You Once Meant the World

Zac Jesselton and I grew up together. From the time we were little, we never went more than three days without seeing each other.

Ever since I confessed my feelings to him, he started avoiding me. He even went as far as hiring bodyguards to monitor my every move.

“If Nancy ever shows up within half a mile, remind me to leave immediately.” That was the sentence he said most often to his bodyguards and friends.

I did as he wished and stopped chasing after him. I married someone my parents introduced me to. However, the same man who had once insisted on keeping his distance started clinging to me and refused to leave me alone.

"Mom, I'm free this weekend. I can go meet that guy you mentioned."

I finally made the call to my mother, Lara Sullivan.

Because of Zac Jesselton, I had delayed getting married for three years, making my parents wait.

Mom sounded overjoyed. "Really? Nancy, that's great! I'll set it up right away. I'll make sure he's tall and handsome. Once I confirm the address, I'll send you the location.

"I'm just so happy you've finally come around. You know your dad and I aren't getting any younger, and our health's not great. Our only wish now is to see you married and maybe help you raise our grandchild while we still can."

Her words brought tears to my eyes.

I had wasted three years chasing after Zac, letting down my parents' hopes for me. In the end, my stubbornness had amounted to nothing.

Ever since I confessed to Zac three years ago, he'd been avoiding me like the plague. Seeing him these days was harder than reaching the moon.

I hadn't seen him in thirteen days. The last time was only because our companies had a joint project. He'd had no choice but to show up.

"Nancy Sullivan! Didn't expect to see you here. Hasn't been long, but you've gotten even prettier!"

Zac always greeted me with those charming throwaway lines. But his actions were always distant and cold.

Because it was work, I held back the urge to run up and pour out how much I missed him. Once the business was wrapped up and the contract signed, I had stopped him as he tried to leave.

"Zac, we just closed a deal. How about grabbing dinner to celebrate?"

He had kept his eyes on his phone. He didn't even look up. "I've got plans," he muttered.

But I caught a glimpse of his screen. He was texting another woman: "Babe, the deal got signed today. Let's go somewhere nice for dinner."

"Babe, that's awesome! I'm starving. Let's have a feast."

"You can have whatever you want. You'll be my dessert."

The explicit messages had even made me blush. Still, I hadn't been able to stop myself from telling him what was going on at home.

"Zac, I'm not getting any younger. My family wants me to get married."

He didn't care. He had simply opened his car door without a flicker of emotion on his face.

"Then go get married."

"But the person I want to marry is you, Zac!"

I had nervously wrung my hands behind my back as I confessed my feelings once again, not noticing how his expression was darkening.

"We've known each other since we were kids. Our families wouldn't object." I kept rambling, not realizing I was digging deeper into my own humiliation.

He had cut me off coldly. "Nancy, I've always seen you as a sister. Nothing more. I've never, not once, thought about marrying you."

He had taken a long drag from his cigarette and exhaled right in my face.

I had started coughing, staggering back, and gasping for air. He knew I had asthma. He knew I couldn't handle smoke.

He had chosen the cruelest way to reject me.

"Nancy, just look at yourself. You're sickly and weak. What makes you think you're good enough for me? The last thing I want is to be in bed with someone who looks like they're about to pass out from a lack of oxygen."

-

"Miss Sullivan, we just reviewed the footage. Mr. Jesselton left the mall thirty minutes before you arrived."

My thoughts were interrupted by a mall employee.

I had come by hoping to say a final goodbye, but Zac had already left before I even showed up.

"Would you like us to continue tracking Mr. Jesselton's whereabouts?"

This time, I only hesitated for a second.

"There's no need. If he doesn't want to see me, so be it. When I get married, the invitation will find its way to him. He'll know eventually."