The Lies He Told Me (Grace and Antonio)

The door opened, a wry smile playing on my lips, but the room fell silent.

Every eye was on me, a mix of embarrassment and discomfort etched on their faces.

My fiance lay cradled in a woman's arms a woman whose face was intimately familiar from his laptop.

Antonio's friends, unprepared for my sudden arrival, scrambled to pull him away from Mandy.

He, wasted and oblivious, roared, "Back off! Leave me alone!"

I'd ever seen him like this; alcohol was not his vice.

One friend hissed, "Grace's here! Get it together! You're getting married."

The others joined the effort, finally separating Antonio and Mandy.

After a few tense minutes, Antonio plopped onto the couch, his face flushed.

One friend finally exhaled, turning to me.

"This is Mandy, an old high school friend. She's back from Nardoven for the party. Antonio is wasted. Don't take it personally."

A piece of my mind would have been unleashed on Antonio years ago,

Now, I could only manage a strained grin.

"Are you Antonio's friend?" Mandy, assessing me with curious eyes, asked.

Antonio's friend began, "This is Antonio's fiancee."

his voice sharp. "No, we're just

nails biting into my

room shifted uncomfortably, sympathy

wasn't the first time Antonio had hidden

the refusal to invite our families -

in denial, gambling eight years of my

on a

I'm

Antonio's. You

more beautiful in person.

WContent

room fell deadly

it

sat up straight. "You're allergic to

these are potato

shattered. Antonio had never

you crying?" someone

cheek, the wetness cold

Why was I crying?

prime

to correct him countless

allergy, ignored as he repeatedly chose

furious, I'd excused it as

him to

Downstairs, Mandy followed.

hungry. Maybe you