I watched the two of them tangled up in each other, lips unwilling to part. My heart had already stopped, and yet somehow it still ached — a sharp, uncontrollable pain.
Two weeks ago, both sets of parents had been pushing us to get engaged.
Allan had knelt at my feet, promising he'd give me a home soon.
I'd thought today would be the happiest day of my life.
The boy next door I'd loved since childhood, down on one knee. Flowers. Applause. Congratulations.
Instead, what greeted me was his April Fools' joke.
Allan glanced back at the haunted house. No more screaming. No more desperate, gut-wrenching cries from inside.
He raised an eyebrow at Pauline and gave a thumbs-up.
"Your desensitization method actually worked. She's not even scared anymore."
Pauline lifted her chin, smug.
"Obviously. She's probably having the time of her life in there — totally hooked on the thrill."
The livestream chat started urging Pauline to take them on a haunted house tour.
Allan took the phone from her, carefully adjusting the angle.
They walked forward, and some invisible force dragged me along. I tried to drift somewhere else, but the moment I floated too far, I was pulled right back to Allan's side.
He laced his fingers through Pauline's, and together they pushed open the door to another haunted house.
A blood-curdling scream split the air. Instinct took over, and I threw myself into Allan's arms — only to pass straight through his body without meeting any resistance.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips.
Right. I was dead. What was there left to be afraid of?
I looked up and saw Allan gently covering Pauline's eyes with his hand.
"You don't have to act brave today. I'll protect you."
The chat complained that the two of them were being sickeningly sweet.
And I stood behind Allan, watching him hold Pauline's hand tight, shielding her with his body, keeping her safe.
There was a time when he'd protected me like that too.
Tears fell before I could stop them.
Allan shielded Pauline from every scare the staff threw at them, holding her hand as they made it out of the haunted house together.
Pauline shook his hand off and pouted, her voice syrupy sweet.
"Do you take care of your girlfriend like this too?"
I lowered my eyes and shook my head slowly.