Chapter 1

The moment the airplane touched down on the runway, the passengers burst into applause.

I looked out the window at the endless stretch of golden desert beyond the airport, where the afternoon sun painted everything in shades of amber.

Egypt.

This was supposed to be our dream vacation.

10 days exploring the land of pyramids, temples, and ancient kings.

10 days with the man I thought I would marry.

Instead… I came alone.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as the seatbelt sign chimed off. Everyone around me eagerly stood, chatting excitedly about their holiday while retrieving their luggage from the overhead compartments.

I forced myself to do the same.

‘You're not here to cry, Maritza. You're here to heal.’

After collecting my suitcase, I walked through Cairo International Airport, my eyes scanning the waiting crowd until I spotted a sign held high above someone's head.

MISS MARITZA HARRISON

Beside it stood a young woman wearing a navy blazer and beige trousers. Her dark curls framed a warm smile, while the tall blond man beside her offered a polite nod.

The woman waved enthusiastically. "Miss Maritza?"

"Yes, that’s me." I smiled, rolling my suitcase toward them.

She extended her hand.

"My name is Ayesha. I'll be your tour coordinator for the next five days." She gestured toward the man. "And this is Leo. He'll be your driver and personal security."

Leo offered his hand with a friendly grin. "Welcome to Egypt, Miss Harrison."

"Thank you. And please, call me Maritza."

"It's an honor to have you here." Ayesha said, then glanced behind me and then again like he tried to find something on my back.

Her cheerful smile slowly faltered.

"I'm sorry..." she said carefully. "Weren't there supposed to be two guests?"

The question pierced my heart more sharply than I expected.

Oh, right… That’s what she’s been searching for.

For a brief second, I couldn't answer. My fingers tightened around the handle of my suitcase before I inhaled slowly then forcing another smile onto my face. "There was."

Ayesha's expression softened. "But..."

"Well… My boyfriend and I..." I paused, correcting myself. "I mean, my ex-boyfriend and I booked this trip 8 months ago."

Silence settled between us.

"But, we broke up last week."

Both Ayesha and Leo looked genuinely surprised. "Oh..."

"I'm so sorry," Ayesha whispered.

Leo scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "I hope we didn't bring back painful memories."

"It's okay." I laughed softly, though it sounded hollow even to my own ears. "Life happens."

Neither of them seemed convinced.

Ayesha stepped closer and gently squeezed my arm. "I promise we'll do everything we can to make these 10 days unforgettable."

Her kindness almost broke me, almost.

"Thank you," I managed a smile at her before we all walked out from the airport.

Outside the airport, the warm desert air embraced me immediately.

Palm trees lined the road while the distant skyline shimmered beneath the afternoon sun. Somewhere far beyond the modern buildings stood monuments older than nearly every civilization on Earth.

Ancient Egypt… Maybe this place truly could heal broken hearts.

Leo loaded my suitcase into a luxurious black SUV before opening the passenger door.

"Our hotel overlooks the Nile," he said proudly. "You'll have one of the best views in Cairo."

I climbed inside and nodded my head.

As the city unfolded outside the window, memories I had spent the entire flight trying to suppress came rushing back.

** … One year earlier … **

"I got them!" Aiden burst through the apartment door holding two envelopes above his head like a trophy.

I laughed from the kitchen. "You actually did?"

"Yes, we're going to Egypt!"

He swept me into his arms and spun me around the living room.

I squealed, laughing so hard I nearly dropped the coffee mug in my hand. "Aiden!"

"We're finally going." He kissed my forehead before placing the tickets on the table. "10 days."

He pointed excitedly at the itinerary.

"Cairo, Giza, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings and a luxury cruise on the Nile."

I stared at him with wide eyes. "You remembered everything?"

He grinned. "Of course. You've wanted to visit Egypt since college."

I nodded excitedly. "My grandmother used to tell me stories about Egyptian queens and the gods. And you promised we'd go together someday."

"I remember." He reached into his pocket.

My heartbeat quickened as I stared at him in disbelief. "Aiden..."

He pulled out a small velvet box. "I know this isn't exactly the Eiffel Tower or some romantic beach..." He laughed nervously. "But I don't want to wait anymore."

My breath caught as I stared at him in tears.

"Maritza." He knelt on one knee. "I've loved you for five years. I want every journey after this one to be with you. So, will you marry me?"

Tears blurred my vision before he even opened the ring box.

"Yes." The answer escaped without hesitation. "Yes... of course I will."

He slipped the ring onto my finger then he stood and wrapped me in his arms as we laughed and cried together.

That night, we celebrated by planning every detail of our Egyptian adventure. We talked about watching the sunrise over the pyramids. Taking silly tourist photos. Riding camels. Standing inside ancient tombs and growing old together. That time, I believed every word, every promise and every kiss.

Until one week ago… The image of Aiden with another woman in our room in the apartment flashed through my mind.

His eyes couldn't meet mine. "I'm sorry, Maritza. I… I never meant to hurt you and I didn't plan for this to happen."

What?

Didn’t he know he hurt me now by doing this?

IN OUR APARTMENT?!

I stared at him, unable to understand. "What is this, Aiden?"

He closed his eyes. "I… I fell in love with someone else."

My heart had stopped and I looked up to the hiding woman under the blanket. ".....Who is she?"

The silence that followed felt endless.

Finally… He whispered the name that destroyed everything. 

"It’s… Emma."

I gasped loudly when I heard it then walked to pull the blanket only to see the hurt truth.

My best friend; the woman I had trusted like a sister, the woman who had helped me choose my engagement dress and the woman who had hugged me while secretly stealing the man I loved.

A tear escaped despite my efforts to hold it back. I quickly wiped it away before anyone noticed.

*****

Outside, Cairo continued to buzz with life and put me back into the present time. 

I watch in awe the beauty that I know could ease the pain inside my heart that still mourned about the future that would never come.

Little did I know… This trip wasn't the ending of my story but it was the beginning of something that I never imagined could happen to me.

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