Sacrificed

(Lisa's POV)

"Are you really sure about this, Lisa?" my dad asked, his tone full of worry, as I placed the last of my clothes into my luggage.

"I'm definitely sure about this, Dad. I'm going to Italy," I replied firmly, giving him a determined smile. I wanted him to know I wasn’t going to change my mind.

I was heading to Italy to see my boyfriend, Nathan. He had been there for over three months now, and I missed him terribly. Sure, we texted and video-called almost often, but it just wasn’t the same. I missed being with him, holding his hand, and feeling his presence. Three months ago, Nathan told me he needed to go to Italy for work. He said there was a potential client he had to persuade into partnering with him.

Nathan owns a wine business in California, but it hasn’t been doing well. The market is competitive, and he struggles to find the right sponsors to take his business to the next level. I’ve always supported him however I could—financially, emotionally, and in every other way possible. In fact, I was the one who encouraged him to go to Italy when he first told me about the opportunity. But now, here I was, packing my bags and getting ready to follow him because I couldn’t bear being apart any longer.

You might call me impulsive or overly attached, but I love Nathan more than I love myself. He’s everything to me, and I’d do anything to see him succeed and be happy.

"You should at least tell him you’re coming," my dad said again, his voice tinged with concern. I knew he didn’t want me to go. Being his only daughter, he has always been protective of me. But I’m stubborn—always have been. Once I set my mind on something, no one can stop me.

"I want to surprise him, Dad. He’ll be so happy to see me," I replied, trying to sound cheerful.

"Do you even know where he’s staying in Italy?" my dad asked, his worry deepening. I could tell he was grasping for reasons to make me stay. My dad has never liked Nathan. He tolerated him for my sake, but I know deep down he doesn’t think Nathan is good enough for me.

"Yes, Dad. Nathan told me about the hotel he’s staying at. I’ll figure everything out when I get there," I said, brushing off his concerns.

"And what about the language barrier? Italy isn’t like California," he added, still trying to dissuade me.

"I’ll manage, Dad. Italy isn’t entirely non-English-speaking, and with Nathan by my side, I’ll be fine," I reassured him.

He sighed, realizing I wasn’t going to budge. Though he wasn’t happy, he stopped arguing and instead reminded me to be careful since this would be my first time traveling to another country.

When we got to the airport, my dad hugged me tightly, holding on as if he didn’t want to let go. "Just be safe, okay?" he said softly, and I nodded before boarding the plane.

The flight to Italy felt quick, though I was too excited to notice the time passing. My heart raced with anticipation, thinking about seeing Nathan after three long months.

I arrived in Italy in the evening. The air smelled different, rich with the scent of spices and the sea. I felt a buzz of energy as I stepped outside, taking in the sights. It was a beautiful country, vibrant and alive, with people chatting and laughing as they went about their evening.

I hailed a cab and gave the driver the hotel address Nathan had shared with me. At first, he spoke in Italian, but when he realized I wasn’t local, he switched to English. I spent the ride marveling at the streets of Italy, the historic buildings, and the lively nightlife.

When we arrived at the hotel, I paid the driver and stepped out, pulling my small suitcase behind me. The hotel was grand, with tall glass doors and glowing lights that made it look even more stunning at night. My heart pounded with excitement. I briefly considered calling Nathan to let him know I was there but decided against it. I wanted to stick to the surprise.

Inside the hotel, I approached the receptionist. She greeted me in Italian, and I smiled politely. "I’m from California," I said. "I’m here to surprise my boyfriend."

She switched to English and asked for Nathan’s name. After I gave it to her, she hesitated, saying she couldn’t share room details for privacy reasons. I lied, saying it was his birthday and I needed to surprise him. She seemed to believe me and eventually handed over a key card and his room number.

"Thank you so much!" I said, beaming as I headed toward the elevator.

The elevator ride felt like an eternity. My palms were sweaty as I clutched the key card tightly. I imagined the look on Nathan’s face when he'd see me. I pictured him pulling me into a hug, telling me how much he missed me.

When I reached his door, I swiped the key card without hesitation and pushed the door open.

"Surpri—" The word froze in my throat, and my suitcase fell from my hand. My heart shattered into a million pieces.

Nathan was in bed with another woman. They scrambled to cover themselves, but the damage was done. I had seen everything.

My knees felt weak as I stepped into the room, my voice trembling. "What’s going on here?"

Nathan didn’t even look ashamed. Instead, he glared at me. "I should be asking you that, Lisa. What the heck are you doing in Italy?"

His tone was cold and accusatory as if I was the one in the wrong.

"I came to see you, Nathan," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

"You’re unbelievable," he snapped. "You do things without asking me! Did I ever ask you to come here?"

"Don’t try to turn this on me, Nathan!" I shouted, tears streaming down my face. "You told me you were busy with work, but here you are, cheating on me!"

"Well, now you know," he said coldly. "Paige here can help expand my business. She can take it to the next level, something you can’t do, Lisa. You even deprive me of intimacy. I was planning to break up with you when I returned to California, but now that you’re here, I’ll say it to your face—I don’t need you in my life."

His harsh words felt like a knife to my chest. Yes, I’d set boundaries in our relationship, but I had supported him in every other way, even giving him my savings.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The man I had loved and sacrificed so much for was throwing me away like I was nothing.

"You’re ungrateful, Nathan," I whispered, my voice breaking. Tears blurred my vision as I turned and ran out of the room, leaving my luggage behind.

I didn’t stop running until I was outside, my chest heaving as I gasped for air. I collapsed onto a bench, burying my face in my hands as sobs wracked my body.

This wasn’t how I imagined my trip to Italy. I had come here to reunite with the love of my life, only to have my heart broken in the worst way possible.

As the night wore on, the reality of my situation sank in. I was alone in a foreign country with no one to turn to. My luggage was still in Nathan’s room, but I couldn’t bring myself to go back and face him again.

This was the worst day of my life—my first heartbreak, in a place I didn’t even know.