You Missed the Boat

Adrian opened the door, stepped out of the car, and leaned against it. He lifted a hand and waved.

He was young and full of energy, just like an innocent high school boy trying to impress the girl he liked.

"Christina, I came to pick you up," he said. Let me show you my driving skills."

Christina was immediately dazzled by him, and her grin stretched from ear to ear as she walked toward him. She probably didn't even realize it herself, but her whole being seemed to light up whenever she saw Adrian, like a flower revived by rain.

I didn't say a word. I just grabbed the suitcase from the trunk and handed it to Christina.

A flash of surprise crossed Adrian's eyes as he looked me up and down.

"Jeremiah, were you going to drive Christina to the airport?" he asked. "Then I guess I shouldn't steal your thunder…"

He lowered his gaze, looking disappointed.

Only then did Christina think to explain, saying casually, "Jeremiah, you must be tired from getting up early to make breakfast. Just let Adrian drive me."

I nodded.

She pinched my cheek, coaxing me as if I were a puppy. "You've been so good today, Jeremiah. When I get back, I'll agree to marry you, okay?"

My heart stirred.

Christina and I had been together for seven years, and I'd proposed to her countless times. But no matter how romantically I had decorated the venue or how sincerely I had poured my heart out, she'd either say the timing wasn't right, brush me off, or flat-out reject me.

It seemed like she must have really been in a good mood today to use marriage as a way to placate me.

The corners of my mouth curled up, but the smile didn't reach my eyes. "Okay."

I sighed inwardly.

What she didn't know was that she would never get another proposal from me.

After seeing Christina off, I walked home slowly.

I looked at the plane ticket on my phone that I'd booked days ago. My thoughts churned as memories surfaced one after another in my mind.

In the end, they all blurred into a single image; Christina gazing at Adrian, her eyes sparkling brightly.

I took one last look at the apartment I had shared with her for the last seven years. Then I turned and walked away without looking back.

I had come to the big city to work because of Christina. Unlike me, she had been born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

To stand shoulder-to-shoulder with her, I had worked day and night, pulling endless overtime, even pushing myself to the point of cardiac arrest and collapsing at my desk.

I still remember how I had hit the floor hard.

Everyone had rushed over. No one would sit by and turn a blind eye, even those who didn't like me. Yet, Christina stepped right past me, anxiously rushing off with her car keys in hand.

After I was resuscitated, I saw a post on Adrian's social media. In the photo, he was sitting in the passenger seat, flashing a peace sign, while Christina smiled gently in the driver's seat.

The caption read, "It's dinner time! I was starving, so the boss is taking me out for a feast! She's so beautiful and kind!"

Lying in that hospital bed, I felt utterly chilled to the bone. I immediately called Christina and asked where she was.

There was a brief silence on the other end before she calmly said that she was out having dinner with a client and was exhausted.

Her voice grew increasingly impatient as she warned me not to keep tabs on her while she was in the middle of discussing important matters. She didn't want to waste precious time dealing with my paranoia.

That night, Christina and I had a huge fight. From then on, we fell into a silent standoff.

Christina treated me like I didn't exist. We lived under the same roof, yet it felt like we were complete strangers.

She wouldn't even touch the breakfast I made. That was her way of punishing me. She knew I worried about her gastritis, and that when I saw her pale and unwell, it would force me to give in.

This cycle happened again and again.

But this time, my heart had shattered completely.