ManyWriters

Amanda Wright and I had been together for eight years, but on the evening we got engaged, she went out drinking with her former flame.
I witnessed them myself, entering a hotel together, their arms intertwined. I remained outside the hotel all night. The harsh wind left me frozen and further chilled my already aching heart.
The freezing temperature took its toll, and I became gravely ill, spending two weeks in the hospital. This sickness prevented me from seeing my grandmother one final time before she died.
When I questioned her, she replied, "It was just a casual drink with Jayden. Are you really going to blow this out of proportion?"
Her response shattered any remaining hope I had for our relationship. Feeling utterly dejected, I silently walked away from her.
But then she phoned, sobbing. "Yvo, are you actually going to end things with me?"

The 999 Roses That Never Bloomed

I ended the call abruptly, saying, "Don't bother me." My spirit was crushed with sorrow.


How had our relationship deteriorated so much? We used to be inseparable, but now we were like strangers on different continents. The person who had promised to support me through all of life's challenges had abandoned me when I needed her most.


After finalizing my grandmother's burial arrangements, I made my way back to my home.


The apartment was unnaturally quiet. As I turned on the lights, I spotted an unfamiliar pair of men's shoes near the entrance.


"Oh, you're here, Yvo. Why didn't you let me know you were coming?" Jayden came out of the bedroom, wearing my sleepwear and speaking as if he owned the place.


I shot him an icy look. Drained from the recent events, I didn't want to waste energy arguing with him. I sank into the sofa, hoping for some tranquility.


But Jayden took a seat in the nearby chair, his irritating presence impossible to disregard.


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