Another wedding?
The hundredth time.
I wasn’t happy.
I was just worn out.
I went into the study to write a goodbye letter
to Mark.
He didn’t come looking for me.
The next morning, Mark looked miserable.
I made breakfast, and Sarah showed up.
“Mark, I’m sorry about yesterday,” Sarah said
to Mark.
“It’s okay,” Mark said, smiling and rushing
over to her. “Come in and eat breakfast.”
He was so happy to see her.
He had been rejected by Sarah and wanted to
marry me.
“No, thanks. I’m just glad you’re not mad!”
Sarah smiled. “My dog’s sick. Do you know
any good vets?”
She glanced at me.
Mark offered to take her to the vet.
Again.
I watched them get in the car.
<
Again.
Mark broke his promise.
“Mark, what’s this?” Sarah said from the
passenger seat.
“I don’t know. It’s probably nothing. Throw it
away,” Mark said, tossing the padlock
wrapped in red fabric out the window.
The fabric unwrapped and the padlock broke
into pieces.
Mark froze.
He might’ve recognized the padlock, but he
didn’t say anything. He drove off.
I watched the padlock. My head hurt, and I
<
thought of the past, but it was gone.
I was crying.
“Mark.”
“It’s over…”
Chapter 2
I left the letter in the living room, looked
around, took a deep breath, and dragged my
suitcase.
As I closed the door, I forgot a few things.
The sun was shining.
I couldn’t remember what happened between
Mark and I.
I told my parents.
They were surprised, and they didn’t want to
tell me what to do.
They blamed themselves for not noticing
Mark.
Instead of going home, I went to see
Grandma Willow. I was checking my phone,
wanting to know how Mark would react when
he found out I left.
Would he be sad?
That evening, Mark came home with flowers.
“Compensation for missing the date?”
く
I laughed.
Marriage was important, but Mark kept
blowing it off.
The padlock broke, and it was over.
“Abby!”
Mark yelled.
The house was quiet.
“She’s always home. Did she run away?”
Mark frowned.
He thought he had me.
く
The last wedding, Mark ditched me.
Later, I saw what Mark said about it.
His friends asked, “You left Abby for Sarah?
Won’t she be mad?”
Mark said, “She loves me. She won’t do that.”
They said he was a boss.
Mark left the flowers, and he saw my letter.
He freaked out.
