I Was Left Behind at the Altar

Rachel Larson was adamant about marrying me, and she spent ten years stealing my heart. On the night before our wedding, I overheard her conversation with her friend.

"You're marrying Leonardo? What about your side piece?"

A moment of silence later, she answered, "That guy? He's just a cheap replacement. Leonardo's the real deal. Don't compare my side piece to him. If he stays put and keeps his mouth shut, I might let him stay around. Leonardo's a broad-minded man. He won't mind."

The side piece did not stay put. In fact, he caused a scene at the wedding the next day. He shoved me off the stage, but the woman who was supposed to marry me darted over to his side instead.

Why?

He was holding a piece of broken glass against his throat. Gutturally, he roared, "Choose! Me or him?"

Panicked, Rachel kicked me away despite my injuries, and she roared, "Get out of the way! I need to take him to the hospital! If anything happens to him, I'll kill you!"

She didn't need to wait that long. My heart died right there and then.

That night, I bought a flight ticket that would take me abroad and left her.

…

"You can't even sign your own letter of consent for the surgery? You're seriously going to waste my time with this? You broke your bone just because Jonathan's injured? I'm already tired enough, so can you not pile more problems on my plate?"

That was Rachel, and she was obviously frustrated and angry. After she took Jonathan Ginger away, it had been twelve hours since I had seen her. This was my twentieth call to her.

The previous calls? She hung up on me. Her less-than-warm attitude made me freeze, and I pleaded, "But he pushed me. You saw it. The doctor wants my family here. You're already at the hospital anyway. Can't you just sign the papers? It won't take long."

The answer I got was her hanging up on me again. I saw this coming, and I sighed. "Give me the consent form. I'll sign it myself."

The doctor was a little hesitant. "Perhaps you should call Ms. Larson again. Maybe she needs more clarification. Yesterday, she told me and all the medical staff to be on standby right at the scene. If Jonathan were to start something and hurt you, we are to treat you immediately.

"She'd summon all the doctors for you even over a common cold, and she stayed by your side for three days straight. If she knows Jonathan's the reason you broke your bone, she's going to be furious. No one's more important to her than you."

I smiled bitterly. That was what I used to think, but now I know that wasn't the case. I insisted on signing the form, and the doctor relented.

I kept hoping she would show up, right up until the last moments of my surgery. Instead, I saw Jonathan posting a new status on his wall.

There was a GIF, and it showed Rachel holding a bowl of piping-hot soup. She fed the soup to Jonathan slowly and tucked him in. The caption read, 'A promise of your whole life after three years of mine staying by your side.'

The smile on Jonathan's face spelled bliss. I couldn't believe he was the same person who got blackout drunk a few days ago because of the sudden breakup. He even came to me and cursed me in my face.

"I was her side piece for three years and gave her everything, but she wouldn't even let me sleep with her! She told me that you're her only husband! Why? What makes you special? I did what you did and made her soup, but she slapped me instead!

"You know what she told me? That I'd never be half the man you are! That you're more handsome than me, have a more likable personality than me, and that you're the real deal, while I'm just a fraud!"

He was agitated. "I'm just something she found to stave off boredom! She wanted nothing to do with me once you came back! Why did you come back? You should've stayed abroad! Preferably six feet under!"

Rachel heard everything he said, and she was furious about my getting insulted. She slapped him hard and kicked him out of the house.

Coldly, she stared at Jonathan. With disdain dripping from her voice, she responded, "We're done. Stop hounding me, and how dare you curse Leonardo! Are you out of your mind? If anyone should be six feet under, it's you! I love Leonardo. I will never accept anyone else in my life."

So much for that. She went for Jonathan at the wedding and took him to the hospital straight away, like he was some sort of invaluable treasure she didn't want to lose.

…

My surgery was done soon enough. Once the anesthetic wore off, I woke up. Suddenly, Rachel barged into my room and hurried over to the bed.

I thought she finally remembered I was here. I thought she was here to see me, but instead, she pulled my hand out of the blanket and flipped it around like it was some sort of useless toy. I was still hooked up to the IV.

She didn't find what she was looking for. Angrily, she demanded, "Where's your wedding ring? Give it to me!"