1Summary | Disclaimer: Penny Watson and Nathaniel Benson were engaged to be married, but fate appeared to have other plans for them when Nathaniel passed away from a rare form of cancer he had never known he had. After the funeral, she decided to skip town and to never return, but she returns one year later after her job transfers her to a new building. Penny still wears the ring Nathaniel proposed to her with around her neck and has not been on a date with anyone since his passing, but when she runs into someone who knows her pain all-too-well, will they help each other heal? (I do not own any restaurants, buildings, music, etc. that is mentioned in this story. I do, however, own all characters and will report abuse or copyright).
TIED TOGETHER WITH A SMILE
Penelope 'Penny' Watson stood off to the side as she watched the casket being lowered into the ground. Her expression was stoic. She could not feel a thing. Her emotions were on lock down; they had been since she had heard the news of Nathaniel's passing.
Nathaniel James Benson; her fiance. The two had met in their freshman year of college and fallen madly in love. What neither had known was that he had been dying. He had a rare form of cancer, one that could not be easily caught, and by the time it had been caught, it had been too late. He had been diagnosed shortly after proposing and had passed away not even a week later.
She dangled her hand in front of her face, taking note of the way her ring sparkled in the sunlight. She had not taken it off since Nathaniel's brother had told her of Nathaniel's death. None of this was real to her and she felt that if she continued to wear the ring, it would turn out to be a dream. Albeit, an awful one.
She knew it was foolish, but the reality of the situation was proving to be too painful to face. She knew she would have to accept the truth someday, but for now, she would live in her dream world, where Nathaniel was alive and well and they were a happily married couple with 2.3 kids and a big white house with a backyard large enough to fit two more houses.
"Penny." She felt an arm slip around her small waist, but she did not tear her gaze from the grave. She knew who it was without having to look. It was Nathaniel's brother, Galieth Benson.
"Yes?" Her tone was as emotionless as the rest of her.
"It's time to go to the reception hall," he informed her monotonously. She removed his arm from around her waist and turned to look at him, avoiding his gaze because he had Nathaniel's eyes. They were fraternal twins.
"Okay," was her response. She took one last look at Nathaniel's grave before following Galieth and the other funeral guests down the hill.
She had plans to leave after the reception and to never look back.
author's note: i have to decided to take a whack at an angsty romance story. let's see how this goes.