Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Briony ignored her and focused on her own meal, barely glancing up.

That New Year's Eve dinner was shrouded in an uneasy, suffocating silence.

Stella ate in tears, each bite swallowed with more saltwater than food.

Briony, on the other hand, managed to eat quite a bit.

But as she cleared the table, she suddenly clamped a hand over her mouth and bolted for the bathroom, where she threw up everything she'd eaten.

Stella panicked, but Briony just offered a faint smile and murmured that she was simply tired.

It was barely nine o'clock-hours still to go before midnight.

Stella gently supported Briony, helping her to bed.

In the past three days, Briony had barely slept a wink.

And if Briony was awake, Stella couldn't rest either.

Given the state Briony was in, Stella refused to leave her side. She'd called their parents earlier to explain, and they understood, reminding her to take good care of Briony.

Once Briony lay down, exhaustion overtook her and she drifted off almost instantly.

stayed beside her, and before she knew it, she too had fallen

had passed

drenched in sweat, tears streaking her

Boom! Boom! Boom-

the night sky exploded in a riot of fireworks, bursting in brilliant

room was dim and quiet. Briony glanced over at Stella, who was fast asleep. Carefully, Briony slipped out from under the covers and tiptoed

She

...

celebration. Families and friends flocked together in joyful crowds to

wove unsteadily through the revelers toward

tradition to welcome the new year with

out at the glowing lanterns

slipped out, and with it, the dam she'd held for

Why aren't you coming home...

laughter and cheers filled the night, but Briony gripped the railing, calling for her

was swallowed by the crowd-no one

there would never be an

her. Her mother was

now, she no longer had

behind, voices shouted fresh wishes