tainers, half empty wine bottles, clothes scattered across the floor. The air smelled stale, a mix of forgotten food and the perfume she had wo

ike the texts filled with check-ins, encouragement, and gentle pushes for her to step outside, to eat something real, to talk. But Kimberly ignored them all.

rds blurred as fresh tears welled up. Kimberly Evans & Mason Carter cordially invite

ay she had stood in the bridal suite, breathless with excitement, smoothing the lace of her gown. The way her heart had pounded in anticip

d again. Until all that remained were tiny pieces

Maybe if she drank enough, the memories would blur, maybe it will reduces the pain. Maybe she could forget how much it

hter of the characters made her stomach turn. She used to love movies like these, she used to believe i

ter judgment, she opened Mason's contact. The last

orry,

y would build together. Sorry. As if that word could possibly undo all the damage, all the hurt, all the bitterness, all the

ed typing. Why? Her fingers trembled ove

the answer already, didn't she? If Mason had cared enough to explain, he would have done it by

age and tossed her phone onto the couch. It

more insistent. Kimberly groaned, burying her face in the pillow

eaking in!" Samantha's voice was sharp, cutting th

antha would give up. Maybe she could be left al

ater, the spare key turned in the lock, and the door swung op

best friend who was once so full of life, so put-together was now a holl

bottles. Then, her eyes landed on Kimberly, curled up on the couch, her face st

down with a firm clink. "Enough," she said, her voice softer than her actions. "This is

augh. "I don't even know who I

ll you, and you can't be empty" she whispered. "You're just... lost. And that'

ruin her that she was just surviving, barely. But was not tha

voice breaking. "I don

ghter. "Then let me help

other than numbness. It wasn't hope, not yet. But may