The shadows of darkness still haunted my vision, trailing behind me and whispering in my ear during moments of silence and solitude.
From time to time, happiness enveloped me like a delicate veil. I wore it like a safety blanket, hesitant to peel it away, fearful of what lay buried beneath the mask. If I didn’t delve too deeply into the horrors of my past, I was fine. I could wake up and live the illusion of a perfect life.
Almost.
I cleared my mind of the heinous dream that had haunted me, focusing instead on preparing for the day ahead. My current best friend had asked to meet this morning, claiming she had exciting news to share in person.
Sabrina had been my savior when I first moved to this town. As my real estate agent, she had helped me find a home, and our bond had blossomed during that process.
Without her, navigating a new place would have been infinitely harder. Although she was a few years younger than me, it never felt like a barrier.
Two hours later, I arrived at the town’s beloved café. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sweet pastries washed over my senses the moment I stepped inside. It was a quaint little establishment, filled with friendly workers and warm customers. I spotted Sabrina sitting at a table by the window, sunlight illuminating her auburn hair like a halo.
The café’s amber morning light pooled around us as Sabrina swept in, her laughter rippling through the air like warm honey. “Amelia! How are you?” she called, rising from her table to enfold me in a quick, buoyant hug. I inhaled the faint bouquet of her rose-scented shampoo and the rich aroma of espresso, then eased into the rattan chair across from her.
“I’m alright,” I said, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “Had a weird dream last night, but let’s skip that. What’s up with you?”
Sabrina’s grin bloomed. She held her hand aloft, palm tilted so the overhead light danced across a single, enormous diamond. The gem sparkled like a shard of starlight.
“You’re engaged?” I whispered, leaning forward, eyes wide as I took in the ring’s fire.
“Yes!” she gushed, cheeks flushed pink. “Shane proposed, finally! I’m over the moon to be his wife.”
A genuine smile curved my lips as happiness radiated from her face. Then she paused, her voice dipping into excitement so bright it made the coffee steam swirl. “But that’s not the best part. I want you to be my maid of honor.”
Silence settled between us for a heartbeat. My heart pounded in my ears. Sabrina pressed on, voice softening with warmth. “You know I don’t have siblings, and my circle’s small. You’ve been my rock since you moved here. I couldn’t imagine anyone else beside me.”
I blinked against a surge of emotion. No one had ever asked me that before. “Sabrina, oh, I’m honored. Yes, I’d love to.”
She whooped softly, clapping her hands. “Yay! You’re the best!” Her eyes shone like emeralds as she sipped her cappuccino.
“I’m really happy for you,” I managed, though a dull ache tugged at my chest. Lillian’s absence, her lost wedding day, flickered through my mind in a wave of grief. Sabrina must have seen it.
“Hey, everything okay? You seem… distant.” She tilted her head, concern furrowing her brow.
I swallowed. “I’ve been wrestling with bad dreams and old scars.”
Her gaze softened. “I’m sorry. Have you thought about therapy?”
I rolled my eyes, recalling sterile offices and surface-level questions that never reached my wounds. “Therapy doesn’t cut it. I need something more real.” I glancedaway, ashamed.
Sabrina chewed her lip, then sat forward, eyes alight with determination. “Okay. I have an idea, something to pull you out of this funk.”
I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “Oh? And what’s that brilliant idea of yours?”
“Well…” She stretched the word, considering her next choice of words. “Shane wants to take a bonding trip with his half-brother and suggested I come along since we’re engaged. He thinks it could be a cool experience for us.”
I sat, processing the information and struggling to connect the dots of how this would help me. “Wow. I didn’t know Shane had a half-brother. How did that happen? And where do I fit into this?”
She chuckled, sipping her drink. “I was getting to that. Basically, his mom was unhappy in her marriage and got pregnant by somebody else from what Shane said, because her husband was an abusive cheater. She ended up leaving town with Shane’s dad since she was already pregnant. He only found out recently after discovering an old picture at his mom’s house. The guy is about four and a half years older than Shane, around your age!”
The midday sun filtered through the café’s tall windows, casting honeyed patterns over our table. I traced the rim of my iced latte with a slender finger, watching condensation drip onto the polished wood. “Damn,” I muttered, pressing my mug to my lips. “That must’ve been weird for him, finding out his mom had another kid. But, seriously, what does this have to do with me?”
Sabrina let out an exaggerated tut, her manicured nail tapping the cup between us. “Oh, Amelia, my sweet, clueless friend,” she chided, eyes dancing. “I was hinting that you should come along with us! I’ll need someone to chat with while they’re off talking boy stuff. And who knows? This half-brother might be cute.”
My heart fluttered in spite of my caution, curiosity sparking beneath my skin. The idea of tagging along with two near-strangers both alarmed and intrigued me. I swallowed, my voice a measured calm. “That could actually be interesting. So you haven’t even met this guy in person? Where are you headed?”
Sabrina leaned forward, a grin playing on her lips. “It’ll be a blast, like a never-ending double date.” She waggled her eyebrows, and her laughter tumbled out bright as bells. “Shane’s video-chattedwith him a few times and told me all about him, but no real-life meet-and-greet yet. Shane tracked him down on his own, so proud of him for that.”
