The following week brought unexpected silence not between Crystal and Justin, but within Crystal herself.
She couldn't explain it, not really. But as the wedding planning continued and everyone buzzed around her with ideas, favors, dresses, and dinner options, she found herself withdrawing just a little more with each passing day.
It was like a quiet ache had returned.
Not loud enough to break her but just enough to remind her of something she hadn't fully healed.
And it started when she bumped into someone she hadn't seen in years.
She was at a boutique downtown, trying on a second round of wedding dresses with Alana and her sister Vanessa, when she saw him:
Nathan Pierce.
Her ex-fiancé.
The first man she had ever imagined a forever with.
He was standing near the entrance with his wife and baby tall, confident, smiling easily as if he hadn't once broken her heart with the words: "I'm not sure I ever really loved you."
Her body went cold before it could go warm with anger.
He didn't see her.
But she saw him.l
And worse she saw how happy he looked.
A husband. A father.
Something he once told her he never wanted to be.
Crystal quietly slipped out of the boutique's side door, breath shallow, hands trembling.
Vanessa called after her, but she waved her off.
She didn't cry.
She didn't scream.
She just stood there, eyes shut, reminding herself of where she was now.
With Justin.
Engaged. Happy. Safe.
So why did it feel like a ghost had just walked through her chest?
That night, she sat on the couch while Justin cooked.
He was humming to himself, barefoot, wearing a worn gray tshirt that made her heart hurt in the best way.
He looked over at her and smiled. "Pasta okay?"
"Perfect," she whispered.
But her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
He noticed.
They sat down to eat, and halfway through dinner, Justin finally said, "Talk to me. You've been quiet all day."
She toyed with her fork.
"I saw Nathan today," she said quietly.
His expression didn't change just grew still.
"He was with his wife. And baby. They looked happy."
Justin leaned back. "And that… hurt?"
She shrugged. "Not in the way you think. I'm not jealous. I don't want him back. But seeing him like that so complete it just… reminded me how broken I was. For so long."
Justin reached for her hand. "You're not broken."
"I was, though. And sometimes I wonder why you even chose me."
His eyes darkened, steady and sure. "Because I saw you for who you are. Even when you didn't."
Crystal blinked rapidly. "I just don't want old wounds to ruin what we have."
"They won't," he said. "But pretending they don't exist? That might."
Silence fell between them—soft, honest.
Then Justin stood up and walked over, crouching in front of her chair.
"Look at me."
She did.
"I'm not threatened by your past," he said. "And I won't run from your scars. I fell in love with the whole you every version. Even the one who's still healing."
She didn't know when the tears started.
But when he pressed his forehead to hers, she exhaled all the pain she didn't know she'd been holding.
"I love you," she whispered.
He kissed her hand. "Then let's walk through the old pain. Together."
And just like that, the ghost of Nathan faded not forgotten, but no longer haunting.
Because love doesn't erase the past.
It simply builds a future strong enough to carry it.
Crystal had never imagined that picking out a wedding dress pcould feel so... heavy.
As a little girl, she'd imagined white lace and sparkles, a perfect fit that would make her feel like magic, like a bride stepping out of a dream. But now, with a real wedding looming and her heart caught between excitement and nerves, the moment felt more like a test than a fairytale.
And she wasn't passing.
The boutique was quiet. A gentle song played in the background. Sierra and Alana sat nearby with glasses of champagne, whispering and giggling while the seamstress zipped Crystal into gown number six of the day.
It was beautiful.
Elegant.
Soft ivory satin, with off shoulder sleeves and delicate floral embroidery. The kind of dress you'd see in bridal magazines. The kind that made people gasp.
But when Crystal looked in the mirror, all she saw was… a stranger.
"Wow," Alana breathed. "That's the one, right?"
Even Sierra, who rarely showed emotion, stood and nodded. "You look... stunning."
Crystal smiled politely. "Thanks."
But inside, her chest ached.
The consultant leaned in. "You don't look happy."
Crystal exhaled. "That's the thing. I should be. But I don't feel like myself in this."
Alana frowned. "You've been trying on dresses for weeks. Maybe you're just overwhelmed."
"Maybe."
But it didn't feel like just dress fatigue. It felt deeper.
As Crystal changed back into her jeans and sweater, her phone buzzed.
Justin: Thinking about you. I hope you're falling in love with a dress today. But if not, I'll still marry you in a hoodie.
She smiled, despite everything.
Leave it to him to say the one thing that could ground her.
She stared at his text for a long moment.
And then she made a decision.
Two days later, she returned to the boutique.
Alone.
"Nobody with you?" the consultant asked, surprised.
Crystal shook her head. "Not today. I think I've been listening to too many voices. Today, it's just mine."
She moved through the racks slowly, fingers brushing fabrics, eyes scanning not for glamour but for truth.
And then she saw it.
Tucked in a quiet corner, almost forgotten.
A simple gown crepe silk, sleeveless, with a gentle train and a deep V at the back. No beading. No lace. Just clean lines and a quiet strength.
She slipped it on.
Looked in the mirror.
And exhaled.
This was it.
She looked like her but steadier. Softer. Ready.
She twirled once, then texted Justin.
Crystal: Found it.
Justin: The dress?
Crystal: Yes. And something else too.
Justin: What?
Crystal: Peace.
That night, Crystal invited him to the park where they'd once shared their first real kiss. She wore a long coat, her hands tucked into her pockets, her heart warm despite the cold air.
When Justin arrived, he was holding a small brown bag.
"What's that?" she asked.
He pulled out two paper cups. "Hot chocolate. Thought we'd recreate that snowy night when you finally told me you liked me."
She grinned. "I didn't finally tell you. You tricked it out of me."
He handed her a cup. "You still blushed."
They sipped in silence for a moment, watching kids chase each other around snow patches.
Then Crystal said quietly, "I've been scared. Not of marrying you but of messing it up. Like maybe I'm too broken to get it right."
Justin turned to her. "You're not broken, Crystal. You're brave. You keep showing up. That's what matters."
She looked up at him, eyes shining. "I chose a dress today."
"I knew you'd find it."
"But more than that… I chose me. The me who's ready. The one who believes she deserves this. All of this."
Justin pulled her into a tight embrace. "That's the woman I'm marrying."
She buried her face in his chest and whispered, "Thank you. For being the calm in all my chaos."
"You're my chaos," he said, smiling. "And I wouldn't change a thing."
That night, they fell asleep side by side, her head on his chest, his arm curled around her waist, a quiet promise between them:
Love doesn't demand perfection.
Only presence.
And this time, she was fully present.
No doubts.
No ghosts.
Just Crystal.
And the future she was finally ready for.