”Holly’s dating someone? He looks kind of familiar.”
I froze, instinctively pulling out my phone to check Holly’s Instagram.
She’d posted a photo of herself holding hands with Lucas at the orphanage.
The caption read: “After all these years, we’re finally walking side by side.”
Posted at 12:07 – December 7th, the day they first met.
I pressed my lips together, the sweat on my forehead no longer bothering me.
The photo of Lucas dressed as Santa at my birthday party still sat prominently on my desk.
Without hesitation, I took apart the frame, walked to the shredder, and fed the photo in.
The machine slowly turned the photo into confetti.
Gone without a trace.
I returned to my seat and took a long drink of water.
By evening, I was dragging my exhausted body out of the dance studio.
My phone rang with a familiar tone.
I hesitated for thirty seconds before pulling it from my pocket.
A wave of disappointment and hurt washed over me.
“Sophie, when did you and Lucas…”
“Mom, we called off the engagement,” I cut her off.
After hearing my explanation, Mom said, “What are you thinking? You’re almost 30, and you dare to break off an engagement? Who’s going to marry you now?”
“Besides, this marriage was arranged between me and Sarah Larson. Even though she has Alzheimer’s now, we can’t go back on our promise. You need to explain this to her yourself!”
I hung up and walked alone down the street.
The city was alive with lights from countless windows, but not one of them shone for me.
I thought I would always be alone.
My phone rang again.
I glanced at it and answered, “Hello, Ms. Parker.”
Her voice came through, “There’s an advanced program at the Royal Ballet School in London. If you refuse again, Holly will take the spot…”
