CELESTE RETURNS
305 Words
Celeste returned.
This time, she wasn’t there for Adrian.
She came to ask Mia for help.
She was launching a nonprofit.
Mia agreed.
Adrian watched them become friends.
“You’re not jealous?”
“No.”
“Really?”
“No.”
“You’re smiling.”
“Because I’m proud of you.”
Mia kissed him.
“Good answer.”
—ADRIAN’S FATHER
Adrian’s father apologized.
It wasn’t dramatic.
There was no perfect speech.
Just two men sitting quietly.
“I was hard on you,” Daniel said.
“Yes.”
“I thought success would protect you.”
“It didn’t.”
Daniel looked at him.
“What did?”
Adrian thought of Mia.
“People.”
His father nodded.
For the first time, Adrian let go of an old resentment.
—THE WEDDING
Their wedding was small.
Twenty-seven guests.
A garden.
White flowers.
Mia walked down the aisle.
Adrian cried.
She smiled.
“Don’t cry.”
“I can’t help it.”
The ceremony was simple.
Their vows were even simpler.
“I choose you.”
“I choose you too.”
That was enough.
—THE HONEYMOON DISASTER
Their honeymoon was supposed to be peaceful.
It wasn’t.
Their luggage disappeared.
Their hotel reservation was wrong.
Adrian got sunburned.
Mia lost her passport temporarily.
They laughed through everything.
One night, sitting on a balcony, Adrian said:
“This is terrible.”
Mia smiled.
“It’s perfect.”
He kissed her.
—MARRIAGE
Marriage was different.
Not worse.
Not better.
Just real.
There were bills.
Laundry.
Deadlines.
Arguments over dishes.
Mia discovered Adrian left cabinet doors open.
Adrian discovered Mia bought plants without telling him.
Their apartment slowly filled with green plants.
“I said one.”
“You said one hundred.”
“I said one.”
“Then you should’ve specified.”
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD