My heart still aches just thinking about it.
It feels like yesterday we were picking out flowers.
Every detail, every laugh, every stolen kiss was building towards the most perfect day of my life.
Michael was everything I ever dreamed of.
Kind, funny, ambitious, and he loved me fiercely.
Or so I thought.
Our wedding was set for next Saturday.
Just seven more sleeps.
My best friend, Sarah, had been my rock through all the planning.
She was more like a sister.
She helped me choose my dress, taste-tested countless cakes, and even organized my bachelorette party.
She was even going to be my maid of honor.
I trusted her with my life.
We all hung out often, the three of us.
They had developed a comfortable, easy rapport.
I never once felt jealous or suspicious.
Why would I?
They were my two favorite people in the entire world.
A few weeks before, Michael started working late more often.
He said it was extra projects to save for our honeymoon.
I understood completely.
Sarah sometimes popped over to help me with last-minute errands.
I’d notice them exchange quick, knowing glances sometimes.
Just little things, almost imperceptible.
I brushed them off as inside jokes I wasn't privy to.
My mind was consumed with seating charts and vendor confirmations.
The week before the wedding was a whirlwind of nerves and excitement.
I had a final dress fitting on Wednesday afternoon.
Sarah offered to come with me, but then said she had a sudden, important appointment.
"Sorry, girl, duty calls!" she texted.
It seemed a little off, but I didn't push it.
I went alone, feeling a mix of anticipation and slight annoyance.
After the fitting, I decided to swing by our apartment to grab a small photo album.
It was a gift for Michael for our rehearsal dinner.
He was supposed to be at work.
I still had my key.
The air felt different the moment I stepped inside.
A strange hush.
A scent that wasn't ours.
I heard muffled voices from our bedroom.
My breath caught in my throat.
Confusion washed over me.
It sounded like two people.
One male, one female.
Michael was supposed to be at the office.
My heart began to pound a frantic rhythm against my ribs.
I crept closer, each step feeling impossibly heavy.
The bedroom door was slightly ajar.
A sliver of light escaped.
A cold dread began to seep into my bones.
I pushed the door open just a crack.
What I saw ripped my entire world apart in an instant.
There they were.
Michael.
And Sarah.
Tangled together in our bed.
In our bed.
Days before we were supposed to stand at an altar.
My vision blurred.
The room spun.
I couldn’t breathe.
It felt like a punch directly to my gut.
A physical blow.
They didn’t notice me at first.
They were lost in their own sickening embrace.
A whimper escaped my lips.
It was a sound I didn't recognize.
Michael's head snapped up.
