Late one night, my phone rang. I frowned and
declined the call. It rang again. Annoyed, I
answered.
Liam’s voice, choked with sobs, filled my ear.
“Chloe, please don’t hang up…..”
“What do you want?”
Silence, then choked sobs. He started
rambling about our past, from the first love
letter he gave me in high school to skipping
class in college to go to the beach… Every
little detail, like a movie reel playing in my
mind.
He was drunk, reliving memories that were
probably sweet to him, but meaningless to
- me.
“Liam, get to the point,” I snapped, losing
patience.
“Chloe…” he choked out, his voice raspy. “In
the next life, I’ll treat you right…”
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone, a strange hollowness in
my chest.
I didn’t think much of it.
Two days later, a lawyer called, saying Liam
had left me something in his will.
“Left me something?” I was confused. “What
happened to him?”
The lawyer’s voice was somber. “Mr. Walker…
he committed suicide. He overdosed.”
I was speechless.
“Ms. Miller, are you alright?”
I took a deep breath. “I don’t want anything
from his will. Give my share to his mother.”
I’d always known Liam’s self–destructive
tendencies would catch up to him. I just
hadn’t expected this.
I flew back for the funeral, taking Jason with
く
- me.
Liam’s mother leaned on me, tears tracing
paths through the wrinkles on her face.
“Chloe…” she whispered, her voice raspy.
“It’s all my fault. I failed him…”
I squeezed her hand, unable to speak.
Liam’s death was his own doing, but his
mother bore the brunt of the pain.
“Mom, do you want to come live with me
abroad?” I asked gently.
She shook her head. “No, Chloe. I want to be
on my own for a while, not live for anyone
وو
else anymore.”
She handed me a crumpled envelope. “Liam
left this for you.”
I hesitated, then took it. It was thin, just a
single sheet of paper inside.
“Mom, call me if you need anything.
I didn’t open the letter, just slipped it into my
pocket.
Back home, I opened it. Liam’s familiar
handwriting, messy and frantic:
Chloe, when you read this, I’ll be gone.
Chloe, I’m sorry. I made a mistake, a huge
mistake. I should never have thrown away our
love for something new. I shouldn’t have hurt
you, not again and again, trying to cover up
my own mistakes.
I know I did something unforgivable. I don’t
expect your forgiveness. I just hope you can
forget me and move on.
I love you, Chloe. Even now, at the very end,
my love for you hasn’t changed.
I crumpled the letter and tossed it in the
trash. That was his “love.” Betrayal followed
by a deathbed confession.
Life turned a new page. My days with Jason
were peaceful and happy.
I received postcards from Liam’s mother,
traveling the world.
At work, my relationship with David
blossomed.
“Chloe, marry me.” After a romantic candlelit
dinner, David knelt, holding a sparkling ring.
“David…” My heart swelled, tears blurring my
vision.
“I know you’ve been hurt. But please, trust
- me. I will spend my lifetime cherishing you,
making you happy.”
His voice was low and firm, a promise.
said yes, tears streaming down my face.
Tears of joy, relief, and hope for the future.
