Getting dressed in the elaborate white gown, and the strenuous process of leaving every singular strand of hair in perfect position was my morning. The excitement I felt as I laughed with my friends, each dressed just as fancily me, seemed like so long ago.

As I walked down the aisle, my hands clenched tightly onto my father’s arm from the nerves, but mainly the happiness, I felt better than I ever have.

But now, I sit here on this small swing with my feet dragging along the gravel softly, my heels long forgotten during my run.

We did our vows, and when the officiant told us to kiss, we did. The tingling in my lips sent sparks through me as a few glittering tears of happiness spilled down my blushed up cheeks. We danced to our songs as our family and friends clapped. It was supposed to be the best day of my life.

When my sister came to congratulate me, and my newly wed husband left with the words “I’ll be right back…” spilling from his deceiving lips, I did not think anything of it. I pressed a kiss to his cheek, and the smile never left my lips.

But then, the special sting spread through my lips and with it, my smile slowly dimmed. The words leaving my sister’s mouth turned muted, and I couldn’t hear nor think because what else could that ever-knowing tingle mean?

I checked before I left, though, because even though my mind knew, my heart couldn’t take it. Not on this day. My eyes searched the room, and my feet traveled to every corner, ignoring every weird look thrown my way. But I didn’t find him in the room; instead, I saw him outside, hands cradling someone who wasn’t me. There was a smile on his face and a fondness in his eyes that, as I stood there, I realized I had never truly seen.

Without the heart to confront him, I did my only other option and ran. I took off my heels a few seconds in, ignoring the pain of my bare feet on the sidewalk. My billowing dress tripped me up, but I just lifted it up in my arms and ran until… I couldn’t.

The park came into sight as I slowed down, and I fell into the swing, the old chains creaking at the weight designed for children. Tears ran down my face and the leftover trails sparkled like gemstones. Even though I felt like every part of me was ruined, my hair still stayed in its shape and the waterproof makeup did not even struggle in the waterfall of my tears. The cracks were barely recognizable on the surface.

The adrenaline died down and my emotions disappeared, leaving only nothingness as I stared down at the ground emptily. I must have sat there for awhile as the sky slowly started to change from blue to a fiery orange with the setting sun.

“What happened to you?”

I flinched slightly, finally taking in my surroundings and meeting amber eyes, shadowed by wild hair.

“You get stood up at your wedding or something?”

At his words, I quickly looked down again, biting my lip as I tried to stop the tears from building up in my eyes.

“Here,” a water bottle appears in my vision, “I haven’t opened it yet if you’re worried. You look like you could use it.”

I take it from his hands, watching from the corner of my eye as he plops down heavily on the swing beside me, chains groaning in protest at his added weight.

“Thanks. I wasn’t really stood up, though. He waited until after the wedding to cheat.” I chuckled drily, opening up the water to take a sip.

“Sounds like an asshole to me. Why would you even like that guy in first place?”

“He, “ I pause, taking in a breath to hold in my sob, “was never an asshole to me. I never even noticed until I saw him with her.” My hands start to shake slightly, and I tighten my hold on the water in response.

“Well, I think letting a guy like that break you down is lame. You should just shove it in his face how much better off you are without him.”

I turn slightly to look at him. With narrowed eyes, I say, “I dated him for five years. I can’t get over him like that.”

He shrugs, “Then pretend.”