Chapter 3 Bachelor Party

• Bachelor party
• Laurie Ston.
• After hours of exhausting travel, I finally arrived in the city:
• Serenópolis, where my best friend, Clarice, was about to get married.
• It was a smaller town compared to Grandavia.
• Tiredness was evident in every part of my body, and my eyes felt like they weighed a ton. However, the thrill of meeting Clarice again after a year kept me going.
• As I got out of the cab in front of the inn, I took a deep breath of the air. It was a cold, quiet little town. I'd never imagined my friend living in such a place.
• The hostel belonged to Clarice's future husband's family, both of whom lived a little further out of town. I couldn't wait to see her house.
• I walked inside with slow steps, feeling every muscle protest against the extra effort. My suitcase felt infinitely heavier now, but I was determined to overcome my exhaustion and find my friend.
• I went into the inn, and an adorable little lady was behind the counter. She was wearing big, round glasses and a coat.
• “Hello, I'm looking for Clarice Thomas; she asked me to introduce myself as her sister.” I spoke to the little lady who seemed to be listening attentively but not seeing me.
• “Oh yes, my grandson's fiancée.” She said it excitedly. “She told me you were coming; this is the key to your room on the top floor. Make yourself at home.” She said, handing me the key with the number 07 on it.
• “Thank you.” I said excitedly.
• She just waved at me; she seemed like a nice lady.
• I went upstairs, put my suitcase in the bedroom, and soon received a message from Clarice telling me she was arriving. I ignored the exhaustion that was threatening to overtake me and headed downstairs, eager to see her.
• Just as I was reaching the entrance, I spotted her. She was radiant. Her eyes lit up when she saw me, and an infectious smile spread across her face.
• She looked as she always did; she hadn't changed much in a year, and her hair was shoulder-length and well groomed. She was a brunette with honey-colored hair and very light green eyes. I couldn't contain my excitement and happiness at seeing her and ran towards her.
• I hugged her with all the strength I had left. Tears of happiness and emotion streamed down my face as I held my best friend in my arms again.
• It was as if time had stopped during our separation, and all the love and connection we had resurfaced instantly.
• “Clarice, how beautiful you look!” I said, my voice breaking with emotion.
• “Oh, look at you; you look so wonderful!” She said, hugging me even tighter after one look at me. “I can't believe you're really here!”
• “Neither,” I said with emotion.
• “Come on, let's go for a walk.” She said it excitedly, crossing her arm in front of mine.
• As we walked together, she told me a little more about the wedding and how happy she was to be sharing that moment with me.
• I told her in great detail about the scene I had seen of Josh and his boss, and allowed myself to cry a little. But the sadness disappeared because I was with my friend, and that moment filled my heart with joy.
• Our connection had always been incredible; she had been there from the beginning and knew how I was feeling. When Clarice decided she was going to move, it was like a kick in the shin; it hurt too much, and I was heartbroken, but I supported her. No one but me supported her because she was committing the folly of moving to another city with a man she didn't know, who had only stayed for a month. And it worked. She'd been with him for a year and was going to get married, and she seemed happier than ever. I was happy for her; Clarice deserved it.
• After half an hour of walking and gossiping, my best friend took me back to the hostel and told me to rest. We would have dinner together at her house in the evening, and I thanked her because I was exhausted and needed to get some sleep.
• ***
• It was an incredible night with a waning moon, and the sky was spectacular; in that place the stars seemed to shine brighter. Perhaps because it was a small town, it was less polluted. I was looking forward to dinner; I had rested well in the afternoon and was now waiting for the car that Clarice had sent to pick me up in front of the pension.
• When I heard the horn, I hurried down to the inn's exit and got into the car.
• It took twenty minutes to get there.
• When I pulled up in front of the property, I was amazed by the imposing Victorian façade and its large windows with delicate details. The place exuded an unforgettable charm that left me spellbound. Clarice greeted me at the door with a warm smile and hugged me enthusiastically.
• She was visibly excited to show me around and for me to see her fiancé Max again. We entered the main room, and I was immediately enveloped by a feeling of nostalgia. The elegant furniture, luxurious carpets, and paintings on the walls created a cozy and sophisticated atmosphere. Every detail seemed carefully chosen to preserve the essence of the Victorian period. Clarice guided me through the house, revealing each room with enthusiasm. The rooms were spacious and decorated with antique furniture, in perfect harmony with the style of the time.
• Finally, we reached the dining room, where Max was waiting for us with a kind smile. He was a dark-haired man, tall and elegant, with expressive, clear eyes and a soft voice. I didn't remember his appearance that well, as I had only seen him a few times in the month that he had met Clarice and courted her. But seeing the two of them, I could see the special connection they had.
• He looked at her with such love.
• We sat down at the table, covered with a delicately embroidered linen tablecloth, and the dishes were served. On the dining table there were pasta, well-done steaks, pies, and various desserts.
• I helped myself to some pasta with a red sauce on top; it was tasty. After I'd eaten and wiped my mouth, I noticed Max looking at Clarice with admiration and tenderness. It was clear that they had found true and deep love. The complicity between them was palpable, and I felt nostalgic when I remembered that this was how Josh looked at me. I wondered when I stopped being for him what he was for me. I asked when the sparkle in his eyes had faded, and I hadn't noticed... I couldn't believe that he had stopped loving me so quickly. I loved our routine, and I was too busy trying to make him happy to notice that I was failing.
• I tried to ignore the feeling of failure to be happy for my best friend; she had found love; even if I had lost mine, that's what mattered.
• Dinner was incredible; we stayed up late into the night talking and laughing about the past. At the end, I said goodbye to Max, and Clarice guided me to the door. We sat in the doorway and, hugging each other, stared at the waning moon in the sky.
• “Remember when we used to watch the constellations from my window?” Clarice asked, absorbed in thought.
• “Yes, I remember.” I smiled. I smiled. “I've noticed that the stars here shine brighter.”
• “É...” She nodded. “I'm glad you're here, friend.” I said in a whimper.
• “I'm glad to see you so in love. He's definitely amazing, Clari, you should know that.” I said, staring at her for a few seconds.
• She smiled with watery eyes.
• “I'm sorry about what happened. I hope you know it's not your fault; you're amazing, and he's the asshole.” She said it with a determined tone of voice that touched my heart.
• “I wonder when he stopped loving me, you know. It doesn't make sense to me.” I sniffled. “If I did something that to him was a plausible reason to cheat on me, if I was neglectful of both of us at some point.”
• “Ahh, Laurie, stop it; there is no plausible reason for betrayal. He was an idiot. And if there was any negligence, it could have been solved with a conversation. It's that simple. You lived for him for four years; I saw you give up dreams and cancel yourself out with the greatest pleasure in the world so that he would feel good and happy.” She said, seeking my gaze.
• “But he wasn't.” I said, clucking my tongue. “If he was, he wouldn't have cheated on me.”
• “Yes. But that's about him, not you. Now is the time for you to take up the dreams you left behind and start living the life you forgot to live.” She said it with a fond smile on her lips.
• I nodded. My friend was more than special and had the best advice. I decided that I wouldn't think about Josh anymore while I was on this trip.