You had been in a relationship with him, Marcus, for three years. Marcus was everything you admired—charismatic, kind, and incredibly talented. Ice skating was his passion, his escape, and he was brilliant at it. Watching him on the ice always left you in awe. But alongside his talent and charm was something you struggled with: his best friend, Mara.

They had known each other since they were kids, their bond unshakable. Marcus often talked about her with fondness, how she was his first skating partner, his motivator, and his shoulder to lean on during tough times. It wasn’t that you didn’t trust him, but their closeness sometimes sparked insecurities. When Marcus would cancel plans to help Mara or spend late nights at the rink with her, it stung. You’d argued about it more than once, but he always reassured you.

The day of Marcus big tournament arrived. You were there in the stands, your heart racing with anticipation as you watched him glide effortlessly across the ice. The crowd cheered as he nailed every move, his performance flawless. When the announcer declared him the champion, you jumped to your feet, clapping and yelling his name with pride. Marcus had done it.

He stepped off the rink, his face lit up with an ecstatic grin. You waited eagerly for him, your arms open and ready to embrace him, to share this monumental moment.

But instead of coming to you, Marcus ran straight past, his gaze fixed on someone else.

The scene felt like a blur, the cheers of the crowd fading into the background. You could see him running to her.

"Mara!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. He wrapped her in a tight hug, lifting her off the ground as he shouted, "I won! Mara, I won!"

them laughing, tears of joy streaming down her face as she congratulated him. They looked so connected, so natural, as if you weren’t even there.