Chapter 6
Time flowed by like a gentle stream.
The day before the wedding arrived faster than anyone expected. The calendar on her wall had been stripped down to its final two pages, thin and lonely like her remaining time as a single woman.
Today’s wish on the calendar read, “Share a family holiday dinner together.” It was a wish Fiona had buried deep in her heart for over twenty years. But she knew, with bitter certainty, that this wish would remain forever unfulfilled. Her mother would never forgive her father, just as she would never forgive Quentin.
But Fiona refused to dwell on it.
She applied light makeup and slipped into her favorite white dress. Then she did something that would have seemed pathetic to others, but to her felt like. reclaiming her happiness: she spent the day doing couple activities, completely
alone.
She watched a movie by herself. Ordered an entire couple’s meal deal just for one.
Rode the Ferris wheel solo.
As the wheel reached its apex, the sun began its descent into the horizon. Golden- red rays painted the city she’d grown up in with warm, dying light. The gentle
breeze caressed her face as she spread her arms wide, feeling as if all her
memories were being carried away by the evening wind.
When night finally fell, Fiona bought one last ice cream cone and walked out of the amusement park. She sat on a nearby bench, savoring each lick while gazing up at the star–studded sky. The stars above had always been her most precious. companions. During countless nights when she’d been thrown out of her house, young Quentin would hold her hand and lay–beside her on the grass, both of them stargazing until their troubles felt smaller.
“It doesn’t matter,” she thought to herself. “People change, but the stars remain.
constant.” No matter where life took her, this same brilliant, sparkling sky would always be above her.
Just as she finished her ice cream and prepared to head home, her phone lit up.
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with a message from Daisy beneath the starlit sky.
“Daddy’s sweet and sour fish is absolutely amazing! Too bad you’ve never tried it.
Fiona opened the attached video to see both families having dinner together. Quentin and Daisy sat at the center, surrounded by festive wedding decorations and congratulatory banners. Both families were discussing wedding plans amid. laughter and joy.
Daisy’s petty attempt at provocation didn’t anger Fiona. She’d experienced far too many similar tactics throughout her life to let it affect her anymore. Instead, she found it darkly amusing.
“Planning a wedding?” she thought with a bitter smile. “But whose wedding are they really planning? Mine? Or yours, Daisy?”
Rather than waste words on Daisy, Fiona simply blocked and deleted her, then opened her chat with Quentin. Their last conversation was from a week ago. As she scrolled up through their chat history, she noticed how one–sided it was almost every message was from her.
The realization hit her like a punch to the gut, but she straightened her shoulders. Some stars might fall, but others would always remain in the sky.
Fiona had always shared every detail of her life with Quentin, tirelessly messaging. him about everything from her life plans down to what she had for breakfast,
lunch, and dinner.
Quentin rarely responded. On the few occasions he did, his replies were exclusively. about Daisy.
Eventually, Fiona’s desire to message him withered away. What was the po
point of reaching out when all she got was silence in return?
Just as she was about to slip her phone back into her pocket, Quentin’s call came
through.
“Where are you? Why aren’t you home? Do you know what time it is? Why aren’t you back yet?” His voice carried both urgency and accusation.
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For once, he had actually turned down Daisy’s invitation to stay late, coming home. early to spend time with Fiona. But when he’d opened the door, the woman who always waited for him wasn’t there. No answer to his calls, no response to his texts. Quentin had nearly called the police in his panic.
Hearing his demanding tone, Fiona checked the time, 8:00 PM.
The irony wasn’t lost on her. How many times had Quentin stayed out until dawn, or not come home at all? Every single time, she’d left a warm lamp glowing in the window for him. On nights when he’d been drinking, she’d dragged herself out of bed, fighting exhaustion to make him her special hangover remedy.
But what had he ever done for her?
She drew a blank, and irritation crept into her voice. “Am I not allowed to have a life of my own?”
It was the first time she’d ever talked back to him. He paused, taken aback, before. softening his tone.
“Fiona, I’ve missed you these past few days.” His voice turned gentle. “We’re
getting married tomorrow. I was just worried something might have happened to you. Don’t be angry, okay? Wait for me – I’ll be right there.”
True to his word, Quentin arrived quickly, surprisingly clutching a bouquet of flowers – something he’d never done before.
She didn’t take them. When she opened the passenger door, a distinctive perfume. wafted out, making her stomach turn. She wiped her hands with a tissue and
deliberately chose to sit in the back seat.
Quentin, absorbed in texting someone, failed to notice her reaction. He asked.
absently, “What made you decide to visit the amusement park? Is everything ready for the wedding?”
“More or less,” she replied quietly. Tomorrow, she would finally be free of this place forever.
Quentin smiled. “I remember how much you’ve always wanted to ride the Ferris wheel. When I have some free time, I’ll take you properly we’ll make a whole day
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of it. I wasn’t planning to interrupt your day, but my mother wants to see you.” “It’s alright, there’s plenty of time ahead,” she said softly.
Fiona had a long list of dreams, and the future stretched endlessly before her. Once she moved abroad, she would tackle them one by one, bringing each to life. And she would do it all without Quentin.
After responding to the message, Quentin started the car and casually put on some music – one of Daisy’s favorite tracks. Fiona turned her head toward the bustling street, watching the endless stream of cars and people flow past like a living river.
This city was beautiful, she thought. The neon lights were beginning to flicker to life, creating a dazzling dance with the starlit sky above. But after staring too long, the wind made her eyes sting, bringing an uncomfortable sensation she couldn’t shake.
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