Enough Is Enough

The fifth time we went to the courthouse, James Ceasar and I still weren’t officially married. We had picked a good day for it, but right before it was our turn, he got a call and rushed off in a hurry.

With my eyes turning red, I pointed at the screen showing the waiting numbers, trying to stop him.

“We're next. It won't take more than ten minutes. We can get it done fast. Once we’re officially married, you can go and deal with whatever’s so urgent. It won’t take long.”

James was the CEO of his company, so he had full control over his schedule. That was why I said it like that, not thinking it would be a big deal. However, he just glanced at the screen, handed me the ticket with our number on it, and looked annoyed.

“I can marry you anytime,” he said. “But right now, I’ve got something I need to take care of. Don’t make a fuss.”

I kept my head down and tightened my grip on the number ticket. In the end, James left, leaving me alone at the courthouse.

A voice from the loudspeaker called our number, informing us that it was finally our turn to register our marriage. My eyes stung with tears as I crumpled the ticket and tossed it into the trash.

James and I had been together for five years. He proposed two years ago, but somehow, we still haven’t made it official.

Just then, my phone rang. It was Mom, her voice filled with excitement and hope.

“Well? Have you and James gotten married?”

Mom was diagnosed with cancer the year before last, and her health had been declining fast. More than anything, she wanted to live long enough to see me walk down the aisle, happy.

I sniffled and mumbled some excuse. There was a pause on the other end, and when she spoke again, her disappointment was painfully clear.

“James is busy with work… I understand, I really do…”

When I got home, I barely had time to set my keys down before my phone buzzed with a message from our old college group chat.

Paris Taylor had posted a picture and two lines of text.

[It’s Christmas today. I told him I wanted my present early, and he dropped everything to come and see me. 'I'll be right there. Just say the word.' Those words always ring true with him.]

The picture showed James leaning over, carefully putting a gold necklace around her neck.

The group chat lit up right away.

[Ugh, how sweet. Childhood friends are the real deal.]

[Who says exes can’t stay friends? This is the perfect example.]

It was our college group, and they weren’t wrong.

James and Paris had dated back then. She even had an abortion for him. Ever since, every holiday, James would spend the day with her, then see me the day after.

I used to argue with him about it, but he always looked