The Pact
Justin adjusted his tie for the third time, standing before the mirror in the orphanage dormitory. Though the suit fit perfectly, he couldn't shake the unease bubbling in his chest. He glanced at Emily, his best friend since childhood, who was perched on the bunk bed, her veil draped carelessly over her lap.
"We really went through with it," she said, her voice tinged with nervous laughter.
The pact. They'd made it here, in this very room, as awkward teenagers, promising that if they didn't find anyone by thirty, they'd marry each other. Back then, it was a joke, a safety net for two orphans terrified of facing the world alone. But here they were - thirty and unmarried.
Justin forced a smile, trying to banish the doubts gnawing at his mind. Emily was kind, loyal, and she understood him like no one else ever had. But was it love?
"Cold feet already?" she teased, her green eyes twinkling.
He chuckled and shook his head. "Not a chance." But deep inside, the question lingered.
