Eight years together. Eight years of living under the same roof, building a future, talking about marriage, fighting, making up, and always finding our way back to each other. I thought she was my forever. I thought my best friend was my brother in all but blood. Ethan and I had been inseparable since college. He knew my secrets, stood by me through every rough patch, and when he asked me to be at his wedding, I felt proud. That weekend, surrounded by our old college group, I believed I was stan

The wine glasses clinked, candles flickered, and for a moment, I thought the family dinner in my new home was perfect. My parents were smiling, my sister Tessa and her fiancé Ethan were quiet but polite, and Aunt Brenda was gossiping as always. I leaned back, happy, and asked the most innocent question a sister could ask: “So… when’s the wedding?” The room froze. My sister’s fork stopped midair. Ethan’s eyes dropped to his plate. My parents exchanged a look. And then Aunt Brenda — God bless her