Her name was Ellie

1.2

The wedding hall was filled with music, soft laughter, and the smell of fresh flowers. Guests were seated at long tables, talking and smiling as the couple celebrated their day. Ellie walked beside Daniel, holding his arm. She wore a pale blue dress that matched the calm in her eyes, even though her heart was heavy.

Daniel guided her inside but soon slipped away, talking with other guests, leaving Ellie alone at one of the tables. She sighed, resting her hands on her lap, watching the people around her.

"Ellie?"

She looked up. Liam stood there, dressed in a black suit with a gentle smile. For a moment, it was like the world slowed down.

"Liam," Ellie said softly, surprised.

"Mind if I sit?" he asked.

She nodded. He sat beside her, close enough for her to feel his warmth.

"You look beautiful," Liam said quietly.

Her cheeks flushed. "Thank you. And... congratulations. I mean, it's your big day."

He chuckled lightly. "Yeah, it is. But seeing an old friend makes it even better."

Ellie smiled faintly. "It feels strange. I didn't think we'd meet like this again."

"Life is strange like that," Liam replied gently. His voice was warm, his gaze soft, as if he wanted to tell her more-but stopped himself.

Before Ellie could respond, Daniel appeared again, sliding his arm around her shoulders. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her head. "Everything okay here?" he asked, smiling, but his eyes were sharp, watching.

Ellie nodded quickly. "Yes, we're just talking."

Daniel chuckled, patting Liam's back. "Good to see you again, man."

The rest of the night passed with music, laughter, and dancing. When the ceremony ended, Ellie excused herself and went to the bathroom. She needed air.

On her way back, she paused. From the balcony, she heard whispers and soft laughter. Her heart sank. She peeked through the half-open door.

Daniel was there. His lips pressed against another woman's. The same woman from before. Her hands clutched his suit, and his arms held her close.

Ellie froze, her whole body trembling. Tears filled her eyes. She stepped back quickly, hiding in the shadows, pulling her phone out with shaking hands.

Her fingers typed: Where are you?

Seconds later, his reply came. I'm in the venue. With some guests.

Her chest broke. She bit her lip so hard it bled, then ran down the hallway, through the back door, into the cold night.

Rain poured suddenly, soaking her dress, but she didn't stop running until she saw a figure standing under a streetlamp.

"Ellie?"

It was Liam.

She stopped, chest heaving, tears mixing with the rain. Liam stepped closer, his expression tightening as he saw her face. He didn't need to ask-he knew.

He wanted to protect her from the truth, but the truth had already torn her apart.

"I..." Ellie tried to speak, but her voice cracked.

Liam shook his head softly. "Ellie. I know. I've known for a while."

She looked at him, shocked. "You... you knew?"

He sighed, his eyes full of sorrow. "I didn't want to hurt you. I wanted you to see it yourself... and now you have."

Her knees felt weak, but Liam caught her, pulling her into a steady hug. His warmth was gentle, not demanding, not false-just comfort.

He whispered, "I actually liked you back then. But everything has changed now. I hope one day, you find someone willing to sacrifice for you... and love you dearly."

Ellie closed her eyes as his arms tightened around her. For a moment, she wanted to stay there forever.

But reality pulled her back.

That night, Ellie went home. She sat in silence, drenched clothes still clinging to her. Her phone lit up over and over. Daniel calling. Daniel texting. She ignored every one.

Finally, there was a knock at the door. Daniel's voice. "Ellie, please, open up."

She let him in. His face was tense, his words quick. "Whatever you think you saw-it wasn't what it looked like."

Ellie stared at him, her tears gone, only emptiness in her eyes. "Daniel... I saw everything."

He shook his head. "No. You're wrong. I wasn't cheating."

Her voice rose, shaking with fury. "Stop lying!"

The words hit him like a slap. He looked stunned.

Ellie's lips curved into a strange, broken smile. Then she stepped forward and hugged him tightly.

Daniel exhaled in relief, his body slowly relaxing. "I'll make this right," he whispered. "I'll cook for us. Just wait, okay?" He kissed her forehead and went to the kitchen.

Ellie stood still, her face empty, her hands trembling at her sides.

Slowly, she walked to her bedroom. She opened the closet and pulled out a baseball bat, her grip tightening around it.

From the kitchen, Daniel's voice called out, cheerful again, "What do you feel like eating, babe? Pasta? Or-"

The words cut off in a scream.

The sound of wood against flesh echoed through the small apartment. Again. And again. Blood sprayed across Ellie's face, dripping onto her dress, splattering the walls and the floor.

Daniel collapsed, twitching once before going still, his body crumpled in the kitchen he once filled with laughter.

Ellie stood over him, chest heaving, blood running down her arms. Her eyes were wide, unblinking.

Silence.

Only the dripping of blood broke the night.

Daniel's body lay on the kitchen floor, blood spreading slowly across the tiles. His arm twitched once, then stilled. His phone, still in his pocket, buzzed with a faint vibration-messages that would never be answered.

Ellie stood frozen, the baseball bat slipping from her hands with a dull thud. She couldn't breathe. Her chest tightened as though the walls were closing in.

Her knees gave out, and she sank to the floor a few feet away from him. She pulled her arms around herself, hugging tightly, rocking back and forth like a child lost in the dark.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, hot and endless.

"I didn't want this... I didn't want this..." her voice broke.

She buried her face in her knees, sobbing, while Daniel's body lay helpless only inches away-eyes open, staring at nothing.

The clock ticked in the living room. The sound grew louder with every second, mocking her. Time was moving on, but Ellie felt trapped in that moment forever.

She lifted her head slowly, staring at Daniel's lifeless face. Memories of him laughing, kissing her forehead, holding her hand-all twisted now, poisoned by betrayal.

Ellie hugged herself tighter, whispering,

"I loved you... and you ruined me."

Her tears fell harder, dripping onto her dress, while the blood continued to creep across the floor, inching closer to where she sat.

The kitchen smelled of iron, heavy with blood. Ellie was shaking, her back pressed against the wall, hugging herself tightly. Daniel's body was lying helpless on the floor, his shirt soaked red.

Her tears wouldn't stop.

"I didn't mean this... I didn't mean this..." she whispered, rocking back and forth.

The front door creaked open.

"Ellie?"

Her head snapped up. It was Liam. His eyes widened when he saw the scene. For a long moment, he didn't speak. Then, slowly, he stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

Ellie panicked, wiping her face. "Liam, I-I didn't-"

He raised a hand gently. "Ellie. Breathe." His voice was calm, steady.

She shook her head violently. "I didn't mean to-he was lying-he was cheating-I..."

Liam crouched down, his eyes meeting hers. "Listen to me. You don't have to explain. I know what he did to you. I know the pain you carried."

Her lip trembled. "Then... what do I do now?"

Liam's jaw tightened. He glanced at Daniel's body, then back to her. "I'll help you."

Ellie's eyes widened. "Help... me?"

"Yes." He pulled out his phone, wiping his own fingerprints afterward. He moved swiftly, almost like he had thought about this before. "No one will know it was you. Trust me."

She grabbed his arm desperately. "Why are you doing this?"

For a moment, silence. Then Liam said softly, "Because once... I loved you. And even if things are different now, I can't let you fall apart."

Ellie burst into tears, covering her mouth to muffle the sound. Liam gave her one last long look, then began to erase every trace that tied her to Daniel's death.

---

Days later, the investigation closed. The police declared it a "robbery gone wrong." The killer was never found.

---

The funeral came. The church was filled with sobs. Daniel's family stood at the front, his mother's eyes swollen from crying. Ellie wore a simple black dress and black sunglasses, her face pale, her hands shaking as she clutched a tissue.

When it was time for condolences, Daniel's mother hugged her tightly.

"Thank you for always caring and loving my son," she whispered with a breaking voice.

Ellie bit her lip hard, holding back her tears, and nodded. "Always."

After the service, she walked outside. Liam stood there with his wife by his side. Their eyes met across the crowd. Ellie managed a small, fragile smile, lifted her hand, and waved goodbye.

"Thank you," she whispered under her breath.

Liam caught it. He gave her a gentle smile, a silent reply, before turning away with his wife.

---

The sky above turned dark, heavy with clouds. A sudden drop of rain touched Ellie's cheek, then another, until the storm poured down.

She tilted her face upward, letting the raindrops wash over her.

And in her mind, Daniel's laughter echoed. His hand brushing hers. His warm smile in the mornings. The memories were sweet, untouched by betrayal.

Through the tears and the rain, Ellie smiled faintly.

For once, she let the rain hide everything.