That afternoon, Mark called me downstairs.
Ashley was in the passenger seat.
“Ran into your sister downstairs,” he said. “She
offered to come help you pick a dress.”
There was a small cut on his lip. Ashley’s
lipstick was smudged.
“Yeah,” she chirped. “I thought I’d give you my
expert opinion.”
“Sure,” I said flatly. “You’re experienced.”
Seeing my lack of reaction, she added, “I get
carsick easily, so the front seat is best. You don’t mind, right?”
Before I could answer, Mark jumped in. “What’s
to mind? A seat’s a seat, right, Sarah?”
“Sure.”
On the drive, Ashley casually dropped the
bomb. “Oh, by the way, some good news! I got
divorced.”
Mark slammed on the brakes. I lurched forward.
His voice was hoarse. “You…got divorced?”
L
Ashley smiled. “Yep. Couldn’t make it work.
Ready for a fresh start.”
Mark stared at her, the two of them locked in
some dramatic moment. I finally broke the
silence. “Are we going or what?”
- 6.
The tension in the car was thick as we finally
arrived at the bridal shop. I tried on a dress,
emerged from the fitting room, and found Mark
still engrossed in conversation with Ashley. He
didn’t even notice me until the saleswoman
gushed about how beautiful I looked.
“Beautiful, beautiful,” he mumbled. “Looks
great. Let’s get this one.”
I clenched my fists. “This one?”
Ashley flipped her hair. “Come on, Mark, that’s
—
so dismissive. Try on a few more!”
Suddenly, the doors burst open. Jason, Ashley’s ex, stormed in, grabbing her wrist. “You tricked me into signing those divorce papers last night when I was drunk! How dare you!”
Ashley hid behind Mark. “You signed them!
Leave me alone!”
Mark punched Jason, sending him sprawling.
“She’s divorced! Leave her alone!”
Jason fell back, bumping into me. I lost my
balance, twisting my ankle as I landed hard on
the floor. Mark, still holding Jason by the collar,
told him to get lost. Then he rushed to Ashley’s
side. “Ashley, are you okay?”
The saleswoman, looking bewildered, helped me.
- up. “Sir, I think Miss Sarah has hurt her ankle.”
Mark finally turned to me. But at that moment,
<
10:57
Ashley fainted. He instantly scooped her up.
“Sarah, I need to take your sister to the
hospital. You can…try on more dresses later.”
- 7.
“Okay,” I said. “Be sure to come back.”
My ankle throbbed, but I could still walk.
“So, Miss Sarah,” the saleswoman asked
hesitantly, “shall we try on some other
dresses?”
“No,” I said. “Maybe some other time.”
Mark, predictably, didn’t return to the bridal
shop. He told me to go home and rest, that
Ashley was weak and needed him at the
hospital.
- 8.
604
1
<
Later that night, I took apart my phone case,
pulling out a photo. “Jake,” I whispered, “I wore
a wedding dress today.” Only silence answered.
The next day, I drove to the cemetery. A couple
and a little boy stood at Jake’s grave.
“Excuse me,” I asked, “are you…?”
Their faces lit up. “Jake was our son’s savior!
You must be his girlfriend.”
I nodded dumbly.
