And it’s been coming for years.
“We’re getting married.”
My eyes fall to her fourth finger where an elegant diamond ring decorates her hand. I smile like a fucking robot, saying the word everyone is expecting me to say.
“Congratulations.”
I take the glass of bubbly my brother offers me and I even take a sip as everyone makes a toast of well-wishes. I know all of this is happening. I can hear, somewhere in the distance, the celebration just feet away from me. I nod, I hear, I cross my arms tighter to my chest because,inside, I’m dying.
My heart, which had only just begun healing from all those years ago, shatters once more. I think I hear it fall between my rib cage and drop to my other organs.
They’re shutting down too. One by one. But before I fall to the floor and make a complete fool of myself, I slip away from the gathering and lock myself in the bathroom where I proceed to throw up all the contents of my stomach.
It’s the second time I’ve vomited in the last twenty-hours. Unlike the night before, this is definitely an emergency, but I have no number to call for someone to come and save me.