When courage wakes
462 Words
The days after seeing Annie felt like walking on a thin line between two worlds. On one side was Sussan—glitter, control, and an engagement ring that weighed heavier than iron. On the other side was Annie—truth, warmth, and a love I had buried but could no longer deny.
For the first time in months, I saw my life clearly. Sussan wasn’t love; she was a cage dressed in silk. Annie wasn’t just a friend I had lost; she was the missing piece I had been searching for without even knowing it.
But Annie’s words haunted me: “Don’t say that if you don’t mean to prove it.”
Prove it. That was the key. Words weren’t enough anymore. I had to show her, risk everything, even if it meant tearing my life apart.
---
Sussan noticed the shift almost immediately.
“Why do you keep avoiding me?” she snapped one evening as we sat in my living room. “You barely text, you barely call. Do you even want this wedding?”
Her eyes were sharp, her tone sharper. For once, I didn’t shrink.
I met her gaze steadily. “Do you?”
She blinked, thrown off. “What kind of question is that?”
“A real one,” I said quietly. “Because lately, it feels like this wedding is more about you than us.”
Her jaw tightened. “Of course it’s about me. I’m the bride. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?”
I leaned back, exhaustion washing over me. “It’s supposed to be about both of us. About love. But I don’t… I don’t feel that here.”
The silence that followed was dangerous. Sussan’s expression shifted from surprise to fury. “You’re doubting me? After everything I’ve done for you? After I chose you?”
Chose me. The words struck me like ice. She spoke as though she had picked me from a shelf, like a prize.
I didn’t argue. I simply stood, leaving her fuming in the room. For once, I didn’t rush to smooth things over.
---
The next day, I searched for Annie. I knew she wouldn’t make it easy, but I couldn’t let our last meeting be the end.
I found her at the small café near campus, a quiet spot she always loved. She was reading, a half-empty cup of coffee beside her. My heart raced as I approached.
She looked up, startled, then immediately frowned. “James. What are you doing here?”
“Trying to fix what I broke,” I said honestly.
Her eyes softened for a moment, but her voice stayed firm. “You can’t just walk back into my life like nothing happened.”
“I know,” I
- Writer
