Alice wiped the spit-up from Charlie's chin, smiling despite her tiredness. "There you go, little man. All clean."Charlie gurgled happily, waving his tiny fists. At three months old, he was becoming more active every day.Alice's phone buzzed. It was a message from her new client, the bakery owner. "Great job on the quarterly report! Can we meet next week to discuss?"A warm feeling of pride spread through Alice's chest. She was doing it. She was building a life for herself and Charlie.As she typed out a reply, Alice's mind wandered. She wondered what Carson was doing right now...---Carson stood in front of the mirror, tugging at his tie. Two days. Just two more days until the wedding."You look handsome, darling," Margaret said, coming up behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her chin on his shoulder.Carson forced a smile. "Thanks. You excited for the big day?"Margaret beamed. "Of course! It's going to be perfect. Everything's ready - the venue, the flowers
,Carson woke up with a heavy feeling in his stomach. He looked at the calendar on his bedside table. One day left. Just one more day until he married Margaret.He should be excited. Happy. Instead, he felt... scared? Unsure? He couldn't quite put his finger on the feeling.As he got dressed, Carson caught sight of himself in the mirror. He looked tired. Worried. Not like a happy groom-to-be at all."Pull yourself together," he muttered to his reflection. "This is what you're supposed to want."Downstairs, the house was buzzing with activity. Wedding planners rushed around, carrying flowers and checking lists. Carson's sisters chattered excitedly, their voices high and happy."There's the groom!" his mother called, spotting him at the bottom of the stairs. She hurried over, straightening his tie. "How are you feeling, darling? Excited?"Carson forced a smile. "Sure, Mom. Excited."His mother frowned, studying his face. "You look pale. Are you feeling alright?""I'm fine," Carson said
His mom stood there with a big smile on her face that went away as soon as she saw how scared her son was. "Hello, sweetheart! Prepared for the big day? Trust everything is okay?Carson tried hard to smile, but he knew he had to find another way out now that he had to face everyone. Margaret should be the first person he talks to. How are you, Mom? In fact, I need a little more time to rest"His mother's smile went away and was replaced by a worried look. "How are you feeling? You have a pale look.Immediately he said,"I'm fine". "I guess I'm just nervous. Could you give me an hour? I promise I'll be ready a while later.His mother looked at him for a moment and then gave him a nod. No problem, sweetheart. Allow yourself rest well Before leaving, she gave him a soft kiss on the face.Carson caught a deep breath as the door shut behind her. He went to the window and looked out at the garden, where the wedding after party would be held soon.It seemed like everything was fine. Numerous
Carson stood outside the dining room and took a big breath. Inside, his family and the Thompsons were talking excitedly about the wedding. His heart was beating so fast that he thought it might jump out of his chest. His hands were shaking."You can do this," he told himself quickly. "You have to do this."He opened the door and went inside. Everyone in the room stopped talking and looked at him.His mom gave him a smile. "Hey there, sweetheart! The last thing we talked about was—"Carson spoke up: "I have something to say." Even though his voice was shaking, he kept going. "I... I can't marry Margaret."The room was filled with noise. Everyone spoke at the same time.His dad yelled, "What do you mean?"His sister told him, "Carson, this isn't funny."It looked like Mrs. Thompson was going to pass out.Carson put his hands up. "Please, let me explain."The room slowly became quiet again. Everyone was looking at him."I'm really sorry," Carson said. "I understand how shocking this is.
Carson woke up early the next morning, his head pounding and his heart heavy. The events of yesterday felt like a blur, but the reality of what he'd done was starting to sink in. He'd called off his wedding. He'd turned his whole life upside down.While he laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, Carson's mind skipped. There was so much to do, so many people to talk to. He felt overwhelmed, but also strangely calm. For the first time in months, maybe even years, he felt like he was doing the right thing.With a deep sigh, Carson swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up. He grabbed his phone from the nightstand and stared at it for a long moment. Then, with shaking fingers, he started to type out a message:"Dear friends and family,I regret to inform you that the wedding between Margaret and myself has been cancelled. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Your understanding during this difficult time is greatly appreciated.Sincerely,Carson MacPherson"Carson's thu
"Come on, Charlie. Open up for mummy"Alice said, making swooping noises as she guided a small spoon of mashed banana towards her son's mouth.Charlie, now eight months old, giggled and clapped his chubby hands, his big blue eyes - so much like Carson's - twinkling with delight. He opened his mouth wide, accepting the spoonful of banana with a happy smile."That's my good boy," Alice smiled, wiping a bit of banana from Charlie's chin. "You're getting so big!"Baby toys were scattered across the floor, and a pile of job applications littered on the coffee table. It wasn't much, but it was alot.Alice glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed. She had a busy day ahead - looking at daycares, job hunting, and somehow managing to keep Charlie fed, changed, and happy through it all. Being a single mom wasn't easy, but looking at Charlie's smiling face, she knew it was worth every challenge."Alright, little man," Alice said, lifting Charlie out of his high chair. "Let's get you cleaned up
Carson:Carson stared at his phone, willing it to ring. He'd been trying Alice's number for the past hour, but it kept going straight to voicemail. With each failed attempt, his heart sank a little more."Come on, Alice," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Where are you?"He looked around his hotel room, which was a mess of clothes and papers. A half-packed suitcase lay open on the bed. Carson had never been the best at organizing, and his current emotional state wasn't helping.With a sigh, he tossed his phone onto the bed and went back to packing. As he folded a shirt (badly), his mind wandered to Alice and Charlie. His son. A little boy he'd never even met. The guilt hit him like a punch to the gut."I'm going to make this right," he said to the empty room. "I have to."Carson knew it was a long shot, but he had a plan. Alice had once mentioned that her family lived in Manchester. It wasn't much to go on, but it was a start. He'd booked a flight for the next morning, ho
Carson lay in the unfamiliar hotel bed, staring at the ceiling. The room was dark, but the glow from the street lights outside seeped through the thin curtains, casting strange shadows on the walls. He'd been trying to sleep for hours, but his mind wouldn't quiet down.He turned to look at the digital clock on the bedside table. 11:47 PM. Carson sighed. It was going to be a long night.Sitting up, he switched on the lamp. The sudden light made him squint. The room came into focus - a small, tidy space with bland hotel art on the walls and a desk in the corner. His suitcase sat unopened by the door, a reminder that he was far from home.Carson got up and walked to the window. He pulled back the curtain and looked out at the Manchester night. The city was still alive, even at this late hour. Cars moved along the streets below, their headlights cutting through the darkness. In the distance, he could see the lights of tall buildings, each one a possible home to hundreds of people. Was Ali