I love you. You should have remembered that last night. She flinched. I called the wedding venue first. The coordinator answered and recognized my name immediately.
Good morning, Walter. I need to cancel our wedding. There was a long silence. Is everything okay? No, the wedding isn't happening.
She asked about the deposits and cancellation process. I told her to send everything directly to my email. When I ended the call, Marie was still standing there. You really did it. Yes.
She sat down. Walter, I made one mistake. I know. You're destroying our entire future over one mistake. I shook my head.
No, I'm accepting that the future we planned isn't the same anymore. She looked at me with tears running down her face. What do you want me to do? Nothing. Nothing?
You can't undo it. I'll prove it won't happen again. You shouldn't have needed a second chance to prove that. She became quiet. I went upstairs and started collecting the things I had paid for myself.
The wedding wasn't just a date on a calendar anymore. It was a contract. Reservations, payments, plans, invitations, and two families preparing for a day that no longer existed. I spent the rest of the morning dealing with those things. Marie stayed in the bedroom.
Around noon, she came downstairs. Walter. I looked up for my laptop. What? I'll leave.
I nodded. She stood there for several seconds. I don't want to lose you. I closed the laptop. You already made that choice.
She walked out of the room. That evening, she packed a bag and went to stay with her sister. Before she left, she stood at the front door. I wish you would give me another chance. I looked at her.
I wish you had given me another reason to. She lowered her eyes. Then she walked outside. I closed the door behind her. For the first time since we got engaged, the house was completely silent.
There was no wedding to plan anymore. And I wasn't going to pretend there was. The next few days were filled with calls I never expected to make. The wedding photographer needed to be cancelled. The florist needed to be told.
The caterer needed confirmation. I had to contact people who had already arranged time off work and booked flights. Every conversation made the same thing more real. There was no wedding. Marie called me several times a day.
At first, I didn't answer. Then she started sending messages asking me to meet her. Eventually, I agreed. We met at a quiet cafe near my office. Marie looked exhausted.
She sat across from me with both hands wrapped around a cup she barely touched. I haven't been sleeping. I didn't respond. I keep thinking about what happened. You should.
She looked at me. I know. I waited. I made a terrible mistake. That's what you said before.
I mean it. I believe you. She seemed surprised. Then why won't you give me another chance? Because believing that you're sorry doesn't mean I trust you again.
She looked down. It happened once. That's not the part I'm questioning. What are you questioning? Everything around it.
She frowned. What does that mean? You told me you barely knew him. I didn't. You said you didn't remember much.
I was drunk. You told me you only kissed him. She became quiet. I leaned forward. Then I had to ask you if you slept with him.