Landon froze where he stood.
He'd probably never imagined that one day I would be the one to push him away.
Just then Marcia called out from inside.
"Landon, I just finished the stir-fry, hurry up and make the grilled fish, I've been craving yours so much these past few days."
She came running out and wrapped her arms tight around him from behind.
She was covered in the smell of cooking grease, and Landon didn't mind in the slightest.
"Naomi, Landon's such a good cook, you must get to eat his grilled fish every single day at home, right?"
That one sentence stiffened his face even more.
I watched him in silence.
I thought of my last birthday, when all I'd asked was for him to make me a bowl of birthday noodles.
He'd refused, disgusted. "The smell's too strong. It's not that I don't want to, Naomi, it's my germaphobia."
I didn't answer. I just looked at him for a few seconds.
So a man who couldn't stand even the smell of food at home could, it turned out, cook for someone else with his own hands too.
Looking at the man I'd loved for three years, I felt like I was seeing him for the first time.
I turned to leave.
But Landon caught my arm and pulled a velvet box from his pocket.
Inside was a pink diamond.
"All right, stop sulking. I was going to give you this ring next month, when we got married."
"I'll give it to you now instead, my future Mrs. Sanchez."
It was the style I'd once mentioned liking in passing, and I hadn't thought he'd actually bought it.
He lifted my hand to slide it on, but the ring was a full size too big.
The moment he let go, the pink diamond dropped straight to the floor with a bright little clink.
I curled my lip in a bitter smile. "This was meant for Marcia all along, wasn't it?"
Landon went blank for a second, then rushed to explain.
"What are you talking about? I just got the size wrong. I'll have it adjusted tomorrow."
Then he added, offhand,
"Oh right, tomorrow I'll have Marcia come to Europe with us to pick out the wedding dress."
"She studied abroad, she has good taste, she can help you make sure it's right."
I cut in. "No need. I'm not going."
He didn't notice I'd already given up. He just laughed, unbothered.
"It's fine if you don't come. Let Marcia pick for you."
"When we're back, we'll go do the wedding photos."
I didn't nod, didn't answer. I only found it funny.
I was the bride of this wedding, and even my dress was to be chosen by another woman.
In that moment I finally understood. Maybe I really didn't love him anymore.
While he went into the kitchen to make the grilled fish, I turned and left without a sound.
I went home alone and packed all of my things.
Early the next morning, out in the cold, I hurried to the hospital and signed off on every last transfer document.
Landon sent more than a dozen messages. I didn't read a single one.
Before boarding, I snapped in half the personal SIM card he'd given me and dropped it in the trash.
