At my betrothal celebration, Denver's companions inquired about his most exhilarating experience. Some speculated it was his proposal to me, involving ten thousand roses on Mount Everest. Others playfully suggested it might have been our first intimate night together.
Feeling uncomfortable with their jesting and concerned about Denver's potential overindulgence, I quietly left to purchase some hangover remedies for him.
I hadn't gone far when I caught his voice, measured and clear, cutting through the merriment.
"You're all mistaken. It's none of those things. The most thrilling thing I've ever done was transforming Brielle to resemble Sabrina."

Hate Being A Substitute

Caleb and I had dedicated three years to earning the highest accolade in journalism. Our hard work and sacrifices culminated in this moment. As I finally grasped the award, I realized it was all worthwhile.


The audience erupted in applause. I smiled, reveling in the cheers, but my joy wavered when I noticed a familiar face in the crowd. Denver.


He looked markedly different from my recollection, almost unrecognizable. Years had passed since I last saw him, and the changes were profound. The meticulous, self-assured doctor I once knew had become a broken, disheveled man, lost in a fog of alcohol and despair.


"Brielle... At last! I've finally found you!"


10