The Wedding of the Dreamy Beloved

Matt and I were the it-couple in Northside's elite—childhood sweethearts and a perfect match of beauty and brains, both from old money. It was like I had saved the galaxy in my past life to deserve a fiancé like Matt.

But, on the very day of our wedding, Matt left me at the altar.

He blurted out, "Ava, Summer's tried to off herself. I can't just turn my back on her."

Little did he know, without this wedding, I was the one who wouldn't make it.

We were at the hotel entrance, greeting our guests, when Matt seemed miles away. His phone started to ring. He ignored it, probably overwhelmed by the noise, so I nudged him, "Matt, your phone."

Suddenly, he killed the call and faked a smile, "Just a telemarketer."

I bought it. After all, in the Northside circles, I was his ride-or-die, his childhood sweetheart and moonlight.

Standing outside the chapel, we soaked in the officiant's blessings about our love. Matt checked his phone, his face turned ghostly. He bit his lip, looking like he wanted to say something. Just as we were about to make our entrance, he dropped the bomb, "Ava, Summer slit her wrists. I can't stand by and do nothing."

The words hit me like a truck. My Matt, who was supposed to love me more than anything, was ditching our wedding for another woman.

I could hear the officiant through the closed doors, "Please welcome the bride and groom."

I clutched at Matt's suit, begging, "Can't you stay?"

He shrugged off his jacket, breaking free from my grip with a look of sorrow. "Ava, it's not right to be so selfish. You're just losing a wedding; if I don't go, Summer could lose her life."

His words were like daggers to my heart. I felt ice in my veins.

As the doors swung open, the guests were greeted not by a happy couple, but by me standing alone, devastated, as Matt's figure receded into the distance.

There was an immediate murmur among the guests; the news was out—Ava Lockwood had been left high and dry by Matt Hayes.

My head spun, and I collapsed, a cold, mechanical voice in my mind announcing, "Alert, alert, host rejected by Matt Hayes, termination in 48 hours."

Matt, if only you knew that without this wedding, my life was on the line.

Coming to in a hospital bed, the doctor mentioned I had passed out from shock. But it was the system's punishment I had actually felt.

The system's countdown had begun; I had 48 hours left.

Having known each other our entire lives, I never thought I'd lose Matt to someone like Summer, a mere placeholder.

Summer Julius had come into his life three years prior.

That's when I was diagnosed with lung cancer. Doctors doubted I'd see another year.

Matt and I had planned to get married post-grad but then came my cancer report.

Matt was such a rock; I couldn't let him see me crumble. So, I chose to end things. My excuse? His overbearing ways. I decided to study abroad, leaving everything behind.

I sent the breakup text just before boarding my flight and then switched off my phone.

I dreaded a call from him that might make me waver.

Upon landing, I switched my phone back on to find a barrage of messages from Matt, pleading for space but begging me not to cut ties.

His words were desperate, unlike anything I'd seen from him before.

Tears streaming down my face, my mom suggested, "Ava, maybe you should just tell him the truth."

Drying my eyes, I refused, "Let him believe I left for my career."

Despite his attempts, I ignored all his texts and calls.

My brother broke the news to me later: Matt had moved on with a new girlfriend, Summer, who was eerily similar to me.

He described her as a stand-in, a bartender Matt had paid to keep around. He reassured me, "Don't sweat it, she won't ever replace you."

He even sent a photo of her.

Seeing her, someone so much like me, felt strangely comforting. If she could love Matt for me, maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't forget me even in death.