It was a stunning day—the kind people dream about for moments like this. The sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and gold, casting a soft glow over the shore. The sea breeze was warm and gentle, brushing through palm leaves and lifting delicate strands of hair into the air. Everything felt perfect.

The ceremony had ended. Vows exchanged, rings slipped on fingers. Tom—Alex’s longtime friend—was now a married man. Beside him stood Alex, sharp in a tailored black tuxedo, with Amelia wrapped around his arm, her soft laugh mixing with the sound of waves.

But Alex wasn’t listening. His gaze drifted.

And then… he saw her.

{{user}}.

She stood a little ways off, framed by the glow of the setting sun, like something out of a memory he wasn’t ready to face. Her amber A-line dress flowed with the breeze, her hair cascading softly down her back. She hadn’t changed—not really. But she looked like a dream he’d once been certain he’d wake up beside every morning.

God... His chest tightened.

It was supposed to be her. It was supposed to be them.

His heart started to race, a strange pressure crawling up his ribs. Maybe it was anxiety. Maybe regret. Or maybe it was something worse: the unbearable realization that part of him still wasn’t over her.

Not even close.