Valerie's POV
"I don't deserve this." My voice cracked as I pressed my face into Sarah's shoulder.
"It is not your fault, Val, I promise," she said as she dabbed my eyes with tissue paper.
Sarah has been my best friend since junior high—ever since I walked into Miss Georgia's science class and spotted her grinning at me with braces. I just knew we would click.
"Gina's wedding is in three weeks, Sarah!...Everyone is expecting me to show up with Damian, and now I'll be… that girl who is alone and brokenhearted.."
"That is enough time for us to figure something out," she said reassuringly.
I gave her a quizzical look. I would have screamed at her for thinking we still had time in our hands but I remembered her track record of always coming up with something to save the day.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding.
"He said I was indirectly putting pressure on him to marry me." I sobbed, clenching a throw pillow so tight my knuckles turned white.
"I have never even brought up the M word since we started dating thirteen months ago…" I lamented
But maybe I had. Maybe it was the way I looked at engagement rings while we walked past store windows. Or the way I talked about Gina's wedding with a little too much excitement. Was I pressuring him?
No…I was just expressing myself.
"He does not deserve you, love" Sarah said now looking at my tear stricken face.
She tilted my chin so her eyes bore into my soul as she spoke "Any man who cannot stay with you…and choose you…over his insecurities, was never meant for you, okay?"
I nod slowly as she hands me another tissue to wipe my tears.
"Thank you" I managed to whisper as I leaned into her opened arms for a comforting hug.
" " " " "
I looked at the square shaped clock on the wall and it was exactly nine o'clock in the evening. I am wrapped up in a warm blanket and had just woken up from a nap after taking some painkillers because my relentless sobs throbbed into a headache.
"I need to go home"
Sarah had done enough and I didn't want to be one more thing she had to worry about. I picked my purse from the wooden table and made my way downstairs. As I descended I heard loud laughter and an unfamiliar voice, it seemed Sarah had another guest. Perfect timing —I was already headed out, at least I could give them some space.
As I walked into the living room a pair of captivating brown eyes caught mine—familiar, but I could not place them.
My presence immediately diluted the laughter and both parties looked my way and that was when I saw the subtle resemblance.
"It was Jake Lloyd—my former childhood crush and older brother to my best friend"
"Hi Val"
His deep baritone pulled me out of my reverie.
"Hi Jake" I said quickly, now facing my friend who had concern written all over her face.
"I'll be on my way now"
"I thought you were gonna spend the night" Sarah said with a pout.
I knew she was worried and genuinely concerned about me. I forced a smile on my face, "I will be fine, I promise—by the way you already have company" I said, tilting my head towards her brother.
He coughed "You guys know I'm right here, right?"
I chuckled, it was the first time I had a sincere laugh today— which has been one hell of a rollercoaster.
"I'll see you to the door," Sarah said, rising to her feet and leading the way.
"Goodbye Jake" I greeted curtly as I followed my best friend out.
" " " " "
The moment I stepped into my apartment, I wanted to collapse on my bed and cry. Instead, I stood frozen in front of the mirror.
"Who was this woman—mascara streaked, hair wild, and eyes swollen?"
I recall looking at this mirror and feeling like the most beautiful woman in the world before going to meet Damian.
A sound tore out of me—half scream, half sob. I grabbed a pillow and threw it across the room. Sank to the floor and curled into myself, the weight of defeat pressing down on me."
I had just one job to do—keep the man until he was ready to pop the question.
I hated that this was what my mind jumped to. That marriage — not my career, not my happiness — felt like the only thing that mattered. But that was the script I grew up with.
"Be pretty, be kind, be chosen." And somehow, I still wasn't.
I had been the perfect girlfriend to Damian and I never imagined our relationship would hit a brick wall.
Once again, I had disappointed my parents— especially my father.
"How do I survive the judgemental stares and probing questions from my family"
Gina was so lucky to be getting married at the age of twenty-five to her best friend. The loud ringtone of my phone pulled me out of my wailing as I pulled it out from my purse. I see the caller ID— Sarah.
I scrubbed at my face like smearing the tears would erase the evidence of pain. I even forced a yawn, hoping it would mask the rasp in my voice.
"Hey Val, how is it going?" came the soothing voice from the other end.
I clear my throat before answering "I'm good—uh, you know—just about to take a shower,"
"You are crying again" she said sharply
I facepalmed.
"So much for trying to keep up an act for my best friend"
"I want you to get up, go and take an actual shower and go to sleep" she said with that tone she usually used whenever she had something up her sleeves.
"Whaaa?"
"You heard me right, gurl!" she confirmed.
"I have found the perfect plan to save your ass at your sister's wedding," she rambled on, "all you have to do is meet me at my house by eight o'clock tomorrow"
"Whatever your plan is I hope it works" I responded, and this time I had no enthusiasm to put up and act.
I wanted to tell her no. That I would figure it out myself, that I didn't need fixing. But the truth was, I had nothing left to hold together on my own
"Just trust me, Val… you're not showing up to that wedding alone." she declared before ending the call.
As I picked up the pieces of my heart to stand up, I whispered a prayer into the silence. Whatever Sarah had planned…I just hoped it would not break me all over again.