The Polar Night That Even the Aurora Cannot Illuminate

On the fifth anniversary of my relationship with Chris, he canceled on me at the last minute—claimed there was an emergency at the company. Some kind of security incident.

When he saw how dejected I was, my best friend Becky and my sister Lori volunteered to take me to the amusement park.

All day long, they were impossibly sweet—buying me ice cream, standing in line with me for the roller coaster.

I assumed they just didn't want me to be sad.

Until I went to buy a Coke and overheard them talking in low voices.