Second in Silence

"Alicia, I'm expecting! Can you keep an eye on the wedding prep for me?"

"Charles has been gone for three years, and we're only now getting around to the wedding. I don't want to shortchange myself."

I stumbled down the stairs, lost in a fog, when Emily Cobb stopped me with an outstretched hand.

She rubbed her belly, her face alight with the bliss of impending motherhood.

If that had been half an hour earlier, I would have wished my sister-in-law happiness from the bottom of my heart.

However, armed with the bitter truth, I couldn't keep my composure.

I turned her down flat.

"Better get a professional to do it. If the wedding hits a snag, I can't be on the hook for it."

"What's all the excitement about?"

A tall guy came over, casually slinging an arm around Emily, all lovey-dovey.

It was like a dagger to my chest, each stab excruciating.

"Emily wanted me to help with the wedding, but I suggested she go with a professional.

"I mean, I've never been married myself, so I'm not exactly an expert."

I finished, locking eyes with the man in front of me, memorizing every flicker across his face.

However, my heart sank.

No guilt, no remorse, not even a twitch.

'Makes sense, I guess. He's had three years to perfect his act. Why would he slip up now?' I thought.

If I had not accidentally overheard that conversation outside his study...

I would still be in the dark, completely duped by his act from three years back.

He had the audacity to impersonate his brother, Jeffrey Wallace, seamlessly assuming control of his life and his widow.

That car crash that tore me up from the inside? It was just a chess move in his game of love.

Charles Wallace playfully brushed Emily's nose with his finger.

"Let's leave the wedding stuff to the experts, so Alicia doesn't get overwhelmed.

"Plus, we want our big day to be perfect, no hiccups."

Emily rubbed her forehead, looking at me with apologetic eyes.

"Alicia, it's my fault for not thinking everything through. I forgot that you and Charles never had your big day. Don't be too heartbroken, okay?"

I forced a smile, holding back a storm of hurt and anger, and said, "I've been heartbroken for three years. That's plenty of time. There's an upside to being a widow, you know. Freedom. I can leave whenever I feel like it."

Charles and I were a thing for seven years.

He was cool about introducing me to his friends and family.

However, marriage? That was a no-go for him.

Then one day, he got down on one knee with a ring.

I was over the moon; I could not sleep a wink that night.

It’s just a plain ring, but it was enough to cheer me up.

Then, I finally got it.

He popped the question because Jeffrey and Emily had set a date.

He had been stalling, lost in a dream world where he still believed he had a chance with Emily.

I was only a backup plan, someone to remember when convenient.

"You're leaving?!"

Charles, not caring that Emily was right there, grabbed my hand, his voice sharp as he grilled me.

His freak-out was so out of line that Emily tugged at his sleeve, totally confused.

"What's your deal?"

I looked into his eyes, saw the anger swirling, and could not help but laugh.

What gave him the right to grill me about anything?

I shook his hand off, my voice calm and controlled as I said, "I don't owe Charles anything. He's been gone for three years, and I've been single for just as long. Isn't that enough time wasted?"

For three years, I had been living a nightmare, in agony.

Meanwhile, he had been playing house with Emily, and they were even expecting a baby.

Did anyone remember I had a baby, too?

Three years back, when I heard Charles had died in a crash, I was shattered, and took a fall down the stairs.

I almost did not make it, and I had lost the baby.

Charles knew all about it.

However, back then, all he cared about was Emily's love.

It did not make sense how they could not see how much it had hurt.

He was head over heels for her.

However, they wanted me as a prop in their love story? That was over.

It was time to leave for somewhere as far as possible.