I wish for a future where you're not in it and may we never miss each other.
When I blew out the candles, Julian asked about my wish, but I kept it to myself.
I took the fork from him and forced myself to eat the cake, one painful bite at a time.
I thought pineapple must be the worst fruit in the world!
Sticky and cloying, bitter and astringent.
It wasn't until I was sobbing and hives covered my face that Julian realized something was amiss and tried to take the fork away.
"Wanda, stop eating!"
He snatched the fork away and threw it into the trash.
Holding onto my shoulders, he looked both guilty and furious.
"Why didn’t you say you were allergic? Why did you still eat it?"
I looked at him, smiling through my tears. "Julian, isn’t this version of me ugly?"
Was the me who loved you ugly, too?
Julian took me to the hospital.
While I was on an IV drip, the nurse asked if I had any medication allergies. Julian was about to answer when his phone rang.
I turned my head and saw the caller ID—my Jennie.
Such an intimate name!
Even though she had wronged him for eight years, he still loved her deeply.
Watching him hurry off to take the call in private, I turned back and answered the nurse’s question myself.