my heart put itself into an irregular rhythm; I registered where I was. Remnants of last night washed over me, mem

desperate plea for forgiveness or an attempt to smooth over the jagged edges of

brunch today! Emma is exci

ooding over me, and for a second, I could almost hear the echo of her laughter ringing in my ears. I slid my phone back

my engagement, I had studiously avoided being in the same room as my family, and it was l

across the room reflected a person that was surely a mirror image of how dishevelled and fragile

s on my skin last night clung to it. I could not run away from what had happened the previous night, nor could I act as

before-the poised, confident woman who planned extravagant weddings. The one who believed in love. I slipped it o

weighed upon me. I fought the urge to turn back and retre

rs above the doors as they lit up one by the countdown to confront my family. When it final

a table soaked in sun and chattered gaily. Emma's free, bubbly laughter sliced through the fog of my anxie

t of me. Smiling hugely, she stood to greet me, arms open wide,

r!" she said, warmnes

ng as Emma's gaze settled on me. Turning to her, my

id, cheerful and a

oice light though my he

up, the bitter brew grounding me for a moment. I needed to be focused and compositional so I could han

eaming. My heart fell at the question. A cruel joke-the

hrough the lump in my throat.

r eyes, which was quickly replaced by the mask of innocence as she leaned forward with

wanted to scream that she was the reason I had no idea what I was going to wear because my life was unra

phony that reverberated inside my head as brunch wore on. I listened half-heartedly to their chat

mysterious, sending my heart skipping a beat. What was I doing? I couldn't go

ts, and I blinked back to reality. "What do you think ab

rning. "I think it's perfect," I said, even

ed infectious, and I couldn't help but feel a p

l's upcoming wedding?" Emma s

t chimed in, her eye

tered across my face. "To love and new beginnings

laimed in echo, clinking their glasses

I just keep playing along that all was fine? I needed to speak with Michael to conf

, but inside, something in me had reached for som

f, needing a moment to breathe. Outside the hotel patio, the cool fresh air hit m

e, showing the time. I hesitated for a second, then swiftly typed out a

lk? I need t

unding, staring onscree

and as I stood there, a sense of resolution washed over me. I was ready to conf