Seven Years and a Sunflower

"We're already divorced. Do whatever you want, lock yourselves together forever, just stop ruining other people's lives."

The color drained from Bonnie's face.

Reuben frowned.

"Marie, can you stop making a scene? Bonnie and I have a conference here, we came to work. What are you so jealous about?"

"Apologize!"

I didn't want anything more to do with either of them. I turned and walked away.

I had just gotten back to my room when Reuben followed me in. He pulled two tickets to Iceland out of his pocket.

"Go apologize to Bonnie right now, and I'll take you to Iceland immediately."

I looked at those two tickets, and the irony of it hit me.

Seven years I'd waited for this, and he was finally willing to give it to me. Still, it was for Bonnie's sake.

"You're out of your mind."

"Marie!"

He lowered his voice, his face dark.

"I've already swallowed my pride here. What more do you want?"

"I don't want anything from you."

The next day, I boarded the plane to Iceland alone.

It was only after I landed that I learned Reuben had brought Bonnie too.

As if to spite me, he'd deliberately booked the same tour group.

The whole way, he kept his arm around Bonnie's shoulders, laughing with her, but his eyes went past her and stayed fixed on me.

When I gave him nothing back, his face darkened by degrees.

That evening we went to see the Northern Lights.

By the time we reached the viewing point on the ice field, the sky had already begun to glow green.

Then it grew brighter and brighter, the whole sky flowing, so quiet it made you want to cry.

It really was beautiful.

So beautiful that I felt these seven years hadn't been wasted after all.

When we first got together, Reuben had said he wanted to propose to me under the Northern Lights.

One thing after another always got in the way, and we never made it.

I turned around.

Not far off, Bonnie rose onto her toes and kissed Reuben.

I stood in the snow, my breath fogging white and blurring my sight.

Behind me, people were cheering, hugging.

My feet were nailed to the snow. I couldn't move.

Reuben must have sensed something, because he looked over at me.

His expression froze. He shoved Bonnie away and ran toward me.

"Marie! Let me explain—"

Right then, a dull crack came from the ice beneath my feet.

The whole ice field began to shake.

The guide was screaming for everyone to get back.

I wanted to run, but my boots were stuck in the ice and wouldn't come loose.

Reuben was the closest to me. On instinct, he reached out his hand.

"Reuben!"

Bonnie's voice came from the other side.

"Save me— it's cracking open over here!"

Reuben's hand froze in midair.

He looked at me, then at Bonnie.

"Marie, wait for me a second."

His voice was shaking.

"Bonnie's side is more dangerous. Let me pull her up first, I'll come right back for you."

He turned and ran toward Bonnie.

I stood where I was and watched him run farther and farther away.

The crack beneath my feet split wide open.

I didn't even have time to scream before the icy water surged in from every direction.