Inspired by Good Luck, Babe - Chappell Roan

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It started like nothing. Just a regular Thursday, just a quick stop at the supermarket.

And then you saw her; Haley Dunphy. Standing in the cereal aisle completely unaware that she was seconds away from unraveling you. But then she turned. Eyes locking with yours. You expected her to smile politely or maybe wave, but she froze — the same way you did.

“Oh. Hi.” She said.

You blinked. “Haley.” You tried to sound unaffected, but it came out brittle. “Hi.”

She pushed her cart forward slowly. “Long time no see.”

You nodded. Your throat was suddenly dry. “Yeah… I heard you’re getting married” your voice came out sharper than you intended, like you were daring her to admit it.

Haley smiled, but it was thin. “Yeah… to Dylan. Do you remember him?”

“Of course I remember Dylan.” It’s obvious you’d remember the one she always chose.

She looked down, her fingers tapping the cart handle. She knew. You didn’t plan to say more, but it had been too long — too many quiet nights, too many what-ifs rattling around in your head like ghosts. You used to try and convince yourself that what you felt for Haley wasn’t real.

“Why Dylan? Again?” you suddenly asked. No accusation in your tone — just genuine confusion.

Haley shook her head slowly, her voice cracking. “Because he never made me question anything. He didn’t ask me to figure myself out.”

You nodded. You got it. But it didn’t make it easier. “So that’s it?” you asked. “You’re just going to marry him and pretend none of this ever existed?”

She looked at you then — really looked. Her eyes were glassy, filled with every version of the truth she’d never said. “I’m sorry.”