Suddenly, I remembered something Adrian once told me.
Years earlier, we had been sitting in his car during a storm.
He had been unusually quiet.
When I asked what was wrong, he told me:
“Sometimes people disappear because staying alive requires them to become someone else.”
At the time, I thought he was simply being dramatic.
Now those words sounded completely different.
The bride said her vows.
Then Adrian said his.
“I do.”
The guests applauded.
I turned away.
I couldn’t watch anymore.
I went to the storage room where I kept my flower supplies and closed the door.
My hands were trembling.
Then I heard footsteps.
I expected Julian.
Instead, Adrian’s mother entered.
Colleen.
She closed the door behind her.
“You weren’t supposed to see him,” she said.
I stared at her.
“Why?”
She looked exhausted.
“I knew you’d eventually want answers.”
“I don’t need to search for them. They’re standing right in front of me.”
She looked down.
“I thought he was dead too.”
“So did I.”
“I know.”
“And you allowed me to grieve him.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I didn’t know what else to do.”
I shook my head.
“People always say that when they don’t want to admit they made a choice.”
She flinched.
Then she whispered something that changed everything.
“Adrian didn’t want you involved.”
I stared at her.
“He didn’t want me involved?”
