I spent years loving Ryan, hoping he’d propose. On our third anniversary, he hinted at a surprise. Dressed up, heart full of hope, I arrived at the restaurant—only to be served a cake reading, “Congrats on Your Promotion! He knew I’d just been passed over at work. It wasn’t funny. Three days later, I invited him over for my “surprise.” He walked into a banner: “Congrats on Becoming Bald!”
He stormed out. I smiled.
One of his friends stayed behind and said, “You deserve better.”
He was right.
That night, I didn’t get a ring—just clarity.
And that was enough.
