Love at First Stoplight

I just got dumped.

I felt like the air got knocked out of me and a chill was engulfing my entire body. I didn’t even realize my hands were shaking until the words blurred from my view. I forced myself to look away from my phone and focus elsewhere… but by some cruel, twisted fate, the man in question was just on the other side of the crosswalk.

He had his phone on one hand, and the other, wrapped across another woman’s waist.

After one last look on his phone, he placed it in his pocket and craned his neck towards the woman’s face. All sorts of vehicles were passing in between us, but it was clear as day.

He was kissing the other woman.

The traffic light from above us changed from red to green, signaling us that it was safe to cross the road. Everyone from each side instantly moved, but my feet were glued on the spot. All I could do was stand there and watch them cross the road one step at a time.

As they neared me, I promptly looked down, letting my hair fall and cover my face. I saw drops of my tears stain the gray pavement followed by the steady increase of raindrops. I could hear the flaps of umbrellas being opened, hurried footsteps trying to get out of the rain, and Chad’s familiar laughter passing me by.

I knew I shouldn’t, but I still looked back. And the scene that I saw absolutely broke my heart. They were running and laughing hand in hand until they sought shelter at a bus stop.

Once I saw Chad leaning in again, I forced myself to look away.

A sob escaped my lips and I’m full-on crying at this point. I’m in the middle of a busy street, but I didn’t care anymore. My heart is physically breaking from the betrayal I just witnessed.

The loud blare of a car horn jolted me and I was aggressively pulled back onto the pavement.

“Are you out of your goddamn mind lady?!” the cab driver shouted angrily, but I was too stunned to speak.

“Are you okay?” the man asked, bringing his umbrella over the both of us. I hastily wiped my face with my hand, suddenly realizing I was positively drenched from the rain.

“U-uhm, yeah… I think so. Thank you,” I said, embarrassed to even face him. I’m a total mess and I just wanted to go home. I stepped out of the umbrella and turned to move away, but with only a few steps taken, a gentle hand pulled me back. He placed his umbrella on my hand and turned away before I could even refuse. His figure immediately blended into the busy crowd and I wasn’t able to take a good look at his face.

“Thank you,” I whispered, mostly to myself.

I turned around and made my way home. It felt like I was on autopilot, my tears kept falling down but I couldn’t feel anything. I walked the busy streets without hearing a single noise, as if everything was on mute but people kept going through the motions.

When I finally managed to get to my house, I walked up the steps and bent down to our little chicken statue. I retrieved the key and with shaky hands I opened the door and let myself in. As soon as I entered, I leaned back, closing the door shut.

The familiar smell of home, the warmth, and the silence made me finally take a deep breath. I felt all the energy leave my body as I let myself slide down until I was on the floor, pulling my knees together and letting my head rest on them.

The moment I closed my eyes, the scenes from earlier replayed in my mind.

I was happily on my way to surprise my boyfriend, Chad, for our anniversary. I went straight to his office from the airport just so we can celebrate together on the actual date. He wasn’t able to attend my graduation from culinary school yesterday due to his work schedule, so I at least wanted to be together on our anniversary.

I was the one who wanted to surprise him, but what in the uno reverse card hell happened? I got more than a surprise, I was dumped. My boyfriend of five years broke up with me through a damn text message.

I hugged my legs tightly and let myself sob quietly on the doorway, my cries filling the quietness of the empty house.

“WHO’S THERE?! GHOST OR NOT I HAVE A BASEBALL BAT AND I’M NOT AFRAID TO USE IT!”