The Night I Became Mrs. Blackwood

I held the warm bag of Chinese takeout against my chest as I climbed the stairs to our apartment. My heart felt lighter than it had in weeks. Maybe months.

Things with Jake had been weird lately. Cold. Like we were roommates instead of lovers. But tonight I was going to fix it. Orange chicken. Fried rice. Spring rolls. All his favorites.

I wanted my boyfriend back. The one who used to laugh at my terrible jokes. The one who kissed me like I was the only girl in the world.

Three years together. That had to mean something.

I pushed open the door quietly. I wanted to surprise him.

The apartment was dim. Only the bedroom light was on.

"Jake?"

No answer.

I smiled. Maybe he was napping. I could wake him up with kisses and food. We could talk. Really talk.

I walked down the hallway. My shoes were quiet on the carpet.

The bedroom door was half open.

I pushed it wider.

And my whole world stopped.

Jake was in our bed. Our bed. The one we picked out together at IKEA last year.

But he wasn't alone.

There was someone next to him. Under him. Her red hair spread across my pillow.

Red hair I knew better than my own.

"Mia?"

The word came out like a whisper. Like a prayer. Like I was begging for this to not be real.

My best friend. The girl who braided my hair in kindergarten. Who held my hand at my mom's funeral. Who promised we'd be sisters forever.

They both jerked up. The sheet fell. I saw everything.

Something inside me broke. Shattered into a million pieces.

The bag slipped from my hands. It hit the floor with a wet thud. Sweet and sour sauce splattered everywhere. Orange chicken scattered across the hardwood.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

The scream ripped out of my throat. It didn't even sound like me.

Jake scrambled out of bed. He grabbed his boxers. His face was red.

"Emma... wait... I can explain..."

"Explain? EXPLAIN?"

My hands were shaking. My whole body was shaking.

Mia sat up slowly. She pulled the sheet around herself. Around her naked body. In my bed.

And then she smiled.

She actually smiled.

"Oh Emma," she said. Her voice was sweet. Too sweet. Like poisoned honey.

"Don't look at her. Look at me."

Jake stepped toward me. I stepped back.

"How long?"

My voice broke on the words.

"Emma..."

"HOW LONG?"

"Two months."

Two months. Eight weeks. Sixty days.

Every time I thought he was working late. Every time Mia said she was busy. Every lie. Every kiss. Every time he touched me and I wondered why it felt different.

"Why?"

Jake's jaw clenched. His eyes went hard. Cold.

"You weren't giving me what I needed!"

The words hit me like a slap.

"What... what does that even mean?"

"You're always tired. Always stressed about work. We never have fun anymore. You're not..."

He gestured at Mia.

"She gets me. She's exciting. She's there when I need her."

I looked at Mia. My best friend. The girl I told everything to.

She stretched like a cat. Comfortable. Happy.

"Sorry babe," she said. Not sorry at all.

"But Jake and I... we just have this connection. You understand, right?"

No. No I didn't understand.

My vision blurred. Hot tears spilled down my cheeks.

"We were supposed to get married."

Jake laughed. Actually laughed.

"Come on Emma. Did you really think I was going to marry you? You're so... boring. Predictable."

The sobs came then. Big ugly sobs that shook my whole body. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.

Three years. Gone. Just like that.

"Get out."

Jake crossed his arms.

"This is my apartment."

"Our apartment. My name is on the lease too."

"Then you get out. I'm not going anywhere."

Mia giggled. Actually giggled.

Something hot and sharp burned through the pain. Rage. Pure rage.

I spun around. Went to the closet. Started grabbing my clothes. I didn't fold them. Just shoved them into my suitcase.

My hands wouldn't stop shaking.

"That's right. Run away," Mia called out. "That's what you always do when things get hard."

I ignored her. Grabbed my toiletries from the bathroom. My laptop from the desk.

Jake watched me. He didn't help. Didn't apologize. Just stood there with his arms crossed.

"Can you hurry up? We were kind of in the middle of something."

The tears kept coming. I couldn't stop them.

I dragged my suitcase to the door. Looked back one last time.

They were already getting back into bed. Together. Like I was already forgotten.

I grabbed the door handle.

"I hope you're happy together."

Mia waved at me. Smiled that terrible smile.

"We will be."

I slammed the door so hard the whole frame shook. Something fell and crashed inside. Good.

The hallway was spinning. I couldn't see straight through the tears.

I dragged my suitcase down the stairs. Bump bump bump.

Outside the cold night air hit my face. It was starting to rain.

Perfect. Just perfect.

Where was I supposed to go? My mom was gone. My dad lived across the country. And Mia... Mia was the person I would have called.

I stood on the sidewalk. Rain mixing with my tears.

A sob tore out of me. Then another. Then I was crying so hard I couldn't stand.

I stumbled forward. My suitcase rolled behind me.

Everything hurt. My chest. My heart. My head.

I didn't see the curb.

My foot caught. I fell forward into the street.

Headlights. Bright white headlights coming fast.

Then they stopped.

A car. A big black car. Sleek. Expensive looking.

It pulled up right beside me.

I sat there in the street. Rain soaking through my clothes. Mascara running down my face.

The engine purred. Quiet and powerful. I stood. Wondering.

Then the window started to roll down.

Slowly.

So slowly.

I held my breath.

And waited to see who was inside.