Sparkling Rain

Chapter 0

I turned to look back one more time, hoping that this time he would... choose.... me.

The sky was a brooding canvas of dark clouds, the rain drenching everything in its path, including the couple's shirt he had given me on our fifth anniversary. The shirt clung to me, a bittersweet reminder of what once was.

"Why am I not enough? I guess the joke's on me for believing I ever could be," I murmured to myself, my voice barely audible over the rain. With a heavy heart, I left him behind—his house, our dog Pookie, the lavender plant we had planted together one memorable Christmas. I walked out of his life for good. This time, there would be no coming back.

As I walked away, my mind raced with unanswered questions. "What happened to us? Where did we go wrong? I loved him so much. My heart aches, a pain so deep it feels like it's tearing me apart. I naively believed we would last forever. I imagined us growing old together, with cute little kids playing in our backyard, our dog happily joining in their games. We would laugh until our stomachs hurt, just like we used to. But instead, he broke my heart, and now my life feels so empty, so... hollow."

Inside the cozy warmth of her room, Yumi's voice broke the silence. "What a plot twist! I definitely thought she would end up with him. This book is amazing but so sad at the same time," she exclaimed, her eyes still glued to the last page.

"I know, right?" Shina replied with a small laugh. "By the way, are you still going to the high school reunion?"

Yumi's expression shifted, a shadow crossing her face. "I don't know. I kind of don't want to go. I don't want all those memories to come back," she said softly, her eyes distant and reflective.

Noticing her friend's change in demeanor, Shina leaned in closer. "Earth to Yumi!" she said gently, bringing her back to the present.

Yumi blinked, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Sorry, I was just... lost in thought."

Shina nodded, understanding. "It's okay. Just remember, some memories, no matter how painful, shape who we are. And sometimes, facing them helps us move on."

Yumi sighed, feeling the weight of Shina's words. Maybe it was time to confront her past, to find closure and perhaps a new beginning.

4o