Section 1

“CLIMB!” the muddy man said as he grabbed Bryns rear and helped hoist her up the wet slippery ridge. A huffing black bear lumbered toward them on the narrow Appalachian trail.

Bryn reached upward, her fingers searched eagerly for a good rock to hold on to.  Perhaps it was the adrenaline pulsing through her veins, but time seemed to stand still. As she ascended the steep climb to another ledge, she started questioning her life choices. How did she get herself in this predicament? Was it just two weeks ago she was day dreaming of wedding plans? Her thoughts drifted back to that day.  -----------------------------------------------------------

Bryn climbed the few steps of the country club, trying her best to walk naturally in heels.

“I knew heels were a bad idea” she wished she had worn her ballet flats.

Her stomach tightened with anticipation. “Just breathe,” she reminded herself. “It’s not every day you meet your boyfriend's parents.” She looked around, wanting to remember every detail.

She had never been to brunch before and not wanting to be underdressed, she had decided to wear her favorite spring dress, which looked sweet and conservative yet hugged her in all the right places. 

It was a beautiful morning, yet there was a slight chill in the air. “I hope we are eating inside.” She opened the door and entered the foyer. “Act natural, look pleasant, be confident.”- those were her recurring thoughts as she approached the hostess. There, past the hostess, Bryn spotted him- his blond hair that always seemed tussled and those chocolate brown eyes- all her worries were suspended.

"There’s my girl!” Ryan announced to the restaurant. Ryan could be theatrical at times. His confidence was one of the things she loved about him. He and an older man stood up from the table. She assumed this other man was his dad. "This was it," she blushed at the attention, Bryn still could not believe her luck in capturing Ryan Roundrel’s heart. 

Her moment of bliss vanished when she thought she saw the matronly woman at the table scold him. The woman also seated at the table had snapped under her breath- “Ryan please!” Then looked around embarrassed. Bryn’s heart dropped. Did his mother already disapprove of her? Her family might not be The Roundrel’s, but she was proud of her roots.

  

Unconsciously, she slowed her pace. Yet Ryan pulled away from behind the table and quickly walked to meet her. He said, “You look great!”  as he put his arm over her shoulder and escorted her to the table. 

“Mom, Dad- this is Bryn. She’s the angel I have been telling you about all semester!”

Ryan’s dad was welcoming “Please sit Bryn. It is so nice to finally meet you!” The mom on the other hand, shifted in her seat uncomfortably. 

Bryn tried not to jump to conclusions; her mind raced for an alternative reason for this woman's displeasure, “Perhaps she has diarrhea?” The voice in her head sounded a lot like her older sister Brittney.  Brittney, a fireball of wit, who happened also to be confined in a wheelchair, was very protective of her baby sister. Brittney could get away with being outspoken because everyone pitied her. Bryn on the other hand had been trained to be more polite. All the same, the thought put a smile on her face.

“So, my son tells me, you are a science buff and the one we owe thanks for helping him pass environmental science class.” Bryn blushed again. Was this a dream? Had Ryan talked about her- to his parents? She blushed again. Instead of rattling off information about her current research on migrating birds she tried to think of something less nerdy to say, unable to think of anything else, she simply said, “Thank you”. 

But then the men were standing again, and Ryan was excitedly greeting someone else. “Who?” Bryn wondered. She craned her neck to try and get a better look. The person was female. Bryn's mind raced, “Did Ryan ever mention a sister?” He was standing in the way but clearly leaned down to give a small kiss.

As he turned, Bryn’s heart dropped.  Standing by Ryan's side was a beautiful girl wearing an effortless linen jumpsuit. The phrase, “Casual Chic” popped into Byrn’s head and Bryn doubted the muse by Ryan’s side had to remind herself to look natural. Ryan had his arm around her waist as they walked to the table.

Time stood still. “What was happening?” Bryn's mind raced as it tried to process all the possible scenarios.

“Kristy, so nice to see you again!” Ryan’s dad said fondly.

Bryn looked around the table looking for an explanation. Ryan’s mother offered no answer. 

Ryan pulled out a chair for the new guest to sit down. Casually Ryan says, “Bryn, you’ve met my fiancé’ Kristy, haven’t you?”

Bryn tried to compose herself, her mind frozen on the word “fiancé’”. She found herself at a loss for words. 

Kristy kindly corrected, “No, we haven’t officially met, but I have heard all about you!” 

Bryn didn’t know how to respond; she was distracted by questions that really didn’t matter at this point. Yet her fight or flight response was uncontrollable. Quickly dismissing any opportunity to fight (since there was no point in making a scene-) yet she had no interest in proceeding with brunch. Bryn's mind scrambled to answer, “How can I gracefully escape?”  No clear answer came to mind. Yet the flight instinct was too strong to override. Bryn abruptly stood up and awkwardly announced, “I have to go.”

She tried to quickly scoot around the table, but a waiter was standing behind her taking the neighboring table drink order. She felt a little like a ball in a pinball machine as she bounced off him multiple times as they tried scooting past each other. Ryan seemed genuinely confused, “Why are you leaving? You haven’t heard the big news yet?” 

Bryn looked away holding back tears. “Oh, I have heard enough big news, Excuse me” she said, trying to keep her voice even. She finally had a clear passage and quickly walked away. In reply, Ryan’s mother in a loud whisper, with forced restraint scolded, “Ryan, once again you have been oblivious and careless to other people's feelings. Let her go.”

Bryn's steps quickened and she took one misstep not landing squarely, which snapped her high heel. She quickly bent down to remove the offending shoe and without breaking her stride, hobbled unevenly out the door. Not the graceful getaway she had hoped for. 

Once outside she quickly took off the other shoe and ran to her car. 

Humiliated. That was all she could think of. She could hear Ryan voice yell, “Bryn wait” but she

started her car and sped away without looking back. Tears now rolled down her cheek- unhindered. In her car, she could cry freely. 

“What a jerk!” 

“FIANCE’ !?!”

How could he say that to her so casually? How could he even suggest she knew he had a fiancé? All the hours they had spent together. “My girl” that was how he has always addressed her for the last 3 months. How was she so blindsided? 

Bryn drove with no destination in mind. Her phone vibrated and pinged with text messages. She simply ignored it. She needed to process her thoughts. 

The first time Ryan walked into the science tutoring lab Bryn had labeled him a big flirt.  And she suspected he was a heartbreaker. Just his natural charisma and casual ease with people. Yet she had thought they had developed a real friendship. He preferred her to tutor him. Always arranged his schedule to match her work hours. When he started calling her, “My girl” she was head over heels, in love with him. 

She slowly realized her daydreams had filled in any real gaps in their relationship. Clearly, she was a sad, pathetic, nerd that lived in a fantasy.

“Such an idiot. I am such an idiot.” Her tears turned hot with anger. Not at him, but at herself now. Looking back with this new information, it seemed clearer, all the late-night pizza study sessions, all the treats he brought to her at work, was just him appreciating his tutor- nothing more. 

This made her feel worse. Their tutoring sessions had meant so much more to her. Her busy research schedule didn’t leave much time for dating or socializing. She had never entertained the idea that he had a girlfriend; that he spent evenings and weekends with anyone else.

” Why? Why hadn’t she considered this?” she wondered. Her only conclusion, “Because I am a delusional- obviously.” 

Her anger turned to him again, “Why in the world would he have invited her to brunch?” She didn’t believe he was mean-spirited. She could not twist his image to conclude he wanted to humiliate her- in front of his parents, yet that is exactly what happened. Wait a minute, what did his mother say? Careless, is what she had said. Perhaps this wasn’t the first time Ryan had unwittingly led a girl on. 

Bryn wanted to be mad at Kristy too. Yet her heart wasn’t in it- she felt too deflated and defeated.

Kristy looked the part as Ryan’s perfect girlfriend- she corrected herself- fiancé. 

As her emotions de-escalated Bryn realized she was lost. For the last hour she was driving, taking turns left and right on a whim. She had an affinity for trees and had navigated to a remote area thickly forested. Signs along the road indicated, she was approaching a small town, she noticed a building that appeared to be an information center of some type. Bryn pulled into the parking lot. She checked her phone as she got out of her car, a dozen messages from Ryan.

“The nerve!” she shook her head with hands shaking, she felt her blood begin to boil again.

And one text from her sister, “How’s Brunch?” Her rage quickly dropped at the realization she would have to share what happened later with her family. So embarrassing. What would she say? She quickly typed.

“later”. It was a lame response, but it was all she could think to reply to her sister. But then, she dropped a pin of her location. She wasn't ready to talk, yet she didn’t want her family to worry.

Bryn pulled up her map app- she was about an hour and a half away from home- not bad. The information center looked inviting. Nature and the woods- that is where she wanted to be. Unfortunately, she was barefoot, because of her broken heel. Then she remembered, her “Go Bag” for her research was in the trunk of her car. She pulled out a pair of knee-high rubber boots and socks and slipped them on. She didn’t care what she looked like. 

Walking into the information center- Bryn was delighted to discover this was a Welcome Center for the Appalachian trail! She has always wanted to hike parts of it.