“I swear, Coraline Rosa, if you do not take off your wedding ring, I’m going to pull it off your finger the next time I see you.” Maya’s annoyed tone filters through the car speakers.
I sent her a picture of myself standing in front of my table before I started driving.
I dart my eyes to the square-cut diamond on my ring finger.Looking at it burns as memories of a false love I thought was real mockingly glare back at me. I should take it off. Throw it in a river. Pawn it. Sell it. Give it back to Liam. Or simply take it off…But I still wear it.
I hope I’m not alone in this. I hope it’s more common than I think because right now I feel like I’m the only one. Being married for years to someone I thought was going to be my forever life partner, and then for it all to fall apart? Just a few months ago? I’m a bleeding, hopeless romantic who loves with all her heart. Who gives more than she takes, and still it took everything in me to walk away. Even though I knew it was going to hurt, I had to do it.For me.
I don’t deserve the cliche affair that happened behind my back.
It’s going to take me some time to let him go. Every time I try to move on, I think about all the good times we had together—all the great things about him.
What I need to remind myself of, truly, is the real dick he was.
He broke my heart. He made sure to remind me every other day that my curves and weight were too much, always hinting that I should eat less. He brought down my spirit. Yet, even though he would say these things, I love my body. There’s nothing wrong with me; it’s all him.
He was a lying, cheating asshole who made me feel like something was wrong with me, and I wasn’t enough for him. And then with my so-called best friend? Of all people?
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I reply.
“Okay…how are you still in Sleepy Coldwater? Girlfriend, you’re going to miss your flight.” I can see the judgmental scowl on her fair skin through the phone.
I sarcastically let out a loud, dramatic gasp so she can hear me over the thundering windshield wipers and howling glacial winds.
“Wow, Maya. I wonder who booked mefar awayfrom the nearest airport!”
“I know. Who the fuck did that? You should fire them.” She burps.
Cringing, I stare at her contact portrait across my screen and glare at it as though she’s next to me in the passenger seat.
“Okay, so by your words, I should fire you.” I scoff.
I crane my head forward as though that’ll get the thick snow flurries to stop battering my car. My eyes narrow, squinting, trying to stabilize my hands on the wheel to stay in my lane. I haven’t seen a car drive by since I started driving. Everyone is probably inside. It’s so dark out, and the snow won’t stop.
“Fire me and see how well that works out for you.” I hear the sound of liquid bottoming a glass.
“Now it’s making more sense. How many glasses of wine have you already had tonight?”
“First of all,” she slurs, “it’s the weekend. And second of all, this is my second wine bottle, but who’s counting?”
A laugh bubbles out of my lips.
“Apparently you are,” I retort. I twist the heating dial on the Honda Civic to the highest setting because I can still feel the freezing temperature outside. How can people endure brutal winters like this? I love the snow, but only when I’m indoors underneath a pile of fluffy blankets.
I dialed Maya as soon as I started to drive. I told her about the event, but left out the part about the weird messages. She still doesn’t know about the letter.
“Where are you?” she asks.
It’s pitch black outside. The temperature is dropping so fast that it’s below zero.
“Honestly, I’m not sure, somewhere in the mountains. The blizzard is here. It rolled in five hours ahead of schedule.” I groan.
“Oh shit,” she clips.
My heart drops to my ass.
“What, ‘oh shit’? There shall be no,oh shitting, right now! I forbid it!” I tighten both hands on the steering wheel.
“I just checked the status of your flight.” Static cuts into the call. “It’s been can—” Her voice drops into nothing but grainy noise.
