Her expression darkened at the mention of his
name. She whispered, “Yeah.”
I didn’t offer advice. Not everyone needed to
figure things out. As long as you’re happy,
that’s all that matters.
“Can I ask you a favor?” I asked as we stepped
out into the cold.
“Anything.”
“Don’t tell anyone you saw me. And if you have
time, come visit me.”
The wind whipped around us, and her eyes
reddened again. “Okay.”
“Does Sean know?”
“No. We’re divorced. He doesn’t need to know.”
Natalie fell silent. We walked on, lost in our own
Back in high school, Sean and I were the
perfect couple, while hetelle chased efter Josh relentlessly
The north wind howled. Even the good times were fleeting, like smoke in the wind.
Back in my hospital room, Nurse Chloe scolded me for my dietary indiscretion. I meekly
accepted the reprimand, promising never to do it again.
She pressed her advantage, producing a pair of clippers, threatening to shave my head. I shielded my hair defensively.
We argued for two days.
“It was just one meal out! I won’t do it again,
okay? Why the drastic haircut?”
Nurse Chloe tried to reason with me. “You’re
starting chemo soon. You’ll lose your hair
I pondered this. “So if I don’t do chemo…”
Nurse Chloe’s eyes widened in exasperation. I
chuckled, trying to placate her. “Okay, okay, I’ll
think about it. I promise!”
She was about to say something else when at
tall figure appeared in the doorway and walked
straight towards me.
“Can I help you?” Chloe asked.
He ignored her, his gaze fixed on me, as if
searching for some hidden agenda.
“He’s with me. Nurse Chloe, please spare my
hair and go back to work.”
She frowned at the man, then at me, and
whispered, “Call me if you need anything.”
I nodded and watched her leave.
<
Turning to Sean, I asked, “Shouldn’t you be with Chloe, celebrating New Year’s Eve?”
Valentine’s Day, Christmas, New Year’s…Chloe
always had some reason to whisk Sean away.
I’d grown to hate holidays. They only served to highlight my…solitude.
Later, I’d gotten used to it, even enjoying being
alone. And now, he was here, another
unwelcome intrusion.
“What game are you playing now?”
My chest tightened. Even when you’re used to a sharp knife, reopening the wound still hurts.
I sighed. “Yeah, this is my new tactic. Don’t fall for it. Just leave.”
He reached for me, and before I could react, he’d pulled me a few steps.
<
3:23
free.
munou my un
“We’re done! Do you understand? Why are you
even here?”
He stepped back, releasing me. “You’re not
going to squeeze more money out of me with
this fake illness. We’re divorced!”
