Seven Years of Love, Gone in an Instant

At Nolans birthday party, I called off our engagement.

He only offered a faint, dismissive smile.

But his friends immediately erupted into loud laughter.

Since when did you learn to play hard to get, Audie?

One of the guys winked at Nolans childhood sweetheart, Hailey. Princess, your turn to shine.

Hailey rolled her eyes playfully, walked over to me, and smiled. "Audie, don't say things in anger. How did Nolan annoy you this time? Tell me, Ill beat him up for you."

The routine was all too familiar. Every time Nolan and I had a disagreement, the moment she stepped in to mediate, he would swallow his pride.

This time was no exception. He walked over with a helpless expression, not even bothering to ask what was wrong.

"Okay, its all my fault. Stop making a scene, Audie. I really don't want to get beaten up by her."

He exchanged a quick, knowing look with Hailey, a silent signal that said, got her.

The laughter swelled around us, easily swallowing my quiet, building grief.

I tilted my head back slightly, forcing the tears back from my eyes.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Nolan. And Im not making a scene."

As I turned, my phone buzzed in my palm. A flight notification popped up: Your flight departs in three hours.

My wrist was suddenly grabbed.

"Come on, everyone is having a good time today. Can you stop throwing a tantrum?"

I turned to look at his handsome face, feeling a strange sense of detachment. "I said, Im not throwing a tantrum."

Hailey stepped in, wrapping her hands around Nolans neck from behind. "Who told you to make Audie mad? Believe it or not, Ill choke you to death!"

He laughed, letting go of my wrist to pull her hands down. "Alright, with your tiny arms? Please."

Hailey squealed playfully. "Nolan, you're bullying me again! Ill scratch your face so no one will want you..."

Her fingers fluttered over his face, messing up his carefully styled hair.

Laughter erupted around them. Ever since Hailey returned from Europe, this scene had played out countless times. No one in his circle found it weird. After all, in the years before I entered his life, they had always been this close.

The passenger seat of his car had practically become her designated throne. The dashboard was cluttered with her cheap knickknacks. Nolan would complain about her terrible taste but warn me not to touch her things. Meanwhile, my things began to vanish.

"Where's the safety charm I hung here?"

"Oh, Hailey said the color clashed with the interior so she took it down. Ill ask her where she put it later."

He had completely forgotten. Three years ago, I had climbed ninety-nine hundred steps to St. Judes Chapel on the Peak just to get him that blessing. My legs were so sore I could barely stand for days.

Later, when I asked her about it, she gave a careless shrug. "Oh, I thought it was some cheap street-vendor junk, so I tossed it out the window. My bad, Audie."

I had stared at her, unable to accept her apology.

"Its your fault for not stopping me!" she had laughed, nudging Nolan.

"You've always been a hurricane, how could I stop you?" Nolan replied.

Every single time, the script repeated itself. If I showed the slightest hint of discomfort, they would start roughhousing. Then someone would say how sweet and understanding I was, how I wouldn't mind. My boundaries were slowly eroded until they ceased to exist.

Even now, remembering it brought a dull sting of pain.

Hailey smeared a dollop of cake frosting onto his hair. He merely laughed, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "The only one nobody wants is you, Hailey. Im an engaged man, unlike you, still single after a tour of Europe."

He glanced down at me. "Look at my Audrey. Gorgeous, sweet-tempered. Nothing like a wild cat like you."

A shadow crossed Haileys eyes, but she instantly recovered, wrapping her arm around mine. "Audie, are you still mad about our anniversary the other day? I only called Nolan away because of a dare..."

I instinctively pulled my hand back. Her smile froze.

That day, I had spent four hours in the kitchen preparing his favorite dishes. Seven years was a significant milestone. It meant we had survived the seven-year itch. If he had spent that night with me, I would have wiped the slate clean of all the times he ignored me for Hailey over the past year.

But he didn't. He hadn't even sat down for a minute when Haileys call came.

"Nolan, do you like me?"

He smiled. "What kind of game is this?"

"Our old spot in ten minutes. If you don't show up, I have to take a penalty drink."

"You're always a headache. Wait there." He grabbed his keys.

He didn't notice the fresh burn on my hand from the stove. He didn't see the light die in my eyes.

"Nolan, when will you be back?"

He paused for a fraction of a second. "Soon. Hailey got caught in some stupid drinking game, I have to go bail her out."

It was always the same excuse, and it always worked on him. At that moment, I realized that holding on any longer was just humiliating myself.

"Alright, Audrey, it was just a game of Truth or Dare. I was just playing along. Besides, we have anniversaries every year, its nothing special. Making a scene over this is really childish." Nolans tone sharpened when he saw Haileys awkwardness.

But he used to be so different. He used to cherish every milestone. He would book my favorite restaurant a month in advance, plan elaborate lantern displays.

"Every anniversary reminds me that I've been lucky enough to have you for another year, Audie. I'm the luckiest man alive."

Later, those grand gestures went to Hailey.

"Shes been stealing my things since we were kids. Its a bad habit she cant shake. Audrey, we're an old married couple now, we don't need those silly teenage rituals. Besides, whats mine is yours, why bother wrapping it up?"

The tension in the room grew heavy. Someone tried to clear the air. "Audies too sweet to get mad over something like that."

"Yeah, Nolan, just give her a cuddle. If you don't know how, let Princess Hailey give you some tips."

Haileys eyes welled with tears. "Audie, I'm so sorry. Nolan and I have just always been this way. I didn't think about boundaries. I won't do it again." Her voice trembled, making her look like the victim.

I hadn't even uttered a word, yet the gaze of the people in the room shifted.

"Audie, don't blame Hailey. Weve all grown up together, its not that serious."

"Exactly, we never had these issues before. Why are we suddenly talking about boundaries?"

"If that's the case, I guess none of us have boundaries."

"Its Nolan's birthday, everyone was having a blast, and now its ruined..."

Once, Nolan had organized countless dinners just so I could fit into his circle. Now, he stood by, silently agreeing as they picked me apart.

I had no desire to watch their play continue. "Im sorry for ruining the mood. It won't happen again."

I looked at Nolan, whose face had darkened. "The engagement is off. Were done. There won't be a next time."

As my hand touched the brass doorknob, Hailey suddenly lunged forward, pushing me aside, and ran out sobbing, her hands covering her face.

"Hailey!"

The crowd rushed out after her. In the chaos, I was knocked to the floor, my fingers stepped on multiple times. The fresh scrapes flared with pain, mingling with the sting of the old burns.

Nolan turned back to look at me, his eyes filled with profound disappointment.

"Shes always had fragile pride. You deliberately brought up breaking the engagement just to hurt her, to paint her as the homewrecker. If anything happens to her, Audrey, I will never forgive you."

The tears I had held back finally spilled over. He walked away without looking back.

I returned to our shared townhome, bandaged my fingers, and picked up the suitcase I had packed days ago. As I reached the front door, Nolan walked back in. His eyes fell on my suitcase, his brow furrowing.

"Are we still doing this? Are you trying to drive her to the edge? Audrey, when did you become so utterly unreasonable? You used to be so understanding..."

"Nolan, do you not understand plain English? I said we are over. What the two of you do is none of my business."

I tried to step around him, but he grabbed my arm. "Come with me to Haileys. Shes in a terrible state. Youre going to apologize to her, clear the air, and we can put this behind us."

"Let go of me, Nolan! I have a flight to catch..."

Ignoring my protests, he dragged me to his car, locked the doors, and drove off.

He hauled me into Haileys living room. She was curled on the velvet sofa, sobbing softly. Her friends surrounded her, wiping her tears, offering to take her on trips, while throwing venomous glares at me.

"Stop crying, Hailey. I brought Audrey to apologize." Nolan looked at her with pure tenderness.

I kept my lips pressed tight. The room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence. Everyone was waiting for my submission.

"Go on, apologize!"

"Look at what youve done to her. Just say youre sorry."

"Apologize!"

I clenched my fists, my body swaying slightly from exhaustion. "I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?"

Hailey burst into fresh wails. "Stop it, guys! Its my fault. Audie has every right to be mad... I should never have come back..."

Suddenly, a girl stepped out of the crowd and slapped me across the face. "She has never had to take this kind of abuse!"

It was Becca. Two years ago, when she wanted to host her first art exhibition, she had begged me to bring Nolan to boost her profile, even tagging me in posts as "the future Mrs. Nolan" to draw a crowd.

Nolan flinched when the slap landed, reaching out toward me instinctively, but Haileys renewed sobs pulled him back.

I remembered how, when we first started dating, a tabloid had written a nasty article about my background. The next day, the publisher was shut down, and no one in his circle dared to speak a word against me. Now, they stood united against me, their faces twisted with satisfaction.

"If I apologize, can I leave?" I asked, my voice flat. My pride had finally been ground into dust.

Nolan nodded. "Once you apologize, everyone will move on. We can go back to how things were."

Back to how things were... I let out a hollow laugh. "Fine."

I gave Hailey a polite bow. "Im sorry. I was petty, jealous, and malicious. I caused you distress. Please forgive me."

She blinked, wiping her eyes. "As long as you don't misunderstand Nolan and me anymore, Audie."

"I won't," I said, looking at the floor.

I turned and walked out. Nolan followed me to the porch. "I'll drive you home."

"No need. Go back and comfort her."

He sighed. "This is over now. Don't let it happen again, Audrey. I still prefer you when youre sweet and understanding."

"Understood. It won't happen again."

I went back to the house, rescheduled my flight to Sedona for the next morning, and sat on the edge of the bed with an ice pack on my cheek. I opened my phone and saw Haileys social media update from five minutes ago.

It was a screenshot of a group chat. I used to be in their circles group chat, but ever since Hailey returned, the main chat had gone dead. This was a separate group, one without me.

[Becca: @Nolan, Hailey took such a hit today. How are you going to make it up to her? Don't think a cheap apology from you-know-who cuts it.]

[Nolan: Seven-day trip to Cabo. My treat, for everyone.]

[Friend A: Wow! Classic Nolan. Youre the best!]

[Friend B: Thanks to Princess Hailey, we get a free vacation!]

[Hailey: Is Audie coming?]

[Becca: Why would we invite that wet blanket?]

[Friend C: Seriously, if she goes, she'll just ruin the vibe.]

[Nolan: Shes not coming.]

[Friend A: Awesome! Can't wait!]

[Becca: Shes just green with envy because of Hailey.]

[Friend B: You guys always said she had a sweet temper, but shes actually so toxic.]

[Friend C: Makes sense, shes not from our world. Shes probably terrified Nolan will dump her, so she acts out.]

[Nolan: Don't say that in front of her.]

[Becca: Nolan, you spoil her too much.]

The screenshots went on for nine pages. I scrolled through them, feeling entirely numb. There was no anger, only a strange, calming sense of finality.

Haileys caption read: And here I thought someone would choose his girl over his friends. My bad!

Nolan had commented: Pack your bags, and don't forget your essentials this time. Remember to bring your heating pad, your cycle is due.

Hailey replied: I'm stealing all your sweaters anyway! What's yours is mine!

When Nolan returned home, I was still holding the ice pack.

"Im leaving tomorrow morning. Ill be back in a week," I said.

"Okay." I didn't look up from my screen.

I could feel his gaze lingering on me. "Audrey, aren't you going to ask me where Im going?"

I looked up, my eyes blank. "What?"

Nolan hesitated, then knelt in front of me. "Does it hurt?"

It took me a second to realize he was asking about my cheek. "Oh. Its fine." I went back to scrolling through travel guides for Sedona.

"Im going to Cabo with Hailey and the guys. When I get back, well take our engagement photos."

"Sounds good. Have fun."

"Audrey..."

I let out a soft laugh at a travel video on my feed, typing a quick comment. Nolan stood up without another word and went to pack his bags.

A few minutes later, he called out, "My flight is at eight-thirty tomorrow morning."

"Okay. Mine is too... I mean, have a safe flight."

That night, I curled up on the very edge of the mattress. Nolan wrapped an arm around my waist, whispering in my ear: "We won't see each other for a week. Tonight..."

I sat up abruptly. "Sorry, Im not in the mood."

"Is it your period?"

"Yes." I lied. He had forgotten anyway.

"Alright," he said, his disappointment clear.

The next morning at the airport, I spotted their group near the boarding gates.

"Is our Princess happy today?"

"How could she not be? Nolan left his future bride behind just to keep her company."

"Oh, stop it, you guys..."

Nolan smiled, though he looked distracted. Suddenly, my phone buzzed with his call.

"Audrey, its going to get cold this week, make sure to turn on the heater. Look over those dress designs, when I get back..."

Just then, the airport intercom crackled to life: Passengers boarding flight 402 to Sedona, please proceed to gate twelve...

The announcement played through the receiver and in the physical terminal at the exact same time.

Nolans breath hitched. "Audie... where are you?"

I raised my eyes, my gaze colliding with his across the crowded terminal. He was looking around frantically.

Nolans eyes widened.

I hung up the call, stepped forward, and handed my ticket to the gate agent.

Suddenly, a loud shout echoed behind me.