Impenitent Until the System Erased Me

I was just about to end the call when a man's voice came through the other end.

"Sierra, who are you talking to? The ceremony is about to start."

Sierra York answered him almost immediately. "It's a client. I'll be done in a minute."

Then she lowered her voice and spoke to me as though I were the one causing a problem. "Babe, don't start. I'm getting married today. I'll call you back when I'm done."

The line went dead, leaving me stunned in place.

A staff member nearby glanced at me and asked cautiously, "Sir, are you still going to go through with the paperwork?"

I shook my head and walked out of the office.

A stranger on the sidewalk must have noticed how miserable I looked. He held out a cigarette, saying, "Hey, man. Don't let it get to you. There are plenty of fish in the sea. Don't waste your life hanging on one person."

I was about to decline when something suddenly crossed my mind. I'd been a heavy smoker once. Ten years ago, Sierra had casually mentioned that she hated the smell of cigarettes, and I'd quit cold turkey.

For ten years, I hadn't touched one because she didn't like it.

And now? I wasn't going to spend the last few days of my life trying to please her anymore.

"Thanks."

I took the cigarette and leaned over to let him light it for me.

As the flame flickered to life, a massive digital billboard on the building across the street suddenly lit up with a live wedding broadcast.

The bride was none other than Sierra.

How absurdly hilarious it was! On the very day the system had announced that I was destined to disappear, Sierra was giving the man she loved the wedding of a lifetime.

People passing by stopped to watch the livestream, their voices filled with envy.

"Ms. York really is devoted. She has everything, and she still kept the promise she made to her first love and married the guy she grew up with."

...

The man who had given me the cigarette nudged me.

"See that? Man, you really picked the wrong person. A rich woman who's loyal, keeps her promises, and doesn't stand you up? That's the kind you want.

"Take my advice. That girlfriend of yours who didn't even show up to marry you? Dump her as soon as you can."

The people around me cheered, excited about the wedding, but I couldn't bring myself to smile. Because the woman they were praising was my girlfriend, and she just happened to be marrying someone else.

As more people gathered around the livestream, a reporter's voice came through the speakers.

"Ms. York, you've said in the past that you didn't want your marriage made public. What changed your mind this time?"

Sierra stood before the cameras in a breathtaking wedding dress, smiling like the happiest woman in the world.

"That was before," she replied smoothly. "When you finally meet the person you truly love, you want to give him everything. Compared to that, what does one wedding matter?"

I slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke, feeling a sting in my eyes.

So, that was the truth.

Keeping our ten-year relationship a secret hadn't been about protecting her career after all. She simply didn't love me.

When you truly loved someone, you'd do what Sierra was doing for Cyrus Michel. You'd give him a place in your life, put your relationship before the world, and make sure everyone knew he was the one you had chosen.

I abruptly stood up, surprising the man beside me.

"Hey, where are you going? Stay and watch the stream with us. Join in on the fun!"

I glanced at the giant screen as Sierra and Cyrus exchanged rings. Then I shook my head and crushed the cigarette beneath my shoe.

"I'm going to congratulate the happy couple."

I walked into the wedding venue carrying the present I'd originally intended to give Sierra on the day she became my wife.

I hadn't even been inside for long when word reached her. Sierra hurried over and grabbed my arm, pulling me toward a secluded corner before anyone could notice us.

She was wearing the wedding dress I'd designed for her. The diamond ring on her finger was the one I'd chosen for her.

Everything looked perfect, but she wasn't marrying me.