The smell of fresh flowers was everywhere that morning.
It was my wedding day, just hours before I was supposed to walk down the aisle.
My heart was practically bursting with joy and a nervous excitement I’d never felt before.
Mark, my fiancé, was everything I had ever dreamed of, and Sarah, my best friend, was my rock.
She had been by my side through every single moment of wedding planning, my maid of honor and confidante.
I had woken up early, too excited to sleep, and decided to grab a glass of water from the kitchen.
The house was quiet, still bathed in the soft glow of pre-dawn light.
I padded down the hall, humming a little tune from our wedding playlist.
My dress was hanging in the guest room, pristine and ready, a symbol of all my hopes and dreams.
I pictured Mark’s face when he saw me, the tears in his eyes, the promise of forever.
As I neared the kitchen, I heard a soft murmur, then a low laugh.
It wasn't a loud sound, just an intimate, hushed whisper.
A strange knot tightened in my stomach.
I paused, wondering if Sarah was already up, perhaps fixing herself coffee.
I took a deep breath, ready to share my pre-wedding jitters with my best friend.
Then I stepped into the kitchen.
The sight that greeted me froze every single cell in my body.
My glass shattered on the tile floor, but I didn't even hear it.
There, bathed in the soft light filtering through the window, were Mark and Sarah.
They were in a passionate embrace, their bodies pressed together.
His hands were cupping her face, and her arms were wrapped around his neck.
They were kissing.
Not a friendly peck, not a comforting hug, but a deep, undeniable kiss that spoke of secrets and longing.
It was the kind of kiss you share with someone you love, someone you desire.
My fiancé and my best friend.
Hours before our wedding.
My breath hitched in my throat, a silent scream trapped in my chest.
They pulled apart slowly, their eyes still closed, lost in their own world.
Then, Mark’s eyes fluttered open, and he saw me.
His face, usually so warm and loving, went utterly blank.
Sarah followed his gaze, her head lifting, and her eyes met mine.
The blood drained from her face, leaving her ashen.
She looked like a deer caught in headlights, trapped, exposed.
“Jess… I… it’s not what it looks like,” Mark stammered, his voice hoarse, a pathetic plea.
But it was exactly what it looked like.
It looked like the end of my entire world.
A cold, hard numbness spread through me, quickly followed by a searing, white-hot rage.
My vision blurred, but I could still see their guilty faces, their tangled bodies.
Every memory, every shared laugh, every promise, shattered into a million pieces.
How long?
