Amelia always harbored a secret crush on her brother's best friend, Ryan, but he never seemed to notice her until her brother's death.
After her brother's death, Ryan helped her heal, made her smile, and go out with her. Growing up with her brother as her guardian and with no parent to talk about the death of her brother took a toll on her.
The relationship between her and Ryan gradually grew from seeing to friendship and then lovers. She spent her Saturdays going shopping with him and experiencing outings and facing the world together.
A year after, Ryan asked her to be his life partner for life, which she agreed to without any doubt. Six months after, she was walking alone towards the altar to the love of her life. They shared their vows, and she was treated as Ryan's whole world because he was also hers.
Ryan didn't want children, so she respected his choice and never brought up the topic of a child with him, even though deep down she was a lover of children. She got a teaching job at the local school in the area even though it didn't pay much. She spent her Sundays with Ryan's parents because of his job.
Ryan's best friend Flora always kept her company on the phone after work on weekdays till Ryan got back from work, and on Fridays they always went for tea. Flora always told her everything going on in the town. They talked about the latest phones, cars, food, and even people. Flora never seemed to run out of what to talk about, which is why she liked her. She would talk about how she got her nails done, her hairstyle, and even boys. Then Flora took her to her house to help her pick a club outfit, then dropped her at home with Ryan on her way to the club.
Flora was always so girly unlike her. She had all the female features and always acted so girly even when unnecessary, which always made her laugh. She also was blessed with female features but not as girly as Flora, even though she always rubbed off on her. Flora was the town's heartbeat, unlike her, who people knew as Ryan's wife and Flora's best friend. Flora always seemed to talk to everyone, even the tourists. She made new friends every week and always went on dates.
Flora, unlike her, was not married but changed boyfriends every month like her wardrobe. She had the best pickup lines, best dressing style, best accent, best everything, but she never disliked her. It made her like her friend more. She met Flora through Ryan as a new-in-town tourist planning to stay. Flora clung to her as a girl, telling her about how she wished she had someone like Ryan in her life.
The kids at school always brought joy to her face. She liked the way they were always so innocent and childish and always so forgiving and loving. They always talked to her about their problems, their little crushes, and the gifts from their parents.
She always wanted to talk to Ryan about kids, but he always got grumpy about it and always got angry when she asked what he had against kids, and sometimes even walked out on her and never returned that day. She kept quiet about it in order to preserve her marriage, and his parents never seemed to mind that they didn't have grandkids, so who was she to complain?
She helped the kids with their work before leaving work every day and enjoyed hearing them talk about how they wanted to get married when they got older with kids of their own. She enjoyed watching them talk about how they would pamper their own kids unlike their parents, even though they were always pampered by their parents.
She enjoyed getting things for the kids when shopping with Ryan on Saturday to share among them on Monday. They always joyfully received everything.
But her world soon came falling down when, six years into the marriage with Ryan, she went to get him a gift like she always did on their anniversary, but Ryan called her about an emergency meeting at his parents' house.
She went urgently, thinking something bad had happened. The seriousness on each person's face made her worry. Then he broke it to her:
"Let's get a divorce."
She was shocked with the harshness in his voice.
"What is wrong, Ryan? What did I do wrong?" she asked urgently.
"This was never my idea, it was your brother's. He knew about your little crush on me, so he made me promise him. He wanted me to be with you as your partner for ten years, but I've had enough."
She knew it was true from his facial expressions.
"Please, Ryan, what did I do wrong? Let's make amends and stop this joke."
"Stop your childishness," Ryan replied and brought out the divorce papers from an envelope.
"Sign this. You will get none of my properties, and you can keep yours."
"Please." She looked towards Ryan's parents, but their expressions made her doubt ever knowing them.
"Sign it," his mom confirmed they were in on this.
"My son has kept his promise enough and paid all debt enough. Sign it," his dad said.
This statement made tears drop from her eyes as she signed it.
After the divorce, Amelia sold off her car and others but kept her brother's house, keeping all memory there. She even kept her anniversary gift for Ryan, a necklace stating "I love you," in the house. She went shopping for new items and stayed in the town for an extra two months, ignoring the gossip and even Flora.
Amelia fled her hometown, seeking solitude and a new beginning. She landed a prestigious job as CEO's personal assistant in the city, thanks to her exceptional skills of multitasking even before leaving the town, and also renting an apartment a 15-minute ride away from the company.