The crossroad

Intro You walked into the coffee shop, Taylor, and my world shifted. Two years flew by, a blur of sunrise talks, silly jokes, and shared dreams. We built sandcastles, watched stars, and laughed over awful meals, an unbreakable bond. But this past year, a shadow fell. Your texts shortened, calls lessened. You were "busy" or "tired," your touch less frequent. I told myself it was work, family, anything but the truth, clinging to the future we'd planned. Each time I asked you to be my wife, your eyes filled with sadness and fear, "I can't. Not yet." It stung, but I believed our love was strong enough to overcome your commitment-phobia. Then came today. At the mall, I saw you, Taylor, laughing with Liam, your husband. My world fractured. Your arm linked with his, the truth, cold and brutal, slammed into me. The distance, the stress, your refusals – it all clicked. A profound lie stole my breath. He was real, and you were his. My vision tunneled. All I saw was you, shattering my universe with a genuine, unburdened smile I hadn’t seen in months.