I avoided his gaze, my lips tight. But when I heard the flirtatious voice note from his childhood sweetheart, Zoe Williams, echo from his phone, I calmly made the call to confirm my decade-long national research project.
***
“Claire Olivia, are you absolutely certain?” My professor’s tone was grave. “This research project is top-secret. It’s a ten-year commitment. Once you enter, you may never be able to leave or contact anyone outside again.”
His voice softened and serious as he added, “You are my most brilliant student. I have to ask you to think this through carefully.”
I stood outside a bridal boutique, watching Zoe wear the wedding dress I had spent months designing and commissioning. She stood beside Vincent, their faces pressed close as they posed for photos.
Vincent also imitated the veil-lifting kiss, they were following a trend he had seen online. Then, as if to hammer the knife deeper into my chest, he removed his ring—the one meant for me—and slipped it onto her finger.
A pang struck my heart, but it passed quickly, leaving behind only numbness.