My Once In A Lifetime

Kristina

He goes on one knee.

My heart skips a beat.

“Will you marry me?” He asks,

I turn around in confusion, unable to speak. My heart is plummeting in my chest, and my head starts to bang. I clutch onto my chest, unable to breathe.

His eyes are widened, and he is smiling brightly, but I cannot bring myself to speak.

My lips part, but the words will not croak.

“No…” I whisper in my head, “No,”

This cannot be happening. He cannot be proposing right now.

This needs to end now.

Right on cue, more lights switch on, and a larger banner reads “Will you marry me?”

I gasp, silently, covering my mouth with my palms. I can't even speak. This is so wrong. This cannot be happening.

I can feel the tears already at the brim of my eyes.

When Callum doesn't get a response in minutes, the chants of “say yes!” begins to reduce.

I wipe the tears from my eyes, walking into the shadows.

“Yes. Of course, I will marry you!” She exclaims, and my heart breaks into tiny bits.

I cannot believe it. She agreed to marry him.

I blink back the tears, watching as he places the ring on her finger, gets to his feet, and places his lips on hers.

I wipe my eyes softly, trying to stop the mirage of tears.

My sister just said yes to a billionaire.

My sister just said yes to my boss.

My sister just said yes to the love of my life.

I gently place my fingers on the tip of the chair, trying to stabilize my balance.

Lori, with her long, blonde hair, and the face of a supermodel, flashes a bright smile at the camera, showing off her fingers. Deep down, I know she is excited, and not shoving her engagement in my face, but I can't help it as my heart clenches harder, bleeding from pain.

I wipe my eyes fruitlessly.

I drop my book on the table, and am about to walk out when all the lights flash towards me. I stop in my tracks, unable to move.

The entire world just caught me weeping because my only sister got engaged.

“Kristy!!” Lori's voice pulls me from my thoughts as she runs towards me.

She envelops me in a large hug, nearly squishing my intestines out.

“I'm crying too,” she mutters as tears flow from her eyes. She wipes the tears from my eyes, “oh my god. This is such an emotional moment for both of us! It's what you've always said would happen!”

Realizing what she means, I melt into character. “Yes. I can't believe he actually proposed. He actually did!” I squirm in a voice meant to sound excited, only that I truly mean my words.

“I know right? It's so amazing! And look!” She stretches out her fingers, “it's pure diamond.”

“It's amazing,” I stare in awe, and envy.

I eventually force myself to look at Callum. He also has a smile plastered on his face, but one only I can tell is nervous. His lips quiver at the edges.

“Congratulations,” I say to both of them.

“Thank you, sister!” She gushes, wrapping one arm around me, and another on her fiance.

Ugh. That word feels so bitter on my tongue.

The cameras flash, and a picture is taken. I force a smile on my face for the rest of the night.

Soon enough, we leave the restaurant. Lori drives with her fiance, and I, with no one at the backseat.

“Goodnight, baby. I'll see you tomorrow!” She gushes at my window before running off to her car.

“Goodnight.” I force another smile on my face. Hopefully, the last one for the night.

The drive begins, and in no time, I arrive at my apartment.

I am welcomed by the silence of the building. Gratefully, I walk in, taking off my shoes right by the door.

Without another thought, I head straight to the cellar, and pull out a bottle of wine.

I pour it into a glass, and then raise a toast to the air.

“Cheers to me! Forever the other woman!” I whisper in silence.

Why does it hurt so bad?

I rejected him. He asked me to court him, and I refused. When he asked me to marry him, I blatantly laughed in his face. I deserve this. Everything I feel right now is a hundred percent deserved by me. He has fallen in love with another, a woman that actually deserves him.

I smile to myself as I walk to my couch. Karma does have a way to be a fucking bitch.

I hiss as I turn on the TV, searching for what to watch.

Every channel is talking about Callum, and Lori's engagement.

On one, I see myself, riddled with tears, and looking horrible.

With a hiss, I switch off the television, and pick up my phone.

The first post I see is me with smeared mascara, crying myself out.

I groan as I scroll to the comment section.

“Is she the bride, or the sister?” One comment asks.

“Ugh, why is she crying so much? It's giving the main character energy!”

I roll my eyes immediately. Fuck her.

“I mean, if I were the one to be the sister-in-law of a billionaire, I'd be in fucking tears! It's a life changing story! Go girl! Get that money!”

I smile at that comment. It's the first thing to go right this evening.

I continue scrolling through posts, and my sour mood wears off.

I am engrossed in my phone when I eventually hear a knock on the door.

Finally! What I've been waiting for.

I get to my feet, and walk to the door.

As soon as I pull it open, the wisp of his perfume fills my nose.

I close my eyes gently, savoring his presence.

“Did you miss me that bad?” He jokes,

I open my eyes, smiling gently.

“Come in,”

He walks in gently, and my smile fades. “You smell like her,”

“I was around her all day. I pro-”

“It's alright.” I cut him short, “I get it.”

He pulls me in, wrapping his hands around my waist. “Are you jealous?”

“No,” I shake my head,

“But you were crying so bad tonight.”

“Just shut up, and kiss me.”

With no resistance, he obeys.

His lips melt into mine, and my legs weaken immediately.

His hands reach into my dress, and he unclasps my bra.

“Fuck it,” I mutter silently.

After all these years, I can't believe I am still that girl fucking her sister's fiance.