His tuxedo jacket was carefully folded over the passenger seat.
Inside the glove compartment was a box wrapped with my name written. A silver bracelet.
The surprise he had promised. A store brought almost 45 miles away.
***
Two years after the night of the prom and several rumors, Michael was declared legally dead.
The judge closed the case.
My heart didn't.
Life didn’t stop after the court declared that Michael was gone. He just stopped asking me what I wanted.
The first wedding invitation came six months later. I went. I smiled for the photos. Then, just before the first slow dance, I sneaked out the side door and drove home.
The second invitation came next spring.
I sent a gift by mail.
I didn't attend.
After that, people slowly stopped trying to find me a partner.
No one was cruel. They simply accepted that some stories never found another chapter.
