Listening for True Love

Aaron Searle's grip on the ring faltered.

"I'm not marrying you," I said.

I took half a step back and looked at Olivia Scott. "That ring is for someone else."

Olivia looked startled, then nervous.

Aaron instinctively stepped in front of her. "Mia, don't do this. You said we'd get married when we were finally done with long distance, remember?"

At the mention of our old promise, I faltered. "What about you, Aaron? Do you really want to marry me?"

He hesitated for a split second before glancing at Olivia. "I want to marry you, Mia."

He sounded like he meant it, but his thoughts were still nothing but static.

"Go home, Aaron."

I turned away and stumbled back to my apartment.

A message from Olivia popped up on my phone. "Mia, Aaron and I are waiting downstairs."

I didn't reply.

Ten minutes later, she sent me a photo. Her eyes were red, and angry purple marks covered her wrist where she had pinched herself.

Olivia had been doing this for ten years, ever since she was 18. Whenever we argued, she would hurt herself to make me feel sorry for her.

I hesitated, then ran downstairs in my pajamas.

Aaron and Olivia stood side by side beneath a streetlight. It was a cold, overcast night, and I hunched my shoulders against the chill.

Normally, Aaron would have taken off his jacket and offered it to me. Tonight, the jacket he had worn to propose was draped over Olivia's shoulders.

He pulled me into his arms. "Why didn't you put on something warmer?"

I twisted out of his embrace and pushed him away. "Why did you ask me down here?"

Olivia gave Aaron a nudge. "Aaron, the ring."

He took out an elegant ring box.

Olivia quickly explained, "Mia, is this because you didn't like the ring Aaron proposed with earlier? We had this one made especially for you, and we had them rush it."

"I don't want it," I said flatly.

Olivia burst into tears. Aaron scrambled for a tissue and dabbed at her tears.

He sighed. "Why are you throwing another fit, Mia?"

My eyes ached, still swollen from crying. I turned away without a word.

Olivia sobbed and thumped Aaron with both fists. "This is all your fault, Aaron. Now Mia's mad at me too. Go apologize to her."

She gave him a petulant glare, then turned and clung tightly to my arm.

Amusement lit Aaron's eyes. "Okay, okay. My fault."

I pulled my thin pajama top tighter around me and watched them in silence.

"Mia, I was wrong," he said softly as he placed the ring box in my hand.

I closed my eyes and listened for his thoughts, but all I heard was the same static.

Cold rain splashed against the back of my hand.

I tried to hand the ring back, but Olivia stopped me. "It's raining, Mia. Aaron and I will walk you up."

They insisted on walking me all the way upstairs.

Before leaving, Aaron gently kissed my forehead, the way he had when we first started dating seven years ago. But I knew there was no going back.

I tossed the ring box aside. The diamond ring tumbled out and rolled across the carpet.

I bent down and picked it up. It was a custom piece from a well-known jewelry brand. The light caught the initials "O.S." and the date "06.01" engraved inside the band.

"Olivia Scott," I whispered.

June 1st was Olivia's birthday.

I sat there numb, unable to stop my hands from shaking. The silver bracelet Aaron had given me seven years ago suddenly stung against my wrist.

I looked down at its outdated design and decided it was time to replace it.