Home / When the Dream Fades / Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

All Chapters of When the Dream Fades: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1 Two Rings

As I gazed at the sparkling diamond rings nestled inside the exquisite velvet box, a bitter feeling crept into my heart. The rings were customized according to Winona's preferences.Chris seemed to have forgotten that we'd once spent countless late nights curled up together on the sofa, browsing through different ring designs. However, the one in front of me had never been among them.I didn't take the ring. He was still kneeling, and his hand was already starting to shake. Winona glanced for a moment and knelt as well. They looked like star-crossed lovers right there and then.She looked at me with red-rimmed eyes. She then spoke with a soft, hurt voice, as if she would cry right away. "Are you angry at me, Liliana?"I hadn't even said a word, but Winona had already blinked, and a drop of tear slid down her cheek. She looked like a damsel in distress. "It's all my fault. I grew up in the sticks and have never had anything nice. I thought the ring looked nice, so I said it out

Chapter 2 Neglect

The proposal ended with me taking the rings. Chris thought that was a page turned, so he tossed it behind him. Unbeknownst to him, not once did I take the ring out after I tucked it away in the bag.The winds must've been chilly that night, and I was down with a severe cold the next day. I succumbed to the illness right after I came into the house, plopping onto the couch without even taking my shoes off."I have a fever. Get me some meds after you clock out."His reply came swiftly. "Get some water. I have a meeting in the afternoon, but I'll be back right after that."I was feeling too unwell to muster up any strength for a response. Instead, I held my phone against my chest and closed my eyes.…A long, long time later, I groggily heard someone opening the door. As I pushed myself up from the couch, I realized it was Chris, and he was changing shoes at the entryway."You're back." My throat was so sore, I nearly couldn't talk.He came and touched my forehead, frowning as h

Chapter 3 We're Done

On Saturday morning, neither brought up what happened the night before.Winona bit into her rib and started giving Chris puppy eyes. "The new place is so close to my school, Chris. I can sleep in now, and I don't even have to trouble you for a ride."Chris's finger hovered over his phone's screen. Winona wasn't mad he didn't reply. Instead, she got more animated with her story, and her eyes were filled with delight."And it's really high up too. I can see the skyscrapers if I just look up. They shine so brightly, and they're a lot bigger than the orphanage back home! I love it!"I realized something seemed off, so I put my fork down. "A new place? Did you buy a house, Chris? Why didn't you tell me about it?"The dining space fell into silence. Winona looked at Chris. She knew she'd let slip of something she shouldn't, so she hung her head low. The excitement she showed earlier was gone, and she started playing with her food in silence.Chris wiped his hands with a tissue slowly.

Chapter 4 She's Leaving

He froze, but only for a moment. Soon, he resumed his cavalier attitude. "Do you even know what you're talking about, Liliana Davis? You're not a spring chicken anymore, and you're breaking up with me over a house. Work is already exhausting enough. I don't have time for your drama."Chris leaned on the back of his chair and crossed his arms, looking at me like I was a child throwing a tantrum. "Think before you make that decision. I don't take back people who walk out on me."He sighed, massaged his forehead, stood up, and grabbed the coat on his chair before leaving. I pulled his sleeve to try and stop him. I wanted him to look me in the eye and say something reasonable.However, Chris flung my hand away. It wasn't an exaggerated movement, but he didn't hold back his strength. I staggered backward, slipped, and crashed into the edge of the dining table.The utensils crashed. I tried to grab the edge of the table, but I failed and slid down a table leg. My knee hit the ceram

Chapter 5 Jonathan Comes

It was Jonathan Zimmer. We last talked three years ago. He texted me, saying he opened his own law firm on the west side. "Come over when you can," I said sure, and that was that.No, it had nothing to do with a fading friendship. Chris just didn't like him. Jonathan gave me a ride once, and Chris saw it. He said nothing that night, but the next day, I found out that Jonathan was no longer my pinned contact. I didn't ask Chris any questions, and he gave no explanation.Since then, the only contact we shared was the occasional reaction on each other's socials and the holiday greetings in our group chat.…The background noise almost drowned Jonathan's voice. He was probably having dinner somewhere. His voice only came through a while later. "Wait for me in the car. It's cold outside. I'll pick you up later.""How'd you know…""Of course I know. I'm me, you know."I thought I heard Jonathan pushing back his chair. …Two minutes later, the background noise was getting furt

Chapter 6 Block Him

Jonathan was great at taking care of people. Before he left for his firm every morning, he would leave breakfast and a note on the table. Sometimes it would read that the soup was in the pot, and it needed to be reheated for three minutes.Sometimes it read that the temperature had dropped, and the scarf was at the entryway.Though he'd bought a whole wardrobe of new clothes, he still washed and ironed the clothes I brought, then he folded them neatly and placed them on the bed, all so I could get used to things around here.Even my daily vitamins were the same brand my mother bought when I was a kid. I'd been looking for them forever, and I had no idea where he found them.One afternoon, I was on the couch, scrolling through our stupid pictures on his computer. Just then, someone texted me. I hadn't been thinking about that guy for days. It was a short message."Have you calmed down enough already? I've played along with your antics and drama. That's more than enough. Winona won'

Chapter 7 His Post

Chris went radio silent for days after that call. I thought that was it. After all, he put his pride over his own life. When our fight got to this scale, he wouldn't set his pride aside just to seek me out.However, he appeared on the day I returned from my wedding photoshoot with Jonathan.He was in a dark gray trench coat I'd never seen before. It was creased, perhaps from him coming off a long ride, or perhaps because he'd been in the wind for too long.He looked awful. Dark circles hung under his eyes, and his chin was filled with stubble. His hair was everywhere from the blowing wind. Chris held a paper bag and some keys in his hand.His eyes lit up when he saw me, but the light dimmed just as fast. Jonathan was right behind me. He neither asked anything nor mocked Chris.Chris didn't move from his spot. He wanted to say something but had no courage to. Eventually, one word made it out of his lips, though it was hoarse and barely louder than a whisper. "Liliana…"Jonathan

Chapter 8 Married

Jonathan had to work extra hours one night. I waited on the couch alone, and the note he wrote this morning sat on the coffee table."Court calls today. I'll be late. Your favorite cheese rolls are in the fridge."A small pack of jasmine tea sat under the note, and a vitamin pill was beside it. I picked up the note and pasted it on the fridge alongside the other notes.The words were scrawled, and the dates were different, but the signature was the same. Not his name, but a lopsided little sun.I stood by the kitchen doorway, the warm steam drifting across my face.It warmed my body and my heart. It had been so long since I had someone who cared about me.The wedding was slated to take place during spring next year. He initially wanted a grand wedding, insisting that people only got married once in a lifetime and that I deserved nothing but the best.I declined. I wanted to invite only our close friends and have a simple meal somewhere quiet.He couldn't win the argument, so he

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