Building My Own Empire

The Travis County Courthouse air felt thick with possibility, or maybe just anticipation.

I stood beside Eleanor, ready to get our marriage license, imagining a new life, our life, about to begin.

Then her phone buzzed, an email cracking her perfectly calm facade.

Her voice thin, she announced her protégé David was in professional meltdown, demanding her immediate presence.

Just like that, she left me standing there, marriage license application in hand, and walked away.