October 13

5:43 P.M.

Devon stood silently on stage, gazing at the large crowd before him. His sister and her new husband were a couple feet away from him, gazing expectantly at Devon as he prepared to make his wedding toast. He gulped and nervously fiddled with the buttons on his blush-pink tuxedo, grateful for the fact that none of the guys from school would ever see him in such a ridiculous outfit. 

"You know, public speaking is the number one fear in America, before death," he started, shakily. Over a hundred pairs of eyes were focused on him, including those of his family's celebrity friends. 

"Brittany, I don't even know how to start this speech. Maybe I could talk about that one time when I was in first grade and one of the older guys tried to steal my lunch in the cafeteria. You walked over and punched him square in the jaw." The audience giggled, and Devon's nerves slowly melted away as he saw the bright smile lighting up his sister's face.

"Or, maybe I could talk about how you always wanted a pet, so one day, when our parents were at work, you brought home a stray kitten, when you knew I was allergic to cats. And how you made me fall in love with that darn cat even though I literally die every time I go near him." Devon paused, drawing in a ragged breath.

"But the truth is, Brittany, I don't think any of these moments can ever capture the extent of your kindness and generosity. Thank you for always putting others before yourself, for taking care of me when we were alone, for growing up to be the successful, independent woman you are today. And, I honestly can't believe that you're getting married!" 

As he said those words, something clicked in Devon's mind. This was it. Brittany was leaving him. There would be nobody to stay home with him on winter break while the snow pounded eerily at the window and his parents were vacationing on the other side of the world. There would be nobody to bake him gingerbread cookies for Thanksgiving, because eating turkey went against Brittany's vegan lifestyle. There would be nobody to hang out with at the beach every summer. 

There would be nobody.

"I-I'm sorry, I can't do this," Devon said. He quickly placed the mic on the stand and bolted out of the room, a hundred pairs of eyes looking stunned as the scene unfolded.

"Wait!" he heard Brittany yell in the distance, but he knew she could never catch up in those heels she was wearing.

After what seemed like an eternity of running, Devon collapsed against a brick wall, his tears pouring down his face and breath coming out in ragged spurts. He didn't know what to do, but he did know the one person that could help.

So, he reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and dialed her number.

***

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks so much for 16K! If you would like, please check out my teen fiction book as well! It's called Slowly, But Shirley.