Abby The morning sun bathes my office in a gentle glow as I dial Leah’s number, eager to discuss Chloe’s upcoming birthday. The phone rings a few times before Leah’s raspy voice picks up on the other end. “Abby? That you?” “Leah, hey,” I greet, trying to hide my concern. “You sound terri
The restaurant, usually abuzz with patrons and staff, feels eerily quiet now, save for the occasional clatter from the kitchen. A framed picture of Chloe and me rests beside my workstation, our grinning faces captured during a sunlit day at a music festival. The warmth and laughter from that day
Abby “You… Want to help?” I’m taken aback. It’s not quite like Karl to willingly offer help, especially in the middle of the night like this. In fact, the very thought of it instantly whisks me back to a memory that was buried in the deep recesses of my mind from when we were married. “Karl
Abby “Alright, paperwork’s done,” Karl declares with an air of finality, piling the last of the filed sheets into a neat stack. The office is a maze of papers, scattered across the desk and floor, but we’ve managed to conquer the monster of bureaucracy. I chuckle, brushing a strand of ha
I blush, nodding. “I remember. You’d spin me around till I was dizzy, and we’d laugh like kids, not caring about anyone watching.” Karl chuckles, his grip tightening around my waist for a brief moment. “There was that one time...” he begins, a mischievous glint in his eyes, “at that club downtow
Abby Sitting in the dimly lit kitchen, the soft clinking of our utensils is a comforting lullaby against the evening's silence. I sneak glances at Karl every now and then, his features illuminated with a gentle glow from the overhead light. He seems lost in his thoughts, enjoying every bite. “
Karl winks at me from across the room. “Efficiency, Abby. I learned from the best.” The list grows, and at some point, Karl comes closer, presumably to look into a nearby cabinet. That’s when I notice the sheen of sweat on his forehead. His dedication to help me, especially after a long day, i
Abby The sun’s barely peeking over the horizon as I pull open the door to the restaurant. I can already feel the hustle of a new day, the potential for a fresh start. Walking in, I expect the familiar comfort of an empty space, but I’m met instead with Ethan’s brooding form. His jaw is set t
Abby Intrigued, I let Karl take my hand and lead me discreetly away from the reception, weaving through the tables and out a back door into the gardens. A mischievous grin plays on his lips as we giggle like teenagers, ducking behind hedges and scurrying across the lush green lawns. “Where are w
As the music shifts to a slow ballad, I feel a familiar pair of strong arms circle my waist from behind. “There’s my beautiful wife,” Karl’s deep voice rumbles in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. He spins me around to face him, our bodies swaying in time to the soft music. I gaze up at him
Abby The reception hall is cast in a warm, romantic glow, with twinkling lights and the warm flickering of candles on every table. Soft music plays as Karl and I make our entrance, hand-in-hand to raucous applause and cheers from our guests. I can’t stop smiling as we wave to our loved ones gather
Abby The afternoon sun streaming in through the tall windows of the chapel casts the stones in a warm golden light, giving everything a sort of ethereal energy. I stand in the hallway, my arm linked with Anton’s, as the wedding coordinator prepares everyone to walk down the aisle. “Are you ready
Abby As I sit in front of the vanity mirror with the hair and makeup artist circling around me, I meet my friends’ gazes in the reflection; Chloe, Leah, Daisy, and even Elsie are here as my bridesmaids, each of them looking more beautiful than the last. “The seamstress really did do a great job
Abby With a gasp of excitement, I pull the wedding gown out of its box and hold it up in the light. Everything is perfect; the way the beadwork catches the light, the silky texture, the shape. I can’t wait to try it on now that it’s been altered to fit my body. Quickly, I slip out of my clothe
Abby “Abby, why don’t you sit down?” Karl looks up at me from where he’s sitting on the sofa, a look of concern on his face. He pats the spot next to him, but I shake my head. “I can’t,” I say, continuing to pace back and forth in our living room. “I won’t sit down until I hear back about that
Abby As I chop, stir, melt, and saute, the others stand around me, watching intently. The pasta simmers on the stove, the air smelling like warm butter and spices. It’s enough to make anyone’s mouth water. But my focus isn’t on the rumbling in my belly, nor is it even on the lingering pain in my
As we continue searching, I keep thinking back on our last harrowing hunt for black truffles; those poachers nearly shot us. Even now, I can still remember the sound of the bullets whizzing past my head, and the thuds they made when they careened into trees. “We got really lucky,” I say. “If we ha