Chapter 2

I suddenly felt completely drained. "Chris, you've been inside for hours. Did you forget how cold it is outside? I've been standing at City Hall all day, my body is stiff from the wait. And you just... forgot?"

Chris, as usual, was impatient. "I'm sorry, okay? I really forgot..."

I ignored his apology and pressed on. "And Sharon, don't even try to pretend. We've known each other too long. The second you opened your mouth, I knew exactly what you were doing. If you were really sorry, why would you ask Chris to help you today, the day we were supposed to get our marriage certificate? And then post that picture of you two holding hands, making sure I'd see it?"

I couldn't stop the bitterness. "You want Zack in one hand and Chris in the other. Well, I'm done playing this game. From now on, don't dump your leftover garbage on me."

Chris's voice was furious now. "Maggie, you're going too far. How can you talk to Sharon like that? She's not what you think she is. Apologize to her, right now."

I laughed, but it wasn't funny. "Chris, let's break up."

"Break up? Fine. But don't come crying to me to get back together like you always do. I'm done. You've pulled this stunt too many times. I forgave you before, because of Sharon, but not this time. Unless you apologize to her, the wedding is off."

His words felt like a stab to the chest, half from the betrayal, half from my own crushed hopes. I hung up without another word, my tears falling freely now. I had to preserve what little dignity I had left in front of them.

I walked slowly down the street, the wind cutting through me like ice. It was painful, but I barely felt it. My mind was a mess, racing with thoughts I couldn't shake.

Somehow, I found myself standing in front of the building Chris and I had called home. I looked up, counting the floors as I stood there: "One, two, three... seven." The lights were off, Chris was probably still with Sharon.

And then the thoughts came crashing in. What were they doing right now? Were they having dinner together? Watching TV? Were they being... intimate?

I slapped myself, hard, trying to shake the thoughts. "Maggie, get it together. He's just a jerk. You need to move on."

I entered the apartment, looking around at the home I'd worked so hard to make ours. I couldn't help it, I broke down again. The memories came flooding back. I remembered when we first moved in, how excited Chris had been. We'd sat on the couch that night, talking about our future.

I thought about the time the water pipe broke, and I was terrified. Chris had held me, comforting me, after I sent the neighbors home. Maybe, just maybe, he had feelings for me then? But I laughed bitterly to myself, it never mattered, because it was never enough to compete with Sharon.

I started packing my things, sobbing quietly. It was nearly 11 p.m. by the time I finished. It's hard to get a taxi that late, and I waited almost an hour before finally getting one.

I climbed in, gave the driver the last digit of my phone number, and let my head rest against the window. I stared out at the city, letting the streets blur past me.

Suddenly, I felt a shiver run through me. I looked up and caught the driver's eyes in the rearview mirror. His smile was unsettling.

"Pretty lady, just off work?" he said, his gaze sweeping over me like I was a prize.

I froze, unease crawling up my spine, but I said nothing. The night was cold, and the world felt even colder.