Two Letters That Change Everything

Petrichor

| The pleasant, earthy smell after rain |

➳ ☾ ➳

Droplets of water fell gracefully onto the car's windshield, the white clouds became tinted with strokes of grey, and the orange hues from the sun drowned in darkness.

How ironic, Florence thought, that the sky felt the need to adapt to her mood. Had it sensed her sadness? Had it noticed the fugitive tears that escaped her eyes every now and then?

Come to think of it; her eyes weren't any different from the sky: gloomy, sorrowful, and no more bright blue with shy droplets of water descending from them.

The screen on her car displayed another phone call, but she was too tired to answer. What was there left to say? She wasn't ready to explain herself. Her mind was too hazy, and her heart too shattered.

It was the third time her best friend was calling. No, not Callum, thankfully.

Her thumb hovered over the commands, debating which button to press, eventually admitting that three calls in a row must mean something important, she decided to answer.

"Mads, I'm sorry. I'm not in the right mindset. Can this wait?"

"No, it most certainly can't! Where are you?" Madeline said on the other line.

Florence chewed on the inside of her cheek. "I left."

"I know you did, and I'll scold you for that later." The exasperation and urgency in Madeline's voice made her best friend worry. "Are you driving?"

"Yeah. I'll be home in five minutes."

Madeline sighed. "Park the car. You won't wanna hear this while you're driving."

Florence's heart clenched at the statement. She immediately maneuvered the car to the right, stopping next to the curb. "What's wrong? Did something happen at the wedding?"

"What wedding are you talking about? Daphne left Callum at the altar."

"What?!" The brunette shrieked, her voice so high, it could've shattered the glass. "What do you mean Daphne left Callum at the altar?"

I don't understand, Florence pondered, her head suddenly throbbing in pain and her eyes running around wildly. How could Daphne just up and leave? Didn't she ask the brunette to stay away because she wanted the wedding to go off without a hitch? It doesn't make any sense.

There was a sudden silence that didn't sit well with Florence. From the faint footsteps she heard, she assumed Madeline must have been walking away from earshot. "Callum was reciting his vows, and he mentioned you, more precisely, a bet you two made when you were ten."

"Who would get married first," Florence whispered with a faint voice, reeling from the shock.

"Yeah." The girl took a deep breath, trying to find the right way to articulate what happened. "He looked beaten up when he said your name and didn't find you among the crowd. He went on to continue, but Daphne cut him off. She just looked at him without saying a word. Then she turned her back and walked away."

Florence closed her sky blue eyes and leaned her head on the headrest. Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel. "How's Callum?"

"Take a wild guess."

Florence sighed, switching gears before she began driving again. "I'll be there in ten."

"The hotel is a half-hour drive from your apartment," Madeline stated.