The 100th Proposal

I, Isabella Norton, had proposed to Julian Lawson 99 times.

Every time I stood by the city hall's entrance, Julian would be off somewhere with his mistress, Natalie Mayer. Some days, they would be found having the time of their lives at an amusement park. Other days, they would be seen at a concert.

They would even get their marriage certificate, only to pull some strings and file for a divorce the very next day for the thrill of a quick marriage.

It'd been a dream of mine to marry Julian. Yet what I'd desperately longed for came as easily to Natalie as a snap of her fingers.

I let the phone screen fade to black. Then, I sat by the roadside as I waited for my ride. But no matter how long I waited, the car never arrived. All that came through was Julian's call.

His icy voice cut through the line the moment I answered it. "It's already so late. Why aren't you at home yet? Have you ever considered how I would feel when my fiancee was outside late at night? Where on earth are you?" he snapped.

I remained silent.

In the past, I would've been the first to relent. I would swallow my pride and explain my situation in a meek voice.

But now, I couldn't be bothered to speak up.

A trace of irritation crept into his voice. "Has the cat got your tongue?"

"I'm in front of the city hall," I replied.

Julian froze at my words. It seemed like he'd just recalled the promise he once made to me. As long as I proposed 98 times to him in front of the city hall, he would show up on the 99th attempt and accept my proposal.

But that day, he'd accompanied Natalie to a concert.

"I…" He faltered. "Wait for me. I'll drive over and pick you up."

I canceled my ride after the call ended. But it wasn't because I still expected anything from Julian. It was simply because snow had begun to fall after a sudden change in the weather. I figured my ride wouldn't come.

I stood by the roadside as I shivered from the cold. My phone had barely lasted for three hours before it died from the drop in temperature.

In the end, Julian never came to pick me up.

The last thing I saw before my phone died was Natalie's new Instagram post. It was a selfie she'd taken in front of Julian's car, with half of his face captured in the frame.

"If we can brave the snow, we can face a lifetime together," the caption read.

The black phone screen reflected the relieved smile on my face.

On the day I kept my promise and made my 99th proposal, he chose to spend it at a concert with Natalie.

I waited for him all night in the snow, but he never showed up. I'd spent the best five years of my life waiting for him to keep his promise and marry me. But in the end, it had all gone up in smoke.

And now, I was done waiting for him.