Then I'd think about the children we'd have someday. I'd think about all the things I could buy Sonia instead. And every time, I walked away.
That small want, that tiny longing for myself, always got buried under the weight of responsibility and love for her.
Now she hadn't even blinked before taking my money to set up a new home for another man.
I stood behind the crowd, watching them lace their fingers together. Watching Sonia reach up and straighten Lucas's collar with the tenderness of a woman in love.
"Lucas, once we have our own place, we won't have to sneak off to the private theater anymore."
Lucas pulled her tight against his chest. "From now on, we can see each other whenever we want."
The sight of them pressed together burned behind my eyes like staring into the sun.
I watched them buy the apartment with my money. I watched them visit a renovation company. I watched them browse furniture stores, picking out everything they'd need for their new life together.
In front of a jade-inlaid bed priced at twenty-two thousand dollars, the two of them lay down side by side, holding hands, dreaming aloud about the wonderful future ahead of them.
The moment they went to pay again, I called Sonia.
"Hey, babe. Where are you?"
"The bank just sent me an alert. There's been a huge charge on the card."
Across the store, I saw Sonia's expression flicker with panic. She straightened her spine a second later.
"Mom needed money urgently. Uncle Rick had a sudden heart attack and needs treatment."
"You know how good he's always been to me since I was little. He's the only family Mom has left. We can't just let him die, can we?"
I let out a quiet scoff, watching Lucas flash her a thumbs-up from a few feet away.
Sonia shot him a smug glance, then let her voice shift to something sharp and indignant.
"Noel, what's that supposed to mean? You said the card was mine to use, and now you're monitoring me?"
"I spend a little money on Uncle Rick's medical bills and suddenly you have a problem with that?"
The last thread of hope in me snapped clean. My voice went flat. Calm.
"No. You're right. Paying for his treatment is the right thing to do."
"Actually, there's something I wanted to ask you. I saw a suit at the mall. Could you come take a look with me? You know I've been wearing the same one for three years."
Sonia went quiet. Then her tone turned impatient.