Breaking Up and Moving Up

Orlando and I had been together for ten years.

I'd looked after his sick mom, sweating out a fever of my own, and where was he? Knocking back drinks with Rosalind, playing therapist to her broken heart.

I swallowed my pride at work, getting chewed out by my boss, while he spent the night companying Rosalind because she had cramps.

Then, when I got the news my mom had passed, I tried calling him, desperate for support. But nope—phone off. After a wild goose chase, turns out he was at Rosalind's graduation.

That was it. I gave up.

But Orlando wouldn't let go. Red-eyed, he begged me for just one more chance.

When I got back from my mom's funeral, it was pouring.

Rain soaked through me, blurring my vision, and a heavy fog settled over my mind.

My phone rang.

I glanced at the screen, expressionless. "Orlando." The name brought a sharp, familiar ache.

Orlando Reid and I had been together a decade. He was always distant, sometimes downright cold.

I kept thinking that if I stayed, if I loved him hard enough, he'd finally let me in. But no amount of love could break through his wall of indifference.

A week ago, I got the call that my mom had passed.

Before she died, she worried about my future. She'd say, "Wren, you've been with Orlando so long, but he still hasn't talked about marriage. I know this might sound harsh, but I have to say it.

"You two come from such different worlds. If Orlando really cherished you, I wouldn't be worried. But from where I stand, it's only you who's fully committed.

"I'm scared you'll only end up hurt if you marry into his family."

She wasn't wrong. I came from a small town. Orlando's parents were college professors. We were worlds apart.

I tried to reassure her, saying his mom, Cordelia, didn't mind my background; she actually liked me. I told her Orlando was just busy with work and that we'd marry eventually.

But how long would I be waiting?

Deep down, I didn't know.

Saying Orlando was "too busy" was just an excuse.

Cordelia didn't care about my background; she only cared about what Orlando wanted.

Once, I carefully brought up marriage with him. Rosalind Olson was there too and instantly scoffed, "Are you that eager to marry into Orlando's family and live the high life? No need to rush. If your mom needs money for treatment, Orlando can help out even if you two aren't married."

Yes, my family was poor, but after college, I got a solid job at a gaming company with decent pay and benefits.

I could cover my mom's medical bills by cutting corners and saving up.

In all my years with Orlando, I'd never once thought of using his money.

When he found out about my mom's illness, he came with me to see her and handed me a bank card with twenty thousand on it, saying to