Chapter 6: The Night before

The eve of their wedding arrived with an air of tension so thick it was suffocating. Jeff and Evelyn had barely spoken since the confrontation over his notebook. Though they had agreed to move forward, the unspoken weight of their unresolved emotions lingered like a storm cloud over their preparations.

The rehearsal dinner was a modest affair at a local restaurant, attended by close friends and family. Evelyn seemed cheerful, smiling through toasts and laughing at old stories, but Jeff could see the strain in her eyes. He, too, played his part, delivering a heartfelt toast about second chances and the power of love. The words felt hollow, even to him.

When the evening wound down, Evelyn kissed him softly on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said, her voice tinged with both hope and hesitation.

Jeff nodded, watching her leave with her bridesmaids. He lingered at the restaurant for a while, nursing a glass of whiskey as the staff cleaned up around him. His mind churned with conflicting emotions: love, doubt, anger, and guilt.

Back at his apartment, Jeff sat alone in the dimly lit living room, staring at the engagement photo Evelyn had framed for their nightstand. In the picture, they looked happy—genuinely happy. But was that happiness real, or just a fleeting illusion?

He reached for his phone, scrolling through photos of their time together, both past and present. His thumb hovered over Evelyn's contact before he set the phone down with a sigh. There were things he wanted to say, questions he needed to ask, but he didn't know how to start.

The hours dragged on, and Jeff couldn't sleep. His mind raced with memories and doubts, cycling through moments both good and bad. Finally, he grabbed his jacket and headed out, needing fresh air to clear his head.

He walked aimlessly through the quiet streets of San Jose, his thoughts heavy. When he found himself standing outside Evelyn's hotel, he hesitated. It was late too late but something compelled him to go in.

The front desk clerk gave him a curious look but didn't stop him as he made his way to Evelyn's room. He raised his hand to knock but paused, his fist hovering inches from the door.

What was he even doing here? He didn't have the answers she needed, nor the clarity he craved. After a long moment, he turned and walked away, leaving without a word.

The next morning, Jeff woke to the sound of his phone ringing. He groaned, rolling over to check the time. It was barely 7 a.m. The caller ID displayed Evelyn's maid of honor, Cara.

"Cara?" he mumbled, sitting up. "What's going on?"

"She's gone," Cara said, her voice laced with panic.

"What do you mean, gone?"

"Evelyn. She's not in her room. Her dress is still here, her phone's on the nightstand, but she's… she's just gone."

Jeff felt his stomach drop. "Are you sure? Maybe she just went for a walk or"

"We've looked everywhere," Cara interrupted. "Jeff, what's going on? Did you talk to her last night?"

"No," Jeff said quickly, though the guilt of standing outside her door gnawed at him. "I didn't. I I don't know what's happening."

The hours that followed were a blur of frantic phone calls and searches. Friends and family fanned out across the city, checking parks, cafés, and any other place Evelyn might have gone. Jeff felt like he was moving through a haze, his heart pounding as worst case scenarios played out in his mind.

By afternoon, the police were involved. An officer questioned Jeff at his apartment, their tone professional but probing.

"When was the last time you spoke to Evelyn?" the officer asked.

"At the rehearsal dinner," Jeff said. "She left with her bridesmaids around nine."

"And you didn't see or speak to her after that?"

Jeff hesitated, debating whether to mention his late night visit to her hotel. In the end, he decided against it. "No, I didn't."

As the day stretched into evening, Jeff's anxiety turned to dread. The wedding venue had been canceled, the guests informed, but no one knew what to make of Evelyn's disappearance.

Alone in his apartment that night, Jeff replayed their last conversation in his mind. Had she sensed his lingering doubts? Had she decided to leave him again, this time for good?

He poured himself a drink, staring at the engagement photo on the table. For the first time, he allowed himself to wonder if this was somehow his fault..