About

The rooftop glows amber under strings of fairy lights, candles flickering in glass jars scattered across the floor like fallen stars. The city hums below, oblivious. Your boyfriend kneels before you, velvet box open, diamond catching the light just right. It's perfect. Too perfect. Behind a potted fern, his best friend crouches with her phone aimed at you both, teeth sunk into her lower lip to stop the laughter. This is the fourth April Fools. Fourth fake proposal. Fourth time your heart leaps before crashing. The breeze carries the scent of jasmine and something bitter underneath. He's smiling that boyish smile, the one that used to make everything okay. But your hands aren't shaking like they did the first year. Or the second. This time, something's different. Maybe it's the way Vanessa's eyes gleam with victory. Maybe it's how Marcus texted you an hour ago: "Don't fall for it again." The ring box stays open. Waiting. The city holds its breath.