So Long, My Old Life

The first time I went to the boutique to try on wedding dresses, I stumbled upon the staff playing their game of “Guess the Bride.” The big screen inside was displaying the package my fiancé had reserved. Eager to snag the commission, the makeup artist spoke up first: “I remember the bride is petite and delicate. She looks absolutely stunning in a mermaid dress.” The photographer chime in: “She has straight bangs and two dimples when she smiles.” “Oh, right—and a red mole on her collarbone. She looks best in an off-shoulder gown.” I froze right on the spot. I had waist-length, voluminous waves, no dimples, and certainly no mole. The person they were describing fit my best friend—Charlotte Holmes, whom I was closest to—to absolute perfection. Just as I was about to confront them, a store employee walked up to me. Roughly shoving a DSLR camera into my arms, she snapped: “Are you the new assistant? What are you waiting for? Go check the behind-the-scenes footage!” My finger accidentally grazed the playback button, and the screen lit up. I saw Charlotte wearing the very wedding dress I had set my heart on. Meanwhile, Jeremy Sanders, my fiancé, had his arm wrapped around her waist. They both were smiling sweetly at the lens. Going through a string of intimate photos of the two of them, a bone-chilling cold swept through my entire body. In the five years I had been in a relationship with him, Jeremy had never taken a photo with me. Every time I wanted one, he would say the camera made him anxious, indifferently pushing me away. Turned out he didn’t mind the camera at all, only the person standing in the frame. After staring at the footage of the two of them wrapped in a passionate embrace, I stepped forward and placed the camera back on the front desk. “Since you’re all so fond of this woman, I guess the wedding dress should be hers.” Chapter 1 The boutique staff realized their blunder the second those words left my mouth, but I didn’t wait for their reaction before turning on my heel and walking out. Even beneath the glaring midday sun, a bone-chilling cold gripped my entire body. I dialed Jeremy’s number at once. The line rang for an agonizingly long time before it was finally picked up, only for Charlotte’s coy, coaxing voice to drift through the speaker: “Jeremy, stop! That Leica film costs a fortune—no more candid shots of me.” Jeremy’s voice followed after, deep and filled with a tenderness I had never once heard from him. “As long as it’s a photo of you, no film is too expensive.” Only after saying that did he notice the call was on. He feigned a brief cough, his tone snapping back to its usual crisp indifference. “Evelyn? I’m in the middle of a meeting. Is something up?” Listening to the sound of crashing ocean waves coming from the receiver, I wished I could laugh out loud. Just moments ago in the boutique, I had seen their itinerary with my own eyes. Today was supposed to be the day Jeremy and I shot our outdoor wedding photos. Yet I had been kept entirely in the dark about the whole situation, only finding out when I happened to drop by the store. It was abundantly clear: Charlotte had gone behind my back yet again, shooting wedding photos with Jeremy in my place. I took a deep breath, suppressing the tremor in my voice. “Jeremy, is this a joke to you? Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?” Silence fell over the other end for a few seconds. Then, Charlotte snatched over the phone. “Come on babe, don’t be angry!” Her voice was still saccharine. “Jeremy noticed I’ve been down lately, so he brought me to the seaside just to clear my head. “The staff insisted I tried on the dress. I only wanted to check it out in advance for you. “Are you really gonna be mad over this? You’re being too sensitive.” Several friends’ voices sounded in the background; clearly, their whole inner circle was gathered there. “Come on, aren’t you tired of calling so many times to check up on Jeremy?” “We all know he’s terrified of the camera. Charlotte had a hard time helping him to overcome his anxiety. “She even helped test all the outdoor locations for you. “You should be grateful instead of trying to ruin the mood.” I didn’t say a word. I simply hung up the phone. Moments later, a childhood friend sent over a photo. Seeing the two of them snuggled against each other, tears splashed onto my screen despite my best efforts to hold them back. Upon returning home, I walked into Jeremy’s study. I entered Charlotte’s birthday into the safe lock, and the door clicked open instantly. Inside rested a framed photo album. The moment I turned open the first page, my heart ached with a sudden, sharp pain. I recognized their first movie ticket stub, alongside a photograph of the three of us spending New Year’s Eve together on the Ferris wheel. I had turned outward to photograph the scenery, completely unaware that in the same cabin we shared, with me just inches away, they were kissing. He had even taken Charlotte to the exact restaurant where he later proposed to me. Behind every photograph, a date was handwritten in neat penmanship. For me, I had only a few blurry, indistinct photos, taken reluctantly during holidays with his family. My fingers found, tucked within the album’s inner lining, a birthday card Jeremy’s mother had written to Charlotte last year: “Dearest Charlotte, thank you for bringing the light back into Jeremy’s eyes. “Though obstacles still stand between you two, we are all waiting for him to make the right decision.” So the entire world had been in on it, with me the only fool kept in the dark. Realizing I had been nothing more than an obstacle in their way, I decided it was time to bow out. Chapter 2 The wedding planning agency placed the final confirmation call the following morning. “Ms. Sinclair, there are a few detail checks we need to verify with you. “Regarding the bride’s evening gown, Mr. Sanders called us late last night. “He asked us to adjust the sizing from Medium to Small and pull the waistline in by an inch. “He mentioned that you’ve recently lost weight. Is that correct?” I looked in the mirror at the garment, which still fit me perfectly, and let my lips curl into a faint, distant smile. I hadn’t lost weight. Charlotte was the one who always wore Small. “There’s one more thing,” the wedding planner added. “Mr. Sanders swapped the entrance piano piece you selected for a... trending viral song. Are you sure you want to go through with this change?” I knew that dance track well—it was the background music from the video that made Charlotte viral online. Was Jeremy planning to turn our wedding into her personal showcase? Finding it tiresome to correct the details, I just calmly replied: “Just go according to Mr. Sanders’s wishes. “However, I have a request of my own. “Please replace all occurrences of the bride’s name throughout the wedding venue with Charlotte Holmes. “Oh and, come up with the breach of contract fees for the materials and let me know. I’ll send the payment to you privately.” After hanging up, I walked toward the bathroom, ready to pack away my personal items. I discovered my toothbrush cup had been shoved into a corner. In its spot now was a cup printed with a little demon pattern. It formed a matching set with Jeremy’s cup beside it, which bore an angel pattern. My mind flashed back to the Instagram update Charlotte posted two days ago: “Some things, even if a little late, will return to exactly where they belong.” The photo featured this exact pair of cups. I gave a joyless laugh and tossed my cup straight into the bin. Toward evening, Jeremy returned home. Perhaps sensing that he had gone too far, he brought home a gift for the first time in memory. Inside the box rested a necklace. I recognized it at a glance. It was the promotional freebie Charlotte had refused to try on during her live stream, finding it too tacky. I looked up into his eyes, my tone serious. “Jeremy, let’s cancel the wedding.” He froze on the spot, his hand hanging in midair. A flash of impatience swept across his face at once. “Are you for real now? All I did was accompany Charlotte to shoot a few photos. “Why can’t you just let it go? I thought you were the understanding one, or was it just an act?” I let out a soft laugh and stood up. “Since the wedding photos are done, you can just swap out the bride for the actual ceremony. I’m giving you two my blessing.” Pricked by the eerie calmness in my eyes, he tried to retort, but stopped short to take a deep breath. His face was filled with disappointment. “Are you using the wedding to threaten me again? Fine, if you want to throw a fit, go ahead and throw it. “I don’t have the energy to coddle you right now. You’d better cool off for a few days, think it through, then come find me when you’re ready.” With that, he turned, walked into the guest room, and slammed the door shut behind him. I stood in the empty living room, listening to the deafening slam of the door, and a sudden sense of relief washed over me. I walked into the master bedroom, pulled out my largest suitcase, and began clearing every trace of my existence from this place. Chapter 3 Early the next morning, the moment I arrived at work, I felt the shift in the air. I was the operations manager at Charlotte’s company. My usual work friends were whispering in hushed circles as I walked in. Before I could figure out what was happening, the conference room door swung open. Charlotte walked in with her assistant, live-streaming as she moved. Her eyes were red and swollen from recent crying. Catching sight of me, she sniffled into the camera: “Guys, I was being silly yesterday and tried on my best friend’s wedding gown. “I apologized right away, terrified of making her mad, but still she would not forgive me. Please don’t send her any hate—it’s entirely my fault.” The chat blew up instantly, every comment locked onto me: “Don’t cry, Charlotte baby! Cut ties with that fake friend!” “I hear she works at your agency? That’s no way to treat your boss!” I watched her performance for a bit, then turned back to my desk to pack my things, ready to quit. A hand clamped onto my wrist. Jeremy had arrived out of nowhere. Shielding Charlotte behind him, he started shouting at me before the entire room: “Aren’t you done with your tantrum? Charlotte apologized. When are you gonna stop? “She stayed up all night over this. Your turn to apologize now!” I stared at the man who had once sworn to protect me, now making me the villain to everyone for another woman. To quiet down her fans’ fury, Jeremy announced on the spot: “Great work today, guys. As a thank you, Charlotte will be buying drinks for the whole office. Evelyn’s paying!” As the studio erupted in cheers, I let out a soft laugh and yanked my hand free. I pulled my printed resignation letter from my desk. “Get someone else to pay. “I’m done with this job, and with you.” Under the stunned stares of everyone, I took down my ID badge, tossed it in the trash, and walked out empty-handed. Out in the sun, I pulled out my phone and booked a ticket overseas on the spot—a trip away to seek new opportunities I had abandoned years ago to stay by his side. Jeremy didn’t run after me. He was in the dressing room comforting a sobbing Charlotte when his phone buzzed. Due to our linked account, my flight confirmation popped up on his screen: “Passenger Evelyn Sinclair has successfully booked flight MHXX to Norwood...” His friend was leaning over, shouting with an exaggerated tone: “Wow, bro, Evelyn’s outdone herself this time. She’s actually leaving?” Charlotte bit her lip, looking worried. “Jeremy, is Evelyn really that mad? Is she really leaving you?” Jeremy glanced at the text and scoffed, tossing his phone onto the table, looking all confident. “She didn’t even pack. Where could she be off to? “Besides, she’s been with me five years. She loves me too much to walk away. “It’s just a cheap trick to make me yield. “I’ll give her three days, then she’ll come crawling back to apologize.” Chapter 4 My flight was scheduled to depart the following evening. On the afternoon of my departure, while sitting in the waiting lounge, I pulled out my SIM card and tossed it in the trash. I didn’t take a single thing Jeremy had ever given me. Meanwhile, to celebrate Charlotte gaining new followers on her livestream yesterday, Jeremy had booked out the most exclusive restaurant in town. Just as I boarded the plane, he sent over a string of messages: “I booked a table at Victoria’s and ordered all your favorites. “Charlotte feels really guilty and wants to apologize in person. “Come on, drop the attitude and get over here.” An hour passed. The door to the private dining room stayed tightly shut. By the floor-to-ceiling windows, his friends sat in a circle, with Jeremy in the middle, his face growing darker by the minute. Every minute, he would tap his phone screen, but nothing would come from my side. The server brought out the final dessert—the chocolate mousse cake, my favorite. Out of habit, Jeremy picked up his spoon, scooped off the sweetest cherry on top and held it to Charlotte’s lips. Charlotte’s cheeks flushed. “Jeremy, you’re giving me the cherry again. Evelyn’s gonna be upset when she gets here.” Jeremy let out a scoff. “Whatever. She’s off sweet stuff. “And if she’s gonna be petty over this, she’s better off staying home.” He seemed to have forgotten the only reason I stopped eating sweets was because he disliked them. Over our years together, to accommodate his taste, I had given up every dessert I once enjoyed. Noticing Jeremy’s worsening scowl, a friend beside him started half-joking: “Bro, Evelyn really crossed the line this time. “You gave her an out. What’s the woman doing? “Tomorrow’s your wedding day. What’s she doing playing missing now? “Is she gonna dump you at the altar?” Charlotte’s assistant chimed in with a pout: “Why not just let Charlotte be your bride tomorrow? “She already tried on the gown anyway, and it’s gonna save your family from turning into the joke of town.” Charlotte waved her hands at once. “Don’t talk nonsense. Am I the sort to steal someone’s wedding?” Yet as she spoke, her eyes flickered toward Jeremy in hopeful anticipation. Jeremy stayed silent for a long while. Staring at his silent phone, his patience finally ran out. “Let her be!” He slammed his phone face down on the table and let out a scoff. “I’m tired of her game. If the woman doesn’t show up today, she can be gone for good!” Just then, the phone vibrated. His right eyelid twitched, but he picked up the phone without a rush. It was an unfamiliar number on the display. He sneered to the group: “See? Couldn’t hold out any longer. She’s calling from someone else’s phone.” He cleared his throat and hit speakerphone. “Evelyn, finally, are you—” “Hello, is this Mr. Jeremy Sanders?” It wasn’t me apologizing from the other end, but a customer service agent. Jeremy frowned. “It is. Who’s speaking?” The entire room fell silent as everyone strained their ears to listen. “Hello, Mr. Sanders. I’m calling from the emergency contact line of Nordic Airlines.” The agent added in a calm, measured voice: “We regret to inform you that flight MHXX to Norwood encountered a severe typhoon while crossing international waters. “As of now, the aircraft has vanished from radar and is confirmed lost to all communication. “Maritime search and rescue teams have been dispatched, but the chances of survival are... extremely slim.” The voice paused briefly before adding with regret: “Your fiancée, Ms. Evelyn Sinclair, is on the passenger list. “Since you are listed as her emergency contact, we need you to visit the Aviation Administration as soon as possible to assist with verification...” A sharp clatter. The glass beside Jeremy’s hand was knocked to the floor, shattering into pieces. He stood up abruptly, gripping his phone. “What the hell did you just say?”