Ariel’s POV:

Life is beautiful. I am sure almost every one of us has heard this phrase. And it is true, life is beautiful, just not always. Life has its ups and downs, and no doubt when it is going good it can be an extremely beautiful thing. But then when things are not going your way, life can become extremely ugly. There is no knowing what levels of ugliness it can reach to, what pain it can cause. Even though the saying is largely used, life actually has more ugly moments than beautiful ones, and that is why when one finds something, or rather someone, who makes their life beautiful, they try their best to hold onto it. Just like that, even I had someone who made my life beautiful, who filled every moment with joy, who made life worth living. But one day, that someone left me, and that turned my whole world upside down. This is my story, of how my life went from being a heavenly abode, to a torturing hell.

It was April 27th. My boyfriend, Jake, was coming over to my place. Tonight was our 10 month anniversary and we had planned to have a nice romantic candle light dinner at my place. We liked going out in public, but we preferred staying in more because it felt more intimate and romantic. I was just setting up the candles when the doorbell rang. Excitedly, I ran up to the door, but my excitement died as soon as I opened the door and saw the expression on Jake’s face. He looked like someone had squeezed the life out of him in the most painful way.

“What’s wrong?” I asked him, pulling him in.

“I- We cannot be together anymore.” He choked through a sob. This was the first time I had ever seen him this emotional.

My brain refused to process those words. “You’re joking, right? Cause what do you mean we can’t be together anymore?”

“I’m sorry.” He looked at me, hopelessness shining bright in his eyes.

“No. No you cannot do this. Why? And why today, today was supposed to be a celebration.” My voice slightly raising with every word I said, until I was practically screaming by the end of the sentence.

“I’m so sorry.” He was sobbing at this point, and I could feel tears soaking my dress too.

“But why?”

“I don’t know how to explain this to you. But, um-, I’m already betrothed to one of my dad’s friends daughter.”

“Wait, betrothed as in you are going to marry her? Like an arranged marriage?”

“Yes. This is something that our parents had decided for us a few years back, but they never told us anything. Now when they found out about us, at first they thought it was just a fling so they didn’t say anything. But now that they noticed that we were getting serious, they asked me to breakup with you. They told me that they had already promised their friend that I would marry their daughter, and they cannot back out now, because it will be really good for the business. With this marriage, both my dad’s company and his friend’s company would fuse together and come as one, that would really expand our prospects.”

“So you’re leaving me just so your business could grow? That is so very selfish! I cannot believe you would be so materialistic!”

“It is not being materialistic Ariel! Do you really think I didn’t try to talk to my dad about it? About us? I tried ok! I tried my best. But is he so stubborn. He is not ready to listen to me at all. He said that his decision is final. And I cannot go against him, Ari. He’s my dad.” He desperately tries to explain his situation to me.

“Yes I see clearly. You would rather your business grow than be with me. Do you even love me? Did you ever love me?” I knew he did, but right now my heart just needed some consolation, anything to ease the pain.

“Of course I do baby.” He said softy, cupping my face with his hands, wiping my tears. He then kissed my forehead, and whispered, “I love you so damn much. And I wish more than anything that I could be with you.”

“Then be with me. Please. Please don’t leave me.” I said while hiding my face into his chest while I cry.

“I wish I could. I’m so sorry.”

He hugged me and we stayed like that for a while, none of us saying anything, just trying to soak this moment up, because we knew it was over. And this was the last time we were seeing each other, the last time we were holding each other, and we wanted to savour every bit of it.

After a few minutes, which honestly felt like a few seconds, he pulled away.

“I have to go now.” His voice hoarse from crying.

I wasn’t even able to say anything, it was like my tongue was tied. He kissed me, slowly. After he pulled back I whispered, “I’ll miss you, so much.”

“I’ll miss you so much more.”

“Goodbye, Jake.”

“Goodbye, Ari.”

He said, slowly pulling away from me. He opened the door and left. As soon as he left, I felt like my whole world came crashing down. Like everything suddenly stopped, the weight of what had happened, slowly started to take over me, it pulled me down, under and under and under, till I felt like I was drowning, and nothing could save me. Because he was my lifeboat, and he was gone. I sank to the ground, and just let it all out, not believing that something which made me the happiest just about an hour ago, was gone. Just like that.