Four incredible years had passed since that fateful day in the lab when Gretchen entered my life. Now as her fiance, I walked the path to her family home with joyful anticipation.
Grey Matter's successes multiplied exponentially with her keen mind at the helm. Our innovations improved countless lives, while stocks soared beyond hopes. Yet amidst all material gains, my greatest prize remained Gretchen herself.
Her proud father greeted me warmly at the door, leading me to the backyard where festivities buzzed in full swing. But among the crowd, my eyes fixated on one radiant form.
Gretchen laughed carefreely as toddling nieces tugged at her sundress. Caught in a dance of light and shadow, she glowed more beautiful than any dawn. Our gazes met, and she smiled - that smile which through four ecstatic years never ceased igniting my soul.
Here, cradled by family and prosperity she helped craft, was perfect joy. This woman was my destiny, my home. And soon, she would be my wife.
As festivities wore on, subtleties began grating - veiled glances assessing my worth. Gretchen's father's laughter whenever I mentioned meager ABQ chilled my blood.
His boasts of wealth and status twisted the knife, reminding all what a "common" man I was. And her brother - that smirking fop who openly mocked my humble roots.
I couldn't stand their mocking another moment. "Bathroom," I muttered, fleeing to pack with shaking hands. This was all wrong - I didn't belong in their gilded world no matter Gretchen's love.
Her knock found me despairing by the open suitcase. "Walt? What's wrong?" Concern flickered in beloved eyes.
I longed to confide all, accept her comfort. But they'd never let me in, a mere pharmacist playing at success. Gretchen deserved someone of means, not a nobody dragging her down.
With a choked farewell, I fled into the night, fleeing the masquerade of belonging forevermore. My future lay not in opulence but the sands of home, where hard work still meant something over silver spoons. Perhaps there, I could find peace.
The heavens wept as if mourning my plight. Staggering through pounding rain, I paid its chill no heed, mind reeling with anguish too deep for tears.
All I'd toiled for, all I loved, now lost through bitter fate's cruelty. How could the world tear asunder what felt so destined?
A flash lit the roiling clouds, thunder answering in merciless mockery. My steps slowed, heart leaden in the storm. There in the downpour's fury, I let raw pain overtake reason's feeble efforts to soothe.
A sob rent my heaving chest, grief pouring forth with the crying sky. All joy, all hope crushed under cloudburst's wrath. Alone in the darkness with nothing left to believe in, I sank to my knees.
The rain washed away reason, washed away pride until only hollowness remained. What future awaited in this bleak, unforgiving night? Had ambition itself become but another cruel illusion of a world that gave only to take away?
I huddled there broken, as lightning rent the heavens in mirror of my soul's tempest, and wept for all that might have been.
Shivering and drenched, I stumbled into the airport like a man recently drowned. My sodden form elicited stares, though none dared approach my thunderous visage.
Approaching the ticket desk, I rasped "One ticket to Albuquerque, New Mexico." Money exchanged hands before I relinquished my grip, clutching the boarding pass like a lifeline with numb fingers.
Defeat crushed heavier than the stormclouds from which I fled, dragging me down into the terminal's sterile chill. Gretchen's smile, my dreams of ascension - all but mocked by Fate's malice.
ABQ held naught but empty rooms and resignation. I slumped into a seat, gazing hollowly at the rain-lashed windows, watching tears of heaven wash away the pride and promise of another fool who dared believe in more. In the reflection staring back was a broken man I no longer knew, wondering what cruel irony life held in store next to grind hopes to dust.
All that remained was to retreat from Fortune's spite, and try to forget the might-have-beens in lonely exile where none could see this once-proud man reduced to wreckage.