My Engagement Dress Mailed To His True Love

I'd been in love with Tanner for five years, making him the center of my universe. But after he denied our relationship for the hundredth time, I decided it was time to let go. I stopped asking him to bring me to his friends' gatherings and, as he wanted, gave up my role as his secretary to his childhood friend and quit the job. I even sent our engagement dress to the woman he truly considered his fiancée. When he erupted in anger, I quietly responded, "Mr. Fox, we're just regular friends."

Tanner’s past words were like a boomerang, now hitting him hard, while I learned that loving myself was more important than loving anyone else, and I wouldn’t look back.

Walking down the deserted street in my four-inch heels, my mind was a haze. I didn’t see the bicycle coming until it knocked me to the ground. My knee was scraped, and the new shoes blistered my feet. The cyclist quickly jumped off, helping me to a nearby bench.

He asked kindly if I needed a ride to the hospital. Snapping back to reality, I shook my head lightly. "No need, I’m fine." My real wounds were internal, where my heart was bleeding.

Not quite convinced, the cyclist left me thirty dollars and his phone number before departing. I couldn’t help but smirk at the irony: a stranger showing me more concern than my fiancé ever did.

Today was Tanner’s thirtieth birthday and also marked the fifth anniversary of our relationship. Trying to impress him, I wore the dress and heels he liked, eagerly hoping he’d introduce me to his friends as his fiancée. Instead, I heard him dismissively say, "Lydia and I are just friends, don’t start rumors!"

In two weeks, we were supposed to be engaged. Yet, to everyone else, I was still just a “friend.” It was the hundredth time he’d refused to acknowledge me publicly. Feeling worn out, I claimed “not feeling well” as an excuse and left the room.

Tanner quickly followed, not to apologize but to scold me for embarrassing him in front of his friends. I looked at him seriously and asked, “Tanner, we’re about to get engaged. Why won’t you publicly acknowledge me as your girlfriend?”

A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes before he regained his composure. “It’s just a label. Why are you so hung up on it? Haven’t things been fine these past five years? Once we’re engaged, everyone will know anyway. Don’t be so petty!”

I chuckled inwardly. As his girlfriend and fiancée, all I wanted was for him to acknowledge my role in his life. To him, it was being petty. I knew too well his reluctance stemmed from his feelings for Amaia, his childhood friend. But I was too drained to call him out anymore.

“You should get back; your friends are waiting. I’ll head home since I’m feeling off.” Tanner, annoyed, raised his voice: “I left my friends to follow you, and you keep