Blood seeped through the fabric of his white shirt, spreading into a crimson stain.
I refused to let go until Yvette pushed me away in a panic.
I fell back into the pool. The icy water embraced me once more, seeping into my bones.
Above me, I could hear the distant strains of cheerful music, "Happy New Year," and fireworks exploding in the sky.
But it all seemed so far away, mocking my pathetic state.
Clutching the broken pieces of the pendant in my hand, I laughed. Then, without warning, I began to cry.
All I wanted was to go home.
Mom... All I ever wanted was a home.
Later, I dragged my exhausted body back to my small rented apartment and collapsed into a restless sleep.
In my dreams, Jameson smiled at me.
He held me close and took me to an amusement park I’d never visited as a child. He showed me the beauty of our country, from majestic mountains to serene rivers. At every temple we visited, he wrote the same wish as mine. "Jameson will love Lauren for eternity."
The dream shifted to yesterday.
He held my hand, kneeling before Grandpa Carlos, making a solemn vow.
He promised to marry me, to cherish me for a lifetime. He slipped a proposal ring onto my finger, his face radiant with joy.