for: @chqstarter ( open! )
location: outside town hall @ the tree lighting
"You into this whole mulled wine thing?" Alex asked the question as he peered down into his paper cup for a moment. He picked up a cup in the name of warming up a little as they waited on the light switch on, but was beginning to regret his decision now, wishing he'd opted for hot cocoa instead. "Or are you more of an eggnog person? Is anyone an eggnog person?"
"Ah, yes, the idea of drinking raw eggs is so appealing." Sarcasm dripped from Monique's voice, a smile adorning her features. Christmas lights twinkled around them, the town coming alive to greet the Holiday season. Unfortunately, that included the two drinks he mentioned. "You wanna get something else? I was just headed that way."
âIn the spirit of entrepreneurism,â Tony began without any explanation, âI think Iâm going to offer my services out this holiday season. Think about it â people are extra lonely during the holiday season. That or theyâre visiting family and not looking to explain why they arenât in a relationship yet. So, why not bring me along? Iâm good at charming parents. Iâm a decent actor. I think Iâm fake boyfriend material, donât you? Itâs the perfect plan.âÂ
Monique didn't particularly enjoy the Holiday season. She didn't hate it, but it returned the unpleasant emptiness in her chest. His proposal had her turning towards him, though. How scandalized would her family be if she brought a much younger man home? "Depends on how willing you are to get to know someone as quickly as possible over the next couple of weeks," she smiled. "If so, how much are you charging?"
if youâre hearing SUMMER NIGHTS by SIAMES playing, you have to know MONIQUE LEE (SHE/HER; CIS FEMALE) is near by! the 51 year old WEDDNG PLANNER has been in denver for, like, 51 YEARS. theyâre known to be quite SELFISH, but being RESOURCEFUL Â seems to balance that out. or maybe itâs the fact that they resemble THANDIE NEWTON. personally, iâd love to know more about them seeing as how theyâve got those DARK RED LIPSTICK, CONFIDENCE THAT COULD KILL, FLOWERS GROWING BACK AS THORNS Â vibes. and maybe iâll get my chance if i hang out around the CHERRY CREEK Â long enough!
Love, what a concept. Monique has long since forgotten what love felt like, the comfort of having someone to lean on through thick and thin, to trust in every aspect of life. Instead, she relies solely on herself to carry on forward. She doesnât mind it anymore; what could a companion give her that she could not find elsewhere?Â
 It wasnât always like this.Â
On a sunny Summer day, she was ready to get married to the man she thought was the love of her life. Her mother was ecstatic, whereas her father had seemed less inclined. The wedding planner had made sure every detail of this day would be perfect: food, flowers, music, everything carefully selected to make this day as beautiful as possible. However, the groom was nowhere to be seen.Â
Monique waited for hours, wearing her beautiful A-line wedding dress, make-up ruined by tears still staining her cheeks. He ignored her calls, and the coward instead settled for throwing six years of her life away through a text message:
 Iâm sorry, I didnât want it to be like this, but I canât do this. I canât pretend anymore.Â
That was the last she heard of him. Now left to pick up the pieces of her life, Monique promised herself sheâd never allow anyone that power over her. She spent months figuring out where they went wrong, what she did to push him to that decision, and how she could have been better. The truth came in the form of a picture sent by a coworker. It was never her. She was not the one he loved. In the photo, he sat with her best friend, holding hands over a cafe table. That was the real reason he ran away. All the while letting her plan the wedding and pretending everything was fine.Â
Her place of employment requires her to work with people as naive as she was that fateful day. Though she no longer believes it is possible to find love for herself, sheâs happy to help those on the journey to join their lives⊠most of the time. Where she was once excited, lively, and empathetic, she feels those qualities have long since vanished from her repertoire.Â
A few years later, Monique sat across from a couple, their excited chatter about wedding details filling the room. She nodded along, her professional demeanor unwavering as she discussed flower arrangements and seating plans. The couple's joy was infectious, but somewhere deep within, a flicker of something stirredâa memory she'd buried long ago.
As the couple shared their love story, laughter bubbling between them, Monique's facade faltered. She excused herself briefly, stepping into the quiet hallway. Leaning against the wall, she closed her eyes, trying to push away the flood of memories threatening to overwhelm her.
The words from her ill-fated wedding day echoed in her mind. Iâm sorry, I canât pretend anymore.
For a fleeting moment, Monique allowed herself to feel the pain she'd locked away. The betrayal, the heartache, and the sense of loss surged back with an intensity that caught her off guard. She blinked back tears, silently berating herself for letting her guard down.
Taking a deep breath, she straightened up, steeling herself to return. The couple's happiness was what mattered now. She plastered on a smile, reentering the room with a renewed professional demeanor. But the ghosts of her past lingered, a silent reminder of a heart that had once believed in love.
Nowadays, Mona tries her best to make it through life by enjoying solitude. Long gone are the questions from family members about when sheâll find someone to spend life with, along with her hopes for building a family. That betrayal no longer haunts her, though the wasted years of her life slowly make her regret the lonely path she chose for herself.
