During the time that my fiance threw away the present that I had prepared for him and laughed about it with his buddies, he believed that he was funny. He had no idea that it would cost him anything that he had not anticipated at all.
At the time of his proposal, Vance and I had been dating for a total of nine months.
We were introduced to one another at a college party, and I was immediately smitten with him. He made me feel like I was the only one in the room, in addition to being hilarious and charming about it.
It was his way of saying, “You’re not like other girls.” “You take my sense of humor seriously.”
That struck me as very adorable. It seems to me that it was most likely a warning.
I did not give it a second thought when he asked me to marry him nine months after we had moved in together. At the same time as my pals went absolutely crazy with joy, my mother was crying happy tears via FaceTime.
It seemed as if everything was set in a fairy tale.
When I did the simple things for Vance, he appeared to really appreciate them.
He would send me love emoticons via text message whenever I would sneak romantic notes inside his vehicle. When I surprised him with his favorite cookies, he would kiss my forehead and call me his “sweetie.” I would do this every morning.
Consequently, when it came time for his birthday, I wanted to do something that was really remarkable. Considering that I am now attending college and working part-time at a bookstore, it was not possible for me to purchase anything that was expensive.
I am, nevertheless, a sentimental guy at heart.
While we were at Target looking for craft items, I told my best friend Lila, “I want to make him something that is particularly meaningful to me.”
Her response was, “That is so adorable.” “Just what are you going to do?”
My choice was to make a scrapbook.
For a considerable amount of time, I gathered up photographs from our dates, ticket stubs from each movie that we had seen together, and the small sticky notes that I had written to him. I included sketches of things that made us laugh out loud as well as jokes that we only know about.
For a very long time, I was in it.
I put some heart-shaped embellishments to his name and inscribed it in fancy calligraphy. Even if it was not flawless, it was brimming with love.
When my roommate Wren saw me working on it late at night at our kitchen table, she exclaimed, “This is awesome, Juniper.” “He’s going to lose his cool over this.”
“I hope so,” I responded as I affixed another photograph to the wall. I simply want him to understand how much impact these last nine months have had on my life.
I was overcome with emotion when I presented it to him on the occasion of his birthday.
The two of us were in his apartment by ourselves, and I observed his expression when he opened the door.
“Whoa,” he said as he gently browsed over the pages of the book. “Babe, this is an incredible thing.”
As he wrapped his arms around me in a bear embrace, I had the sensation that I was flying.
“Is it something that you really enjoy?” In order to get a better look at his face, I questioned him.
“I’m not joking; this is really fantastic. Take a look at all the effort that you have put in. Softly, he kissed me again. The thank you, Juniper. To be honest.”
He placed it on the shelf in his living room, where it was visible to as many people as possible.
I was going to be ecstatic.
Towards the end of that night, I hushed myself and said, “Yes.” “He understands me. The fact that he values me
However, a few days later, everything in my life came crumbling down around me.
When we arrived at his apartment, we were hanging out with a few of his college friends. I had just finished getting some beverages when I heard one of them, Jake, inquire about birthday presents. I was in the kitchen.
“Hey, what did you get for your birthday, and what did you get?” A shout came from Jake.
There was a grin on my face as I imagined Vance boasting about the album and perhaps even displaying it.
However, he laughed instead.
He said, “Oh man, you guys absolutely have to see this.”
My return to the living room coincided with his removal of my scrapbook from the shelf, and I was there just in time. My stomach dropped to the floor.
He remarked, “Take a look at this,” while holding it up as if it were a publicity prop. “It’s like high school all over again.”
There was a brief gap of silence in the room. Following that, Vance did something that I will never forget.
He then threw it away in the garbage.
Not in any other way. All those memories, along with the hours of labor I put in, were thrown away like rubbish.
While his pals laughed like if he had just cracked the finest joke in the history of the world, I stood there, paralyzed.
Despite the fact that I wanted to scream and run away, I forced myself to smile. What other options do I have? It was not my intention to be the girlfriend who was “too sensitive” and couldn’t take a joke with her.
In response to the sight of my face, Vance replied, “Babe, relax.” “It’s just for comedy purposes.”
Is amused. In that way, my love for him was shown. One of the jokes.
Despite the fact that I managed to keep it together for the remainder of the night, I was breaking apart on the inside. I sobbed more than I had in years when I finally arrived at my house.
With tears in my eyes, I said to myself, “Perhaps I was being foolish.” “Perhaps scrapbooks are a little boring. Perhaps I humiliated him without him even realizing it.
On the other hand, regardless of how I attempted to brush it off, the pain would not come away. At my core, I was aware of the reality.
It was only that the person I believed loved me had just shown to me how little he cared about me.
The next evening, Vance’s closest buddy Soren extended an invitation to us to join him at his residence for a low-key get-together.
Having been devastated by the previous night, I was on the verge of not going. My gut twisted to the point of discomfort whenever I imagined his companions laughing.
“Come on, babe,” Vance replied, oblivious to the fact that I had been so restrained throughout the day. It is going to be a lot of fun. Soren is now preparing his delicious chili.
I mustered up a grin. “Of course. That makes sense.
But when we arrived to Soren’s, we saw that something was unusual.
Soren was more subdued than he often is.
At the same time as everyone else was grabbing drinks and settling down in the living room, he continued looking at me with a peculiar expression on his face.
“Are you feeling okay?” It was when Vance went to the restroom that I inquired of him.
He responded with a “Yeah,” but his jaw was clenched. It’s just that I’m thinking about certain things.
After around fifteen minutes, everyone was laughing and having a nice time with each other. Then, Soren got up from his seat and walked away.
And my scrapbook was in his hands at the time.
I was unable to take a breath. Do you know where he got it? As to why he had it.
Soren spoke softly and said, “Vance.” Do you have any idea what this is?
As Vance stared at the scrapbook, he couldn’t help but laugh. Wow, is that stuff happening once more?
Hardness appeared on Soren’s face. I took out the garbage yesterday night and discovered it in your trash. I found it in your trash. At the time when I was assisting you in cleaning up after your party.
The question “So what?” While Vance continued to be confused, he said. “There it was, nothing to do with it.”
That was the moment when Soren completely lost it.
“Are you just going to sit there?” His voice became amplified. This item that she labored on for a long time just for you? Are you going to throw away this piece of her heart like it’s trash? Are you under the impression that showing off for your buddies is more essential than showing respect to your fiancee?
The room fell into complete silence. It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Despite his cheeks getting scarlet, Vance made an attempt to leap in. “It was just a joke, Dude, it was just a joke,”
Not at all. He was interrupted by Soren, whose voice was as icy as ice. “You cannot comprehend it. It’s not like you just threw away a present, Vance. It was a waste of time.”
My eyes were bled by tears. I had finally found someone who would advocate for me.
“This girl,” Soren said, holding the scrapbook as if it were something of great significance, “sat down and put her heart into this for you while she was doing it.” She preserved every photograph, every movie ticket, and every particular experience that had significance for the two of you. How unusual is that, Vance? For example, it is the type of thing that you cling to.
Vance’s companions were fixated on the ground, and they did not glance at anybody else.
As Soren continued, “Instead, you chose to play the role of the cool guy and embarrass her for the purpose of getting laughs.” To what end? In order to seem tough? You did a great job, guy. You have your share of laughter.
Vance murmured, “It wasn’t a big deal,” while giving the impression that he just wanted to vanish.
“It is a very significant matter!” The voice of Soren was crinkly. “You did not merit this present in any way. And let me tell you, you do not deserve her. You are so fortunate that you don’t even recognize it. The majority of men will go to any lengths for a fiancee who cared this much about them. One wonders who would put out so much effort.
Currently, I was weeping. Someone saw what I had attempted to offer them.
It was Soren who spoke softly and said, “Instead, you threw it away.” You have no respect for her. To put it another way, you are the most naive person I know.
Vance seemed to have been struck, and the room remained hushed throughout the scene.
It was a night when I went home by myself.
As soon as Soren finished his statement, Vance made an attempt to speak to me, but I was not prepared to hear his justifications.
While I was sitting in my dorm room, I was thinking about everything while looking at the ceiling. The actual length of our relationship was rather brief. How quickly his genuine nature became apparent. Imagine how much I deserved to be treated like a gem rather than a joke by someone.
“Are you feeling okay, honey?” Wren inquired while presenting me with a cup of tea.
My response, which took me by surprise, was, “I think I am.” “I believe that I am beginning to see things for what they truly are.”
I put in a call to Vance the next morning.
Even though my hands were shaking, I was able to maintain a firm voice.
When he responded, I added, “We need to talk,” and he agreed.
Please thank God, Juniper. Take a look at what happened yesterday night—”
Then I interrupted him by saying, “I want someone who respects me.” It is not true. We are finished.”
“What is it? I was only playing around, babe. I apologize. It wasn’t out of any intention on my part. As you are aware, I adore you—”
“No, no, Vance. That is not the case. Embarking you for fun is not something that people who love you do. However, they do not throw away your heart in the garbage.
He continued to attempt to talk his way out of the situation by expressing his regret and promising to put things right. However, I had finished listening.
I said, “Goodbye, Vance,” and then I hung up the phone.
This was the end.
The nine months, the engagement, and the whole future that I had envisioned for myself were all gone. On the other hand, I had the sensation that I could breathe again.
Now it’s been four months.
I began to feel more like myself once I recommitted myself to my coursework and increased the amount of time I spent with my true friends. In all honesty, I was content.
I was then taken aback by a turn of events.
Someone called out my name as I was waiting for my regular vanilla latte at my favorite coffee shop, which is located close to the town center.
Just as I looked back, I saw Soren standing there.
Ever since that evening at his apartment, we hadn’t had a conversation. The way he looked indicated that he was uncertain about how I would respond.
He spoke softly and whispered, “Hey.”
In response, I answered, “Hey.” Then, since I owed him, I said, “Soren, considering what you did that evening… I never had the opportunity to express my gratitude. Thank you very much. It’s true.”
The expression on his face changed. “There is no need for you to express gratitude to me for being honest.”
Taking our beverages with us, we sat down at a table in the corner.
Following that, he looked me square in the eyes and then said something that I had not anticipated hearing.
This is something that I’ve been wanting to express for quite some time. Since the moment Vance brought you into my life, I have been completely enamored with you. Due to the fact that you were with him and he was my buddy, I refrained from making any statements. On the other hand, the way he dealt with you that evening? It ripped me to shreds. Simply because you are deserving of so much more.”
My heart came to a standstill. The word “Soren…”
In a hurry, he remarked, “I am aware that this might be strange.” “Moreover, the timing is probably not ideal. It was impossible for me to continue to act as if I didn’t feel this way.
As I looked at him, I couldn’t help but think of how he had defended me and how he had seen the worth in what Vance had thrown away.
He reached inside his suitcase and added, “There’s one more thing,” as he reached into it. It was impossible for me to allow something to be thrown away once again.
It was my scrapbook that he took out.
You kept it, right? It was a whisper.
Obviously, I took it with me. You are absolutely right, Juniper. It demonstrates how much love and concern you have for whatever you try to do. Someone who would do such a thing would be an idiot.
The conversation lasted for many hours that day. Since the split, he informed me that he had been thinking about me every day, hoping that I was doing well from the breakup.
“I couldn’t help but think about sending you a text,” he continued. Nevertheless, I didn’t want you to believe that I was merely sneaking up on you.
How about now? I inquired about it.
“At this point, I am hoping that you will allow me to demonstrate to you how you should be treated.”
Slowly, we began dating each other.
I came to realize that he was not only nice and patient, but that he never pushed me beyond what I was prepared for.
And what about now? It’s been over a year since we started dating. There is not a single item that I produce for him that he does not like, from napkin drawings to whole picture albums. Whenever I send him a message or buy him a movie ticket, he retains them all.
The reality is that life will occasionally put you through a difficult experience in order to bring you to someone who will adore you as much as you deserve to be cherished.
Vance was wholly unprepared for it. The finest thing he ever had was taken away from him, and he gave me to someone who is aware of my value.
As for the truth? It is the most satisfying kind of retribution.
