I gave Ryan’s name. The server immediately asked,
“Are you Mrs. Lee?”
I froze, my heart clamped tight by invisible hands. Forcing a stiff smile, I nodded.
The server led me to a seat. I waited from daylight to nightfall. The dishes grew cold and were reheated, over and over.
Ryan never showed. My phone remained silent.
“Would you like me to reheat your meal again, ma’am?”
I shook my head. “No. Just take it away.”
“There’s a fireworks show starting soon, would you like to watch?”
As I stepped out of the restaurant, the sky exploded with fireworks. Three words blazed across the night.
I’m Sorry…
Tears slid silently down my cheeks, a fragile hope flickering in my chest.
“How beautiful! I wonder whose love story this is!”
The final firework spelled out a name—Sarah Lee.
“So that’s her name! Wow, so lucky!”
I turned to stone, my body cold. Behind me came Sarah’s cheerful voice.
“Emma! You’re watching too? Ryan insisted on bringing me, said fireworks were his apology. I’d rather be gaming.”
I stood frozen, my heart squeezed painfully.
She smacked Ryan on the butt.
“Don’t put my name in fireworks. Bad luck!”
“Fireworks are just for little girls like Emma. I don’t like them—they’re boring.”