Beneath the ashes of betrayal

Freya’s POV I stood in the elevator, looking at myself in the mirror while smoothing my deep emerald-green dress with both hands. The fabric hugged my slender 5’6” frame highlighting my delicate collarbones. My long wavy chestnut-brown hair fell over my shoulders. My blue eyes looked a little nervous. Tonight was special. It was my best friend Maren’s birthday, and I wanted everything to be perfect. Maren and I had been close since college. We laughed together, cried together, and helped each other through hard times. I loved her like a sister. My fiancé, Jade, was supposed to meet me there. For months, something had felt off between us. Our phone calls had grown strangely silent. He stayed out late, always armed with a new excuse. His words became colder, and some days he could barely bring himself to look at me. Deep down, I knew something was wrong, but I kept convincing myself it was only work stress. The elevator door opened. I took a deep breath and stepped out onto the beautiful rooftop. The place looked like a dream. Tiny string lights hung above like shining stars. Soft music played in the background. Tables had white roses and golden candles that gave a warm glow. The night sky was clear, and the city lights twinkled below. It was perfect for a celebration. I saw Maren right away. She looked stunning at 5’8” with an athletic yet elegant body. Her long silky black hair fell in perfect waves down her back. Her caramel-brown skin glowed under the lights, and her dark brown eyes sparkled with happiness. She wore a shiny silver dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. “Happy birthday, Maren!” I said with a big smile and hugged her tightly. I breathed in her sweet vanilla perfume. “You look like a dream tonight.” Maren laughed happily and hugged me back. “Freya! I’m so glad you’re here my friend. This means everything to me.” I gave her the gift I had chosen and wrapped so carefully. It was a delicate gold necklace with a small star pendant. She opened it quickly, and her eyes lit up with real joy. “It’s perfect, I love it,” she said. “Thank you so much my friend, she hugged me out of excitement.” For a moment, everything felt right. Our group of friends sat around the long table, talking and laughing. I smiled and joined them. But I kept checking my phone. Where was Jade? He said he would be here early. Ten minutes passed. Then fifteen. I started to feel bothered. Finally, Jade walked in. He looked handsome as always. Too handsome for just a birthday celebration. He was 6 feet tall with a strong athletic build from going to the gym. His short black hair was cut in a sharp, stylish way. His eyes and smooth skin always turned heads. He wore a fitted black button-up shirt that showed his broad shoulders and arms. But his face looked tense. He did not smile at me. He barely looked into my eyes when he sat down beside me. I reached under the table and squeezed his hand. He gave a weak squeeze back and quickly pulled his hand away. Something felt wrong, but I pushed the feeling down. Tonight was about Maren and about making her day memorable. Dinner started. Waiters brought out delicious food — juicy steaks, creamy pasta, fresh salads, and warm bread. The smell was wonderful. Everyone ate and chatted happily. I stood up to give the first toast. I raised my glass. “To Maren, my best friend and chosen sister. You deserve every beautiful thing in life. I love you so much.” Maren’s eyes became misty. She smiled at me warmly. “Love you more, Freya, I am so blessed to have you in my life.” Jade stayed very quiet. He kept looking at his phone under the table. The knot in my stomach grew bigger, but I smiled anyway. Maybe he was planning a nice surprise for Maren. Dessert time came. Beautiful chocolate cakes with candles arrived. The lights on the rooftop dimmed softly. We all sang “Happy Birthday” together. Maren blew out the candles, laughing with joy. Everyone clapped. Then Jade suddenly stood up. Everyone turned in confusion. Was he going to give a speech? He walked slowly around the table and stopped right in front of Maren. My breath caught in my throat. What was happening? Jade reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. It was the same box he used when he proposed to me six months ago. I asked him this evening if he had seen it lying somewhere around the house. He answered coldly, calling me careless. No. This could not be happening. He dropped to one knee. The whole table became completely silent in shock. Someone’s fork fell and made a loud sound. “Maren,” Jade said in a clear, strong voice, “From the moment I truly saw you, I knew you were the one. You make me feel alive like no one else ever has. Will you marry me?” He opened the box. My diamond ring sparkled brightly under the lights. The ring I had worn with so much love and pride. Maren’s hands flew to her mouth. Her eyes went wide with shock. Then a soft, happy smile spread across her beautiful face. My world stopped. I could not breathe. It felt like someone had ripped my heart out of my chest and crushed it into pieces. My hands started shaking badly. I could feel the eyes piercing hard into my skin. This had to be a nightmare. I waited for Jade to laugh and say it was a prank. But he stayed on his knees, looking at Maren with pure love in his eyes — the same look he used to give me when he proposed. That look I had always felt has been stolen from me for months now. Whispers started around the table. Phones came out. Camera flashes went off. The bright lights hurt my eyes. “Maren?” Jade asked softly again. Maren nodded, tears shining in her eyes. “Yes… Yes, I will marry you.” Awkward cheers and gasps filled the air. A few people clapped, but it sounded unsure. I stood there frozen. My whole body shook. I knocked over my wine glass. Red wine spilled across the white tablecloth, and some spilled on my silk dress like blood from a deep wound. Jade never once looked at me, to him, I was invisible. Tears burned hot in my eyes. My legs felt weak. “How could you?” I whispered. My voice cracked into pieces. “Both of you…when, how, why?” The right questions ceased from my mouth. Maren finally glanced at me. For one quick second, guilt showed on her stunning face. Then she turned back to Jade. The pain was too much. It felt like a thousand knives stabbing my heart at the same time. I grabbed my purse and ran. My heels made loud sounds on the floor as I pushed past waiters and shocked guests. Behind me, I heard more whispers and someone calling my name, but I did not stop. Tears poured down my face. I could not see clearly. The elevator ride down felt like forever. I sobbed loudly, ugly cries that hurt my throat, mascara running down my face, mucus running down my nose to my mouth without caring about who saw me. How long has this been going on? All those nights Jade said he was working late. All the times Maren smiled and asked about our relationship like she cared. They had lied to my face for months. I ran out of the building into the cold night air. My chest hurt so much I could barely breathe. I felt small, useless, betrayed, and destroyed. The man I loved and my best friend had just ripped my life apart in front of everyone. I waved down a cab with trembling hands and slipped into the back seat, not knowing where I wanted to go. As the car drove away, I looked back at the glowing rooftop. The lights still sparkled beautifully, as though nothing had gone wrong. As though my heart had not just been ripped apart. My entire future—our plans, our love, our dreams—had crumbled into pieces before my eyes. I curled up in the back seat, hugging my knees tightly. I cried so hard and so loudly that I could barely catch my breath. The cab driver kept peeking at me through the rear-view mirror, but he never asked for my destination. Instead, he just drove around Los Angeles while I cried. They had taken everything from me. Even my ring. What was left of me now?