The other end of the phone fell silent. My cousin, Stephanie, took a moment before responding in a tentative tone.
“Fionna… just don’t do anything impulsive, okay? You’ve been with Darrel for so long. Seven years doesn’t just disappear. Are you sure this isn’t something you’ll regret?” She hesitated, then added, “If you’re having second thoughts about the wedding, I can help smooth things over. I don’t think he’d refuse if you asked him to talk it out.”
I sighed, feeling the familiar ache. “There’s no use, Steph. We were never anything official. From the start, we had no real foundation. It was all... just a bit absurd, really. And here we are at the end, with nothing to show for it but more absurdity.”
Stephanie went quiet, taking in the weight of my words. It was true—we’d never had a real confession, a genuine acknowledgment of ‘us.’ Not even once had we officially defined our relationship.
“Fionna, no matter what you decide, I’m here for you. I’ll always be on your side.”
My heart warmed at her unwavering support. After hanging up, I decided to get her a small gift, something meaningful—a farewell present of sorts, since she might not be around here after the wedding.
As I arrived at her place with the gift, I was completely unprepared for the scene I walked into: Darrel and Natalie. The very people I least wanted to see.
Natalie clung to Darrel’s arm, looking for all the world like a scared, timid little thing. He was weighed down with bags, full of daily essentials, snacks and clothes—like he was helping her set up house. They looked... domestic. Like newlyweds caught in the glow of ordinary life together.
Stephanie jogged over to greet me, her cheerful expression shifting as she took in the scene. Her smile faded, a chill settling over her face.
I ignored Darrel and Natalie entirely, turning to Stephanie with a bright smile. “All your favorites, Steph. Use them however you like. When everything’s over, I’ll get you more.”
Just as I was about to lead her upstairs, eager to leave the two of them behind, Darrel suddenly stepped in front of me, forcing a smile.
“Fionna, this is Natalie, the new intern at work—she’s my trainee. She’s still finding her way around, so I’m just here to help her get settled. Why didn’t you tell me you were visiting Steph? I could’ve made time to come with you.”