Chasing Back What's Mine

inding Mr. Perfect!" My voice bubbles with excitement, the

my wedding to Jake, whi

He proposed less than six months after

derstand? When Jake looks at me, it's like every part of me lights up. I've spent my

pe you're not making a huge mistake. There's some

h off the tension. "You're just b

thing feels... wrong. And

t, making me uneasy. I grab her hands and

her glass. "To a blis

r glasses clinking together. We sip, and a shared laugh f

r," I say, risi

ome with you?

d a minute. I'l

s I step outside, st

y caught my attention. I stop, listening carefully to figure out where it was coming from. It

n it comes to sex, she easily finds someone willing

nder as I gently open the door, car

thy and pleading, fills the room. I peek through

a

er her. My heart stops, the world is spinning. I press a hand

t feels like the air's been sucked from my lungs as I watch them together

y, my heart pounding as I pull out my phone. I start recording,

art, cutting it deeper and squeezing life out of

I hide my phone and slip out of the

body shaking as I sob silently. Th

lways envied what I have, always trying to take it for herself.

ll finally shift the balance. I take a deep breath

tnessed. My breath comes in shallow gasps as I try to

, she rushes over to

what's

gnaws at me, but the fear of her inevitable "I told you so" makes me bite my tongue

tly with concern. "Are you

I walk over and sink into the bed, the

me, but I won't push," she says soft

y emotions. The tears spill over, and between

," she whispers, pulling

in bed. Just as I'm about to close my

ith all my imperfections.

of Jake in bed with my sister flashes through my mind. The reality of it hits m

**

to a stunning white dress, straight out of a fairy tale, b

dney asks, her reflec

, force a smile, and

rying to sound excited, but Sydney isn't fooled. Sh

e a natural glow, and my hair i

Marrying Jake feels like a big accomplishment f

at, he proudly takes my arm

ine wonderland, with sailor-themed decorations and

t tune of "Here Comes the Bride" played. I

ever. But the spark I once felt for him is gone, r

he knew I was fully aware of his betrayal. I force a smal

imagine. The thought alone brings a smile to my f

ady picture the stunned look on Jake's

love story. Instead, what appears on the screen sends shockwa