Chapter 2 The Aftermath

The wedding dress was still on the floor.

A crumpled mess of lace and tulle, discarded in the corner of her bedroom like a forgotten relic of another life. Kimberly stared at it from her bed, where she had been lying for hours, feeling numb. The once-pristine fabric was now wrinkled, the delicate beading catching the dim light of the bedside lamp.

Three days gone already.

It had been three days since Mason abandoned her. Since her world cracked open and swallowed her whole. Since she had walked into her apartment, still in her gown, and collapsed onto the floor, too numb to cry.

She had barely moved since.

A knock at the door broke the silence.

"Kim?" Samantha's voice was muffled but insistent. "Open the door, please open up."

Kimberly turned her head slightly, staring blankly at the door but making no move to get up.

A sigh. Then the jingle of keys. Of course, Samantha had a spare.

The door opened, and in walked her best friend, carrying a plastic bag of takeout. The rich aroma of food filled the air, but it only made Kimberly feel nauseous.

Samantha stopped in her tracks when she saw her. "Oh, honey... you don't have to suffer like this anymore"

Kimberly must have looked awful. She hadn't showered. Her long brown hair was a tangled mess. Her eyes were puffy, rimmed with exhaustion and tears.

Samantha set the food on the nightstand and sat at the edge of the bed. "I brought Thai food. Your favorite, still hot."

"I'm not hungry," Kimberly murmured, her voice hoarse from disuse.

"Yeah, I figured," Samantha said, crossing her arms. "Which is why I'm going to force-feed you if I have to."

Kimberly let out a weak laugh. Samantha always knew how to push, but right now, Kimberly didn't have the energy to fight.

Samantha softened. "Babe, you can't just stay in bed forever."

"Why not?" Kimberly whispered, staring at the ceiling. "It's not like I have anywhere to be."

Samantha frowned. "You have a life, Kim. A job. Friends who love you. You can't let him take all of that away from you, too."

"He already did." Kim whispered as tears drop down her eyes.

A heavy silence settled between them.

Samantha reached out and squeezed Kimberly's hand. "Mason is an idiot. A coward. And he doesn't deserve your tears, you are too perfect for him, and he is so imperfect for you"

Kimberly swallowed, her throat aching. "Then why does it still hurt?"

"That's because you truly loved him." Samantha's voice was gentle but firm. "And because he was supposed to love you back, but too bad he didn't."

Tears spilled down Kimberly's cheeks, silent at first, then harder, sobs wracking her body. Samantha pulled her into a hug, rubbing soothing circles on her back as she cried.

It wasn't fair.

The man she had trusted, the man she had built a future with, had walked away without a second thought. She had given him everything her heart, her time, her love and he had discarded her like she meant nothing to him.

Samantha held her as she wept, whispering soft reassurances.

When the worst of it passed, Kimberly pulled away, wiping at her swollen eyes. "I feel pathetic."

"You're not pathetic," Samantha said firmly. "You're heartbroken. There's a difference."

Kimberly exhaled shakily. "I don't even know what to do anymore. I wake up, and for a second, I forget. And then it hits me all over again."

Samantha's expression softened. "One day at a time, Kim. That's all you have to do right now. Just... get through today. And then tomorrow. And the next, soon you will be fine."

Kimberly swallowed. "And what if I never stop feeling like this?"

"You will," Samantha promised. "I don't know when, but you will, am so sure about it."

They sat in silence for a while.

Then Samantha nudged the takeout bag toward her. "Now eat. Or I swear to God, I will spoon-feed you like a toddler."

Kimberly let out a weak, tired chuckle and reached for the food. It wasn't much, but it was something.

And for now, that had to be enough.