The Unspoken

Ten Years Gone

It’s been ten years since I died.

And finally, Liam finds out there’s another thing between us – a child.

…

A car accident did me in, right then and there.

That day, I’d just come from a wedding of one of my old college classmates. It was her second marriage, and the groom was a big shot at Liam’s company.

At the reception, our old crew from college sat at the same table.

They asked if I was married yet.

I said, “Nope.”

Then they all looked at me funny.

That viper, Tiffany, had to chime in with her usual crap: “After all the scheming and drama you pulled back in the day to get Liam, huh? Well, guess love doesn’t always work out the way you want. Figures, someone always gets their due, I guess. Looks like someone got dumped.”

I just smiled, not saying a word.

They all figured Liam and I had broken up.

Little did they know, we’d actually been together for ten years since graduation.

But what does ten years even mean? I was already drained of every ounce of love and passion for that relationship.

The wedding was a big, happy scene, the bride and groom beaming like they’d won the lottery.

When it came time to toss the bouquet, I wasn’t even trying to catch it. Honestly, I’d given up on the idea of marriage.

But things you don’t want always seem to find you, right?

The bride flung it over her shoulder, and it sailed right into my lap.

The other guests who didn't know my backstory all cheered, wishing me good luck and a quick trip down the aisle.

I just held the flowers, a bitter smile on my face, and slipped out early.

While I was waiting for the elevator, who do I run into but Tiffany, also making an early escape.

She was on her phone, talking a mile a minute. “Yeah, Willow, I just left the wedding. Uh-huh, I gave the card to her, don’t worry.”

Hearing Willow’s name, my face went stiff.

“Yeah, she says she'll take you out when you’re back. You’re in France, so it's cool.”

France? That’s where Liam is. I thought.

“So, you’re shopping for rings with Liam now?”

Rings? My heart skipped a beat.

“I got it, I got it. Not a peep from me. Can't wait to hear the good news. Gotta go, bye!”

Tiffany hung up, looking at me with a mix of smugness and a bit of spite.

“Hear that? Willow and Liam are picking out engagement rings. They’ll be getting married real soon. Haha, bet you didn't see that coming, did you? Even after you tore them apart all those years ago, they found their way back to each other. Liam's heart always belonged to our Willow.”

“You might have tricked him with your schemes back then, Claire, but you can't trick fate. Fake always comes out fake in the end.”

Then, with a parting shot, Tiffany smirked, “You just have to make sure you make it to Willow and Liam’s wedding.”

She stepped into the elevator, the doors closed, and I was left standing there, my feet feeling like they were glued to the floor.

Liam and Willow? Getting married?

Figures. No wonder Liam has been jetting off to France every other w...