In one picture, Darian lifted her into his arms, carrying her across the courtyard as part of a playful game. She clung to him, her cheek pressed against his chest. Had she leaned slightly further, their lips might have met.
The group erupted in praise. They tagged both of them, calling them a perfect pair. Given Darian’s prominence in the family enterprise, everyone rushed to flatter him—one comment after another declaring how well-suited they were.
Since I had been included in the thread, ignoring it would have seemed improper. So I typed two simple words: Well matched. I even added a clapping emoji to blend with the rest.
After sending it, I left the chat and silenced my phone. By the time I finished updating the ledgers, darkness had already settled over the estate.
Later, I retrieved my phone again and saw that Darian had attempted to reach me countless times. His messages stacked one atop another, urgent yet unanswered, filling the quiet night with a presence I no longer wished to feel.
