I Saw the Name in My Fiance’s Heart So I Walked Away Chapter 06
I spent a full week at Crescent Dunes, following every stop I’d mapped out in that itinerary.
I ate at the little brisket shop at the end of Old Main
Street by myself. When the owner set the barbecue brisket sandwich in front of me, steam curling into my
face, I remembered what I’d written in my notes: [Split one sandwich with Derek, order a fresh lemonade to share.]
Sitting there alone, I realized I could finish it just fine on my own.
The owner grinned. “Traveling solo, miss?”
I nodded.
“That’s nice,” he said. “You answer to nobody.”
I paused, then smiled for real. Yeah. It was nice. No waiting for someone to text back. No scrambling to
redo plans because somebody “had something come up.” No obsessing over whose label had changed.
I went to the leeward side of the dunes. I joined the campfire sing–along. Every route I’d researched, every
location I’d marked, every view I’d let myself anticipate–they all became beautiful memories that belonged only to me.
The day I checked out of the hotel, the front desk girl asked, “Are you coming back sometime?”
I tucked my ID away and glanced out the window at the dawn spreading over the desert. “I will.”
I wheeled my suitcase to the airport. I hadn’t even reached the check–in counters when a hoarse voice sounded behind me..
“Maya.”
I stopped. Turned.
Derek stood a few steps away, shirt rumpled, eyes shot through with red. He looked wrecked.
“You came to Crescent Dunes too?”
I let my gaze drift past his shoulder. “Riley didn’t make the trip this time?”
The color dropped from his face. “You really did see the album.”
I didn’t answer.
He took one step forward, then stopped like he was afraid to get any closer.
“I found those photos on the tablet. I found the ring you left behind.”
“I finally understood–you already knew everything before you came to the hospital.”
His voice was dry and cracked, “Maya, I’m sorry.”
“The shrimp–you reminded me, and I still didn’t keep it in my head.”
“And Crescent Dunes… that was cruel. I told myself she was stressed, and you were buried in wedding
planning. I didn’t want her dumping more on you, so r just-”
I heard him talking, but my eyes never left his chest.
The label had changed from [Maya Hayes] to [Maya].
How ridiculous.
For seven years, I stood by him. Right before the wedding, I got demoted to just my full name. Now,
after one week of me being gone, he’d finally moved me a notch closer again.
But it was only Maya. The missing My–it was like he already knew he had no right to put it back.
I cut him off. “Derek.”
He stumbled to a stop, staring at me.
“You can stop.” My voice came out steady. “You said you hid things so Riley wouldn’t stress me out. But
every single thing you hid became another needle I had to swallow.”
His lips parted. “Maya, I just-”
“You just thought I’d forgive you again. Same as always.” I finished the sentence for him.
His eyes went wide. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
“You brushed off every piece of my day I tried to share, then turned around and used it to make Riley smile.”
“You remember she hates jalapeños, but you forgot I told you no shrimp.”
“You stayed up all night fixing her presentation, but
you wouldn’t even glance at my performance review.”
“You took my itinerary–the one I poured myself into -and walked her through the trip we were supposed to take together.”
I paused, letting the words settle. “So we’re done.”
His body swayed. He barely held himself upright. “Maya, I can change. Everything you just said–I’ll fix it. Please.”
I gripped my suitcase handle, held his gaze one last time, then turned away. “No need.”
Behind me, I heard the quiet, broken sound of him crying.