When Love Steps Aside

I waited for three full hours by the road.

Eventually, I grew tired and took shelter under a nearby canopy.

When night finally fell, all I got was a video update from Laura.

In the video, a full moon rose to the sky. Drew was holding Laura’s arm tightly while he helped her light the firework in her hands.

Laughter echoed in the background. It was followed by someone shouting.

“Drew, aren’t you going to pick Sienna up? The feast at the amusement park is about to begin. She’s going to miss it!”

Drew’s hand froze mid-motion. Laura’s firework slipped from her grip and fell to the ground.

He looked torn. After a long silence, he picked up the firework and finally muttered, “It’ll be fine if I’m late. Sienna is understanding. She won’t get mad.”

I stopped the video before it even finished playing because I already knew he wasn’t coming back for me.

The amusement park was only three hours from home, but eight hours had gone by, and he still hadn’t shown up.

I slowly stood, slipped off my engagement ring, and put it away.

Drew had changed. He was no longer the man who once loved me.

That marking ceremony I had been waiting so long for probably wasn’t happening anymore.

The fireworks and feast at the amusement park lasted until midnight. Afterward, everyone started setting up tents to settle in for the night.

As soon as Laura and her daughter stepped into a tent, they were abruptly kicked out by my friend.

“Get out! This tent was meant for Sienna. You’re not welcome here!”

Laura hadn’t brought a tent. Drew tried to find one for her, but at that point, there were no extras left.

Tears welled in Laura’s eyes as she looked at Drew.

“Sienna must be mad. Is that why her friend’s picking on us?

“It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t been too scared to light the fireworks, and if Anne hadn’t begged so hard to play, you wouldn’t have spent so much time with us. We don’t belong here. Anne and I should leave.”

Drew’s breathing grew unsteady, but it wasn't because Laura said she wanted to leave.

It was because he suddenly remembered he’d forgotten to come back for me.

He wanted to rush off immediately. But in the end, he stayed to make sure Laura and her daughter were taken care of.

The amusement park was far from the city. There was nowhere nearby for a woman and child to stay.

Drew’s heart softened. He couldn’t let them just leave like that.

He grabbed Laura’s wrist.

“Enough. This has nothing to do with you. If Sienna’s mad, she’s mad at me.

“Take my tent. I’ll drive back,” he said firmly.

Drew asked his friends to look after Laura and Anne. He didn’t even take his luggage. He just turned to leave.

His steps were noticeably quicker than usual, but Laura called out to him.

“I’ll go with you. If Sienna’s upset, I can help explain.”

Drew hesitated before agreeing.

Knowing me, I wouldn’t leave until he came back. He figured it’d take a lot of convincing to calm me down.

When it came to talking things out, women spoke to each other better, so he brought Laura along.

But Anne was still a child. She wouldn’t survive a three-hour ride without her toys and blankets. Those things had to be brought along.

By the time everything was packed, another hour had passed.

Drew, usually impatient, actually sat in the car and waited for Laura for an hour.

On the way, Laura was worried Drew might get hungry while driving, so she personally fed him cookies.

I saw it all, clear as day, in the video Laura posted on Instagram.

I downloaded every single video.

Then I sent Drew a message.

“I’ve gone home. Don’t come back for me. Have fun.”