Chapter 2
698 Words
On the third day, Ezra showed up at my front door.
He stood in the yard with a paper sack of fruit and a packaged cake in hand. Mom was off at work, leaving the house all to myself.
He looked at me and lifted a hand to ruffle my hair just like he always did before.
"You've gotten skinnier."
I stepped one pace backward.
His hand froze mid-air, then dropped awkwardly back to his side.
"Nina, listen to me. I know I've wronged you badly.
"But Talia is genuinely in terrible shape. Her ex knocked her up and then took off without a trace. She cries constantly and can barely eat a bite, and her doctor says she's showing depressive symptoms.
"We've known each other for years; I couldn't just stand by and watch her fall apart."
I stood by the doorway and stayed quiet for a long moment before speaking.
"So throwing a wedding with her counts as saving her?"
"It's only a formality to calm her nerves. We won't sign any paperwork, so it won't be real."
His gaze was earnest as he stared straight at me.
"Nina, the second she pulls through this rough patch, I'll come pick you up. I swear it."
I stared down at the cracks between the floor bricks.
"When is the wedding scheduled?"
He hesitated briefly. "Next Saturday."
Next Saturday. I silently counted the days in my head. That date was my birthday.
He'd forgotten. Or he'd remembered but simply didn't care enough to keep it in mind.
"Fine." The instant the word left my lips, violent nausea rolled up from my stomach. I spun around and sprinted into the bathroom, hunched over the toilet dry-heaving.
Ezra hurried in after me, pacing anxiously by the bathroom entrance.
"What's wrong? Did you eat spoiled food? Let me drive you over to Mercy General Hospital for a checkup."
"No need."
I wiped my mouth and stood upright.
"Probably last night's leftovers weren't fully reheated."
He still wouldn't drop his concern and grabbed my wrist, set on dragging me to the hospital.
I roughly pulled my hand free.
"Aren't you swamped with your own stuff? Go deal with your business."
He stared blankly for a second and gave up insisting.
He glanced back repeatedly while walking out, calling, "Call me anytime you start feeling sick."
Once I shut the front door, I slid down the wall onto the floor. One hand rested gently over my lower belly, and I whispered under my breath.
"Baby, your daddy came to visit me today. He just doesn't know you're here with me."
*****
That night, multiple text alerts popped up from an unfamiliar phone number:
Hi Nina! I'm Shae, Talia's friend.
Talia sent me to pass along some bridal dress photos so you can help her pick a style. She's always trusted your taste more than anyone's.
Six photos were attached right after the messages.
Every picture captured Talia trying on white wedding gowns inside a bridal boutique. In one shot, Ezra stood beside her, carefully arranging the edge of her veil.
He bowed his head, fingertips brushing the thin fabric with extreme tenderness.
He'd never treated me with such meticulous care.
He'd always joked, "Nina's laid-back and easygoing, she doesn't need all that fussy attention."
I stared at the photos for five full minutes before typing a short reply.
"They're all beautiful."
I powered off my phone right after sending the text.
*****
The following day, I heard news from another of Ezra's acquaintances.
Talia had been going around telling everyone that Ezra chose to marry her willingly, weighed down by lifelong guilt over their unresolved college romance.
An old memory suddenly popped into my head.
During our first year dating, I'd asked Ezra if he'd ever loved another girl before me.
He admitted there'd been someone, but she'd moved abroad and they'd lost all contact.
I'd asked him what her name was back then.
"Not important anymore, it's ancient history."
I'd believed him at the time; my slow brain couldn't pick apart all his hidden lies and loopholes.
Yet a dreadful thought crept over me now.
'Was that mysterious old girlfriend actually Talia?'
- Writer
