002: Three Years Later

Elodie changed into her regular clothes after finishing her long shift at the diner. Her legs ached from standing all day, and exhaustion weighed heavily on her. But she had no time to rest.

Her rent was overdue by two months, and her landlord had given her only twenty-four hours to pay up or face eviction. No matter how tired she was, she had to head to her third job.

When she got home, she let out a deep sigh, the familiar warmth of her small apartment offering little comfort. It was quiet, a stark contrast to the noise and chaos of her life. After a quick shower, she sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly at her phone. Her body begged for sleep, but her mind wouldn’t let her relax. Tonight was going to be hard, and she knew it.

The sudden ring of her phone startled her. She picked up quickly, recognizing her boss’s impatient voice.

“Why aren’t you here yet?” he barked.

“Good evening, sir,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. “I’m on my way to the festival. I’ll be there soon.”

“If you’re even a minute late, don’t expect to get paid,” he warned before hanging up abruptly.

Swallowing her frustration, Elodie got up, grabbed her things, and headed out.

At the stadium, she changed into her costume: an oversized mascot outfit in bright blue and pink, complete with a ridiculous cartoonish head. She felt ridiculous, the cheerful costume mocking her misery.

At the festival, she smiled for photos and waved at strangers, counting every agonizing minute until her shift would end.

Then, she heard a voice.

It stopped her in her tracks.

It was deep, smooth, and painfully familiar. Her breath hitched, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of her chest. She turned slowly, and there he was.

Williams Storm.

The world around her seemed to blur as she stared at him. He was even more handsome than she remembered, dressed in a sleek black suit that hugged his broad shoulders and lean frame. His hair was perfectly styled, his every move radiating confidence. The struggling young man she had loved was now a picture of wealth and power.

Elodie wanted to call out to him, but her voice froze in her throat. Then, she noticed the woman beside him.

The sight of her sent a sharp pang through Elodie’s chest. She was beautiful, with an effortless grace that made Elodie’s heart ache. But when the woman turned, Elodie’s stomach dropped.

The woman looked just like her.

Not just a slight resemblance—a striking, uncanny similarity. The delicate features, the soft smile, even the way she held herself. It was like looking at a version of herself she didn’t recognize.

Her legs felt weak, and she clutched at the oversized mascot head to steady herself. Her thoughts raced.

“Williams,” she whispered under her breath, her voice trembling. “Did you find someone who looks like me because you couldn’t let go? Or did you want to replace me completely?”

She knew that she had no right to feel upset, still she couldn’t tear her eyes away as the couple walked closer. The woman laughed and pointed at her costume.

“Let’s take a picture with it!” she said cheerfully, her voice light and carefree.

Before Elodie could react, they were standing on either side of her. She could smell Williams’s cologne—familiar, intoxicating, and so painfully close. Her hands trembled as she raised them for the photo.

The camera clicked, capturing a moment that felt like a cruel joke.

After the photo, the woman whispered something to Williams, and he smiled. That smile, once hers, now belonged to someone else.

Elodie’s vision blurred with tears. She couldn’t take it anymore.

She turned and ran, her movements clumsy and frantic. The crowd seemed endless, but she pushed through, desperate to escape. Her heart pounded in her ears, drowning out everything else.

She didn’t see the towering three-tiered cake until it was too late.

With a loud crash, she collided with it, frosting and layers of cake flying everywhere. She stumbled back, covered in sticky sweetness, her humiliation complete.

Gasps and laughter erupted from the crowd around her, their eyes fixed on her mess of a costume and her tear-streaked face.

Elodie wanted to disappear. Her chest heaved as tears streamed down her cheeks. She felt utterly broken, and now publicly humiliated.