TS

DISCLAIMER: This story is not me disrespecting George and Carmen’s engagement, wishing it were me, or trying to project myself into their relationship. I am genuinely incredibly happy for them, and this is not intended to diminish their relationship in any way. Their engagement just gave me a lot of complicated emotions as someone who loves George, and apparently my way of processing those emotions is turning them into fictional angst. Please separate the fictional story from the real people and their real relationship. If that is something you cannot do, please do not read. Do not steal this story. Do not copy, repurpose, rewrite, repost or publish this story or its concept as your own. Do not send hate to me, other readers, George, Carmen, or anyone else because of a fictional story. I know where the block button is, and I am not scared of using it. You and George have known each other since you were three. Best friends, first kisses, first mistakes, first everything. Somehow, through all the years of almosts, hookups, other relationships and terrible timing, you never actually became you and George. Then he gets engaged. You’re happy for him. You really are. Until one notification forces you to look back at your entire history and realize the signs had always been there. You didn’t fall in love with George when he got engaged. You realized you’d been in love with him all along. And suddenly, watching him build a future with somebody else leaves you with one thought you can’t seem to escape: that should have been me. or the one where your childhood best friend gets engaged, and you realize far too late that you would’ve said yes.