Rain at Dusk After All These Years

Zipping my suitcase shut, I calmly placed it back in its spot and stepped out of the bedroom.

I took a moment to catch my breath and ease the suffocating tightness in my chest. Right then, my phone chimed with messages from my mother.

Janice Hayes: [Sweetheart, don't forget to bring those gourmet treats I sent over for Samuel's parents. Make sure you help around the house and make a great impression.]

Janice: [I'm so happy for you. You and Samuel have been through so much, and you're finally crossing the finish line. Don't stumble on the last step!]

Janice had witnessed our relationship from the very beginning, and she wanted my happiness more than anyone else.

Hearing that Samuel Hogan and I were going to meet his parents this Thanksgiving, she was overjoyed and drank a little to celebrate.

But now, I was probably going to disappoint her.

Serena Miller's laughter drifted through the crack in the bedroom door. I stared at my packed suitcase, filled with gifts that Samuel's parents loved.

Draped over the living room sofa was a dress I had spent half a month picking out just for this occasion. Now all the careful preparations I had made felt meaningless.

I stared at the chat window with my mother. For the first time in my life, I didn't know what to say.

Samuel finished his game and walked out to grab a glass of water. Seeing me sitting quietly on the couch, he slipped off his headset and asked offhandedly, "You're not upset, are you?"

I shook my head, recalling Janice's words about crossing the finish line and thinking about all the years we had shared.

Not ready to give up yet, I looked up at him and asked seriously, "Does Serena really have to come with us? We're going to meet your parents. It's not appropriate for her to tag along."

Samuel frowned. "She is all packed, and her ticket is already booked. It's too late to cancel it now. Besides, it's just one extra place setting at the table. My parents won't mind."

It was his subtle way of turning me down. When I remained silent, he assumed I didn't believe him, so he took a screenshot of Serena's flight confirmation and texted it to me to prove his point.

I stared at the travel itinerary, finding the whole thing absurd.

When we booked the tickets earlier, the holiday travel rush had made them nearly impossible to get. I had been running around trying to prepare gifts for his parents, stressing myself out so much that cold sores broke out around my mouth.

Samuel, who rarely paid attention to travel plans, had surprisingly offered to take care of the booking so I could focus on other things.

I had been deeply moved, mistaking his gesture for genuine thoughtfulness. Looking back now, he had decided to bring Serena along from the start.

This hadn't been a discussion; he had been simply giving me a heads-up. The fully packed suitcase, the pre-booked ticket... he had planned it all.

He had endless opportunities to ask my opinion, yet he never did. And those extra ten pounds weren't just luggage. They represented me, awkwardly squeezed between Serena and him.

I was the third wheel.

I opened my phone and booked a seat on the last remaining Amtrak train to my hometown. Then I exited the app and opened the chat with Janice.

[Mom, I'm coming home for Thanksgiving this year.]