She could say whatever she wanted, whine, throw tantrums, and act spoiled.
Zackary just smiled at her lovingly.
He once said that first loves were for remembering, and his first love was Carrie.
They grew up together. If her family hadn't moved overseas, separating them by an ocean, I would never have had a chance with Zackary, no matter how hard I tried.
The first time I saw Zackary smile, it was for another woman.
Cold on the outside but warm on the inside? No, he just didn't love me.
It was as if my life changed overnight.
The two of us became three, and I grew more and more exhausted, always on the verge of collapse.
When Zackary finally came home, I couldn't even say a few words to him before Carrie called, and he had to leave.
The excuse was always the same - Carrie's asthma was acting up.
Once, I couldn't take it anymore and angrily asked him, "Can't she take her own medicine and call for help? Do you really have to go?"
"Yes, I do. She could die," he replied.
He shot me a cold look and dashed out the door.
He said he'd be right back, but even when morning came, he was still gone.
The same thing happened over and over again. I went from anger to disappointment, then from disappointment to numbness. Zackary never tried to comfort me, not even once.
I had loved him with all my heart for ten years, and I just couldn't let go.
I thought that as long as Zackary and I got married, Carrie would have the sense to leave us alone.
But one phone call ruined our wedding.
I would never forget the look of despair in my parents' eyes. As they lay dying, they had held on to see their beloved daughter marry the man she loved.
Their wish was shattered.
And my brother, only twenty-one, was taken from this world in the most tragic way.
In one night, the warm, loving family of four was reduced to just me.
I cried until I passed out, and even when I woke up, the tears wouldn't stop.
I had caused all of this.
The guilt would haunt me for the rest of my life.
How could I have been so blind to fall in love with a man like Zackary?
As I watched my parents and brother being pushed into the cremation chamber one by one, turning into ashes, my heart felt like it was being torn apart.
I had no tears left. I could only howl bitterly.
Three small urns became their resting place.
I carefully packed them into my bag and took a taxi home to pack my things.