After countless sleepless nights, I surprisingly caught some solid z's on the flight.

In my dreams. Antonio's face kept showing up, like he was just waiting for me there.

Back when we were just seven, we used to play games together.

He'd tell me he was the groom, and I was the prettiest bride.

When we turned eighteen, we made that game real.

He vowed to hustle hard and give me a grand wedding.

But when did things start to fall apart between us?

Did it start after Stella showed up, or was it before that?

I couldn't even remember it anymore.

Antonio had been the center of my world for as long as I could remember.

No matter how much I tried to stay cool and get over him, it felt like my insides were being torn apart.

Once I landed, I didn't even have the guts to turn on my phone.

"Grace!"

My mom was waving at me, standing out in a sea of foreigners.

It had been ages since we last saw each other.

She wasn't the same woman I remembered, sitting on the couch, crying, waiting for my dad to come home.

She was older, but she exuded more charm than before.

"You've grown so much," she said, her voice filled with wonder.

My mom kept touching my face, saying sorry over and over again.

I just let go and hugged her tight.

I said, "Mom, I'm not holding it against you.

"You said I should love myself first before seeking love from others."

years apart, my mom and I both

non-stop,"

dry my tears, but hers started flowing

with you all the way," she said, supporting me no

phone was blowing up with calls and

could even catch up on the

his voice laden with

world

never heard Antonio this

was puzzled. With Stella back in the picture,

about me. the substitute?

"Grace, have you read my journal? It's not

going on with Stella. I promise you. She's just

to me.

be heartbroken. I can

in the tears you've

pages. I've been

it

my intention to

you."

feeling kind

but

that

with me,

walking away. It's to set us

happy with

"Why the tears?"

Stella was his

his darkest days.

the most vivid chapter of

wiped that period from his memory that I put in the work to

Stella, soaking in the glory days, I was the one emptying my bank account to cover his

one groveling to business associates, doing

one downing drinks till I was senseless,

of that registered

was the heady, fantastical ride Stella offered

on his chest, lying to me that it was a reminder of the hard times, a symbol to keep him

he truly yearned to keep

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