The Ember in the Mounra

"Drew!" 
 
I walked blindly through the falling snow and towards an empty void that felt like nowhere. I wish things were better, but they are not.  
 
Marietta told me she didn't love me. 
 
Since then, I wished only to forget what she said, but it was hard. I was a woman who thought that one day we would be together, holding hands and walking along the beach, but now it feels as though my hopes and dreams are crushed. 
 
Marietta  
 
I fought my coming tears. 
 
I wish I had kept my feelings a secret, but I look like a fool. Now I am walking through this forest hoping that somehow, someway, I can get over the woman who didn't love me.  
 
My tears spilled and slid down my cheeks while my heart ached.  
 
For years, I questioned if Marietta loved me like I loved her. If my stupid and corny jokes made her laugh or if she faked everything, like the rumors said. But today, after an argument that I admit I started; she told me she did not love me. 
 
She told me that for some time now she felt nothing for me and that once we got home; she wanted me to leave. I heard the rumors for years now that her ex-fiancé Jack, and she may have been seeing each other, but I did not believe it. That was until today when she told me that the two were speaking again and that she found that she still loved him. 
 
I wish somehow this would stop. 
 
That only happiness would come to me. 
 
I wish that Marietta felt regret for what she said.
 
I tripped and fell into the snow. I could have gotten up, but everything hurt. I sobbed to myself. "Hey, are you okay?" I quickly looked up as I heard the masculine voice to see an average-height woman with chestnut brown skin, long curly deep brunette hair, and gold eyes. She stuck her hand out. "I just started the fireplace in the cafe. You can heat up there." She said, pointing his thumb back to the large oak-logged building. I accepted her hand and let her help me up. Our hands grew separate. "This way." The woman led me inside. 
 
She held the door open for me. "Thank you," I said and walked inside. 
 
"No problem, anyway. What brings you to the Heartbreak Cafe?" 
 
"Heartbreak cafe?" 
 
"The cafe that pops up once someone gets their heart broken." 
 
"A place that appears when everyone gets their heartbroken?" 
 
"Well, not everyone, but I assume your heart must have been broken badly.," My eyes sank. "It's still fresh, I see." 
 
"More like something that happened right before I got here." 
 
"Wow," I sat down in front of the fireplace while the woman made her way towards the counter. "I will make you some hot chocolate. Is whipped cream, oat milk, and marshmallows fine?" I nodded my head and extended my hands towards the fire. 
 
The Heartbreak Cafe
 
Who would have known something like this would have existed? The woman came and handed me a cup before sitting next to me. "So, this person you love?" 
 
"Went back to her ex." 
 
"Ouch" 
 
"I know, right? She said that she always loved me, but after seven years, she went back to her ex. We talked about marriage and kids and-" 
 
"After seven years, you two were not married?" 
 
"I proposed three times, and she denied it. She said it was not the right time. This trip we were on, we were supposed to relax together and be at peace, but instead, nothing was right. I did everything to make her happy, but in the end, an argument would ensue. I was finally going to tell her about my promotion, but that never happened." 
 
"Why did you two not break up in the past?" I scoffed. 
 
"Every time I did, she would cry. So, I assumed she did not want to be apart from me." I took a sip of my hot chocolate. "Wow, this is delicious." She chuckled. 
 
"Thank you" she leaned on her back palms. "Love is a crazy experience, right?" I nodded. "Then let's say that somehow, someway, after today, only great things will come to you?" 
 
"But how? I mean, my heart still hurts." 
 
"Finish up that cup of hot chocolate and you will see." I arched my brow. She sighed. "Listen, I put magic in it." I spit out the hot chocolate. "Oh, come on, I put magic in it. Do you think I am lying?" 
 
"Yes! What are you even talking about? Magic in hot chocolate-" 
 
"A random cafe pops up in the middle of nowhere named the Heartbreak Cafe and you are questioning if magic is real." 
 
She was right. 
 
The woman shook her head. "Listen, drink the hot chocolate and once you leave, you will see what I am talking about." 
 
"But how will I get home?" 
 
"Luck. Just like you found this place. By your luck." 
 
So, drinking this hot chocolate will increase my luck? I hope that is true. I finished drinking my hot chocolate. "When you leave these doors, there will be a surprise for you. One you are not expecting." 
 
"Is it Marietta? If so, that is not someone I am in the mood to see." 
 
"Nope, something better." I nodded and stood up.  
 
"Then let's see." The woman stood up and took my cup. A smile came to her lips. 
 
"Good luck." I nodded my head and left the cafe. The moment I did, I saw an average-height, deep bronze-skinned woman with short brunette hair and hazel eyes. Otherwise known as Marietta. My eyes widened.  
 
That woman lied! 
 
Marietta burst into tears before she held me tight. "Oh Drew, I am so sorry. I should not have said what I said to hurt you. Please do not do that again. You could have frozen out up here. I am so glad I found you." 
 
My heart should be hurting, but I feel nothing. It was as if that warm cup of hot chocolate destroyed the pain my heart felt. 
 
"How about we go home, okay?" I chuckled at the woman. 
 
"Okay," Marietta led the way. I turned my head to see that the case I was once inside no longer existed. Instead, stood an empty plot of land covered in snow.
 
The drive was filled with Marietta talking and laughing. I hated to admit it, but it was fun. Still, I could not feel any love for her like I did before. The moment we pulled into our driveway, she froze. Parked in front of our house was a tall pale man with short ruffled brunette hair, green eyes, and dressed in a dark green coat and dark blue jeans. 
 
"Jack" came from Marietta's lips. Marietta rushed out of the car and to him. I got out of the car and closed it behind me. "Jack, what are you doing here?" She asked. 
 
"I wanted to talk to Drew about something." I walked over to the two.
 
"What is it you would like to talk about?" I asked.
 
"Well, it's kind of weird now." I arched my brow at the man. 
 
"Just say it." 
 
"Yeah, Drew and I just ended our relationship." My eyes widened. Wow, she had to say that. You know what? I knew what she was talking about before was false. I am glad I went into that cafe. 
 
"Oh, okay then. Drew, would you like to go on a date with me?" Marietta's eyes widened. 
 
"What?!" I chuckled. 
 
"Jack, as nice as that sounds, I just got out of a relationship, but you can always go out with Marietta." He shook his head. 
 
"She is my ex-fiancé for a reason." 
 
"Oh wow, I thought you two were speaking to each other." 
 
"We talked to each other, but that was it. I did not tell her that I was still in love with her." 
 
"Oh, I get that, but Jack, I am taking a break from dating for now. Anyway, Marietta, you have until tomorrow to pack your stuff and get out of my house." Her eyes widened. 
 
"But why?" 
 
"Well, you admitted to loving someone else and only hurt me emotionally for years. Why should we stay in the same house, anyway? You have friends, right? I am sure you can stay with them." 
 
"But how will you keep up with the bills?" I smiled at Marietta.
 
"I got a promotion at my job. My salary is going to double." 

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