fiancé

Five years ago, my fiancé, David, died in the line of duty. They never recovered his body. Then, this past August, at exactly 8:17 pm, Detective Reynolds called. He said they’d found David. Alive. And getting married.

1.

The drive to that coastal town felt like an eternity. Reynolds and his partner tried to prepare me, but I clung to hope. He’d chased me for two years, spoiled me for five, proposed twice. How could he forget me? I rubbed the simple silver band on my finger. He’d proposed! How could he marry someone else?

The flight was followed by a five-hour bus ride that left me nauseous. Ten hours later, we finally arrived.

“There,” Reynolds pointed to a cozy B&B called “Sunshine Days.” It had recently become popular thanks to some photos a tourist had posted, especially one featuring the owner’s profile. Even a glimpse was enough to send the internet into a frenzy.

Reynolds glanced at me. "He doesn't remember anything. You have to be…"

I stared at the door, my senses numb.

Reynolds pushed it open, triggering a chime of seashells.

A large courtyard greeted us, a cobblestone path leading to the house. There was a huge swing, a golden retriever, and a bunch of cats. I stared at them, bewildered.

Then a man emerged from behind a beaded curtain. Tall, athletic, his arms toned beneath a black T-shirt. His profile was sharp, angular.

My body froze. My head buzzed. It was like all my functions shut down, except for my eyes, which remained locked on him.

I’d seen people who resembled David, even down to the tear-shaped mole beneath his eye. But I knew instantly this wasn't him. This man was older, harder, his features more defined.

I moved closer, drawn in like a moth to a flame, until I saw the mole, the red string around his neck…

"Da…David…" I whispered, terrified of scaring him away.

He looked up, his eyes filled with utter confusion. “Excuse me?”

“David…” I choked out.

He stared coldly. "I'm sorry, miss, you have the wrong person."

But I knew David. I could never mistake him. He was half my soul.

Reynolds stepped in. “Sorry about that. Do you have any vacancies?”

David, arms crossed, scrutinized us. “Yeah. How many rooms?”

“Two.”

“Come in.” He turned and walked inside without a backward glance. I'd naively thought that seeing me would trigger his memory. That everything would change. But his gaze had been distant, sharp, almost annoyed.

I hadn't cried when I heard he was alive. I hadn’t cried when I learned he was getting married. But his look…it squeezed my heart until it ached, and tears streamed down my face.

2.

"IDs."

Reynolds handed them over.

As the man took them, I saw the missing tip of his left pinky finger. He walked towards the counter, a slight limp in his right leg. I covered my mouth.

Reynolds grabbed the room keys and hurried me away.

Back in the room, my voice finally returned. "How did he… become like this?"

On the way here, I'd vowed to slap him. The nerve of him, forgetting me, marrying another woma...