The Spring She Grew Into

"Sean, I've made up my mind, I'm going to marry you!"

Janice Douglas played with her left hand's fingertips absentmindedly, her eyes locked on the swinging door of the nearby private room.

On the other end of the call, the man let out a low chuckle, warm yet laced with a cool, worldly detachment.

"Ms. Douglas, are you sure about this? Marrying into our families is a one-way street, no U-turns."

"I'm sure!" Janice did not even pause before she shot back, her voice slicing through any second thoughts.

"Fine, I'll be back in ten days. Pick me up at the airport, and we'll head straight to make it official."

Sean was all about getting to the point: no fuss, no muss, just like he always was.

The second she hung up, the room burst into cheers.

Janice's eyes snapped up to see Adrian Smith down on one knee, a fiery bouquet of roses in one hand and a diamond ring in the other, looking all lovey-dovey at the girl in front of him.

The girl was so moved by the gesture that she was almost crying, her hand over her mouth, nodding like crazy.

The room's bright lights made the diamond sparkle so much that it was blinding.

Janice could not have guessed it–not in a million years–that the guy who had been all sweet talk on the phone half an hour ago, saying he would be back soon, was then, right under her nose, proposing to someone else.

Back when she was eight, Adrian's family moved in next door.

The first time they met, he gave her a shy smile and a piece of candy, calling her "Janey" in his crisp little voice.

Ever since then, she had her very own shadow. Adrian was always there, carrying her books to school or jumping to her defense whenever she was upset.

Over time, the name "Addy" had become a part of her, growing deep within her heart.

She aced the SATs, outscoring Adrian by a mile, but without a second thought, she chose the same colleges he did.

She was not a fan of the dry northern climate, but the thought of being in the same city, in the same university as him, made it all seem worth it.

Their college days were a montage of sweet moments shared across the campus.

On a moonlit night at the playground, he wrapped her in his arms and promised her forever. Her heart brimmed with dreams of what was to come.

When Adrian decided to go abroad for further studies after graduation, it broke her heart, but she supported him all the way.

For the next two years, she juggled her job with caring for his mother, who struggled with anxiety.

She spent every weekend with the elderly lady, helping her through appointments with the psychologist, never once complaining.

Her friends teased her, saying she was saying she was a de facto daughter-in-law already. She would just smile, keeping to herself the belief that her sixteen-year bond with Adrian was stronger than any marriage certificate.

She would stay up into the wee hours for their video chats, cherishing those precious ten minutes.

If he so much as hinted at feeling under the weather during a call, she would be on the next flight out, ready to cross oceans to be by his side.

After two years, her wall was plastered with a patchwork of flight stubs, a testament to her travels.

A week ago, Adrian shared his graduation picture online, announcing, [Graduated at last, time to head back and tie the knot! Let's graduate our love too!]

Her heart soared, thinking their happily ever after was just around the corner.

Their college friends flooded Janice's inbox with congratulations, telling her that her patience had finally paid off, like the clearing skies revealing the moon.

However, it was crystal clear that the one he dreamed of marrying was never her.

In the VIP room, applause and cheers ebbed and flowed like waves.

"Adrian, you're something else! We all bet you'd end up with Janice. Who knew you had such a secret up your sleeve?" someone joked with a chuckle.

Adrian just laughed it off: "Janice? I was over her ages ago. If she hadn't made that big scene, proposing to me at her graduation, I wouldn't have had to skip the country.

"Actually, I owe her one for pushing me away. That's how I bumped into Yvette, the real deal, the one I'm ready to spend forever with."

"But Janice has been by your side for years, and she's put in so much..." someone piped up, feeling sorry for Janice.

"And? We were never married; it was all mutual. I treated her well, always made sure she was happy. She didn't lose anything."

Adrian's flippant remarks sent the crowd into fits of laughter.

Once the laughter died down, he added, with a laid-back tone:

"In ten days, when the Smiths and the Douglases seal the deal on their joint venture, I'll be free to tie the knot with Yvette. But until then, zip it, guys. Not a peep to Janice, got it?"

Janice's world spun, her perfectly polished nails digging into her palm.

Swallowing her tears, she turned and hurried back to her own VIP room.

There, her coworkers noticed her ashen face and grew concerned. "Janice, you okay? You look a little off since you hit the restroom."

Janice inhaled deeply, mustering a dazzling smile.

"Guess what, guys? I'm tying the knot in ten days! I'd love for you all to be there and cheering me on. But hey, I'm all about the low-key life, so let's keep this on the down-low, alright?"

If he was ready to start a new chapter with someone else, she was more than ready to turn the page, too.

In ten days, he would be a married man, and she would be a married woman. Just like that, their stories would be worlds apart.