Unmatched love

The night before the wedding, my fiancée sent over an expensive watch. Looking at my missing arm, I immediately decided to call it off. Her star athlete, careful and hesitant, called to explain.

"Mr. Williams, I messed up the watch size. It wasn't Ms. Lynn's fault."

But I could hear Lynn's impatient voice in the background. "Don't bother with him. He wouldn't dare refuse a gift from me."

I scoffed, leaving the divorce papers behind, and walked out.

I was packing when Lynn walked in, dressed in an expensive suit. She frowned at the mess. "The wedding is tomorrow! Can't you tidy up? Do you want to embarrass me in front of all our guests?"

I kept quiet. Her gaze flicked over my missing arm, her disgust barely concealed. "Forget it, I'll call a cleaning service."

We'd been together seven years. This wasn't the first time she'd seen my empty sleeve, but it was the first time her disdain was so blatant. I had to admit, Lynn didn't love me.

As I packed the last of my clothes, she finished her call. Her frown deepened as she saw my suitcase. "Mark, you're throwing a fit over a watch? The night before our wedding?"

"I'm not throwing a fit. I'm serious, Lynn. Let's get a divorce."

She dismissed my words. "It was just a sizing mistake with the watch that Ethan sent. Come on, Mark, get over it. Ethan and I are busy, we work hard every day for these matches, unlike you, who just sits around in air-conditioned comfort." She snapped, "Don't be difficult."

Difficult? Seven years together, finally reaching our wedding day, and she hadn't lifted a finger for it. Even the watch was way too small for my wrist. I was wrong. Lynn didn't just not love me, she didn't care about me at all.

"Did Ethan know? Did you?" I asked. "Lynn, our first anniversary gifts to each other were matching watches."

She avoided my gaze. I knew she felt guilty. "The point is, you can't joke about the wedding, Mark. You should be honored I'm even marrying you, with your… condition."

Looking at the woman I'd loved for seven years, I just felt a bitter laugh escape my lips. "Really? Then I don't want the honor." I grabbed my suitcase and left, the sound of shattering glass echoing behind me. She was furious. "Mark! Don't you dare come back! The wedding will go on without you! Let's see how far a cripple like you gets without me!"

I thought I wouldn't feel the pain, but her cruel words cut deep. We met at a college boxing match. She was a reporter, and I saved her from falling off the stage when the crowd surged forward. She asked for my number, and I didn’t refuse. She was young, beautiful, and full of life. She started her own boxing gym, and I left the college team without hesitation to help her build it into the best in the state. We were the golden couple of the boxing world.

But our happiness didn't last. Lynn's success bred jealousy. After one match, during an interview, someone attacked her with a machete. I shielded her without a second thought. When I woke up, my right a...