Chapter 3

The man choked on his words, the smile freezing on his face.

He looked at me, then back at his own reflection in the mirror. He was probably imagining some tragic heartbreak story in his head.

"Man, I’m so sorry. I didn't know..."

"It’s fine."

He leaned back into his seat and stayed quiet for a few seconds. Still, he couldn't help but whisper, "Hey, it’s alright. You’ll find someone better. My older brother dated a girl for years before they broke up. Now his new wife is amazing."

I nodded.

The person who had remained silent in the backseat didn't say a single word.

The car finally pulled up in front of the most luxurious five-star hotel downtown.

I looked at the bright neon sign glowing in the night.

After he got out of the car, she took his arm, and they walked into the lobby together.

She looked up to talk to him, and he nodded. She never once looked back.

I sat in my car for a long time.

The AC was turned off, and the windows were rolled down. The cold night breeze blew in, making my eyes sting.

A parking guard walked over and tapped on my window, telling me that I couldn't park here for long.

I told him I was leaving right away. I started the engine, but I had no idea where to drive.

I looked down at the watch on my wrist.

Married last month.

Which meant that while I was driving Uber to save money, while I was staying up all night doing freelance design work to make extra cash, and while I was eagerly planning our winter wedding, she had already legally married someone else. She was already someone else’s wife, living in a brand-new house.

And I was still desperately saving money for her.

I pulled over to the side of the road, took out my phone, and opened her Snapchat chat.

The last message was from her, sent at 6:23 PM: "Having dinner with Sarah and the girls tonight. If it gets too late, I'll just sleep at her place. Go to bed early, babe."

I typed a few words, deleted them, typed again, and deleted them again.

Finally, I sent just three words: "Let's break up."

Sent.

I took off the watch and placed it on the center console.

At the top of the chat screen, "Typing..." popped up.

I waited for a long time. The typing indicator kept flashing, but no message ever came through.

I put the car in drive, ready to leave.

Just as I shifted gears, a familiar figure appeared in my rearview mirror.

She was running out of the hotel lobby, panting as she banged on my passenger window.

"Unlock the door! Let me explain!"

Her forehead was covered in sweat, and her hair was completely messy from the wind.

I had never seen her look so disheveled before.

"Unlock it!" she begged, tapping again.

I unlocked the passenger side.

She pulled the door open and scrambled inside, breathing heavily. The scent of the hotel lobby’s expensive perfume filled the car.

"How did you..."

"Let's break up," I interrupted her.

"I just texted you. You saw it, right?"

She froze. Her lips trembled. It took her a long time to say, "It’s not what you think."

"Then what is it?"

"I..."

She wiped her face in frustration.

"What happened with him was just an accident."