Mira stood at the edge of the crowd, her heart feeling heavier with each word, snowflakes landing on her scarf before quickly melting into nothingness.
mission. Many nights, she works up in bows all dreary for one of the s
sadness that should have gripped her now quite come
young man were slowing down Fine Toul Forex bearbrag by the formers, but neer, the young man was gaining
Did the cominat beyblend comproper comelling another person foghot
The young man on good ahead, now overal motors in front of me, and Micstood then, frozen
At that moment, You’s voor tang out over the crowd, tear and desperate Eles, Fjust want you to be my groom
Asit her woude were a lifeline, Elan, who had bootmggling in than woonter, suddenly suged forward 1s mevemente hocame more purposeful, more powerful the aurapon her we gave Jums seemed to fuel has every
In the final stretch, only fifty motore to go, Elian‘ sport inermannd dramatically. The winter around him splashed in great area on he pushed himself to the limit
Eling, come on, common “Vord’s vene orked with emotion, her calle new linged with tears
With the finish line in sight, Clins congeal ahead, has body moving like a machine. He overtook the young man with mise, cinosing the fish line test. Ha young man, just a heat too slow, slapped the water in frustration, cursing
about
The crowd, which had gathered to watch, slowly began to disper so, their excitement fading with the race put Chas comsained in the worden, struggling to catch his breath. A man jumped in to help him, pulling him to the sho where he collapsed, utterly exhaunted
Mira, standing at a distance, took slow, deliberate steps toward the scene the stopped behind a large tree, watching na Vera nelt beside Elias
“Elias, are you stupid? Is it worth 112” Vern’s voice hembled as she scolded him, tears streaming down her face the quickly took off her coat and diaped it over him
“He good, don’t catch a cold, Fay line “Elion, barely able to lift his heart, smiled weakly, still breathless. He reached out, despite his exhaustion, to help Vera adjust her coat over his shoulders Twon, right?
Vera nodded, her face filled with gratitude and relief “Yeah”
Elias‘ smile deepened. “I’m still your groom, right?”
Vera couldn’t hold back anymore. She threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. He wrapped his arms around her gently, his hand soothingly patting her back as if trying to calm her.
Mira stood motionless, watching the two of them. The scene was a sharp reminder of her place–of the promises now broken and the love now given away. With a quiet, steady breath, she turned and walked away
Alone. Mira made her way down the street, the soft snow beginning to settle on her cashmere coat. She walked until she found a convenience store, where she bought a bowl of oden, the warm broth comforting her frozen body. The heat of the soup spread through her, but it did little to warm the ache inside.
As she stepped out of the store, she came face to face with Elias and Vera.
