Carol said, “Kids get into fights. It’s no big
deal.”
Lily’s eye was red.
“It’s ok! Timmy is so cute and so sweet. He
wouldn’t hurt anyone!”
I snapped. “Say one more word, and I’ll rip
your tongue out!”
Mark didn’t notice Lily’s injury. He saw Carol
crying.
He grabbed my wrist. “Apologize to Carol.”
“Or get out.”
I didn’t have any family in this city. I’d have
nowhere to go.
He thought I’d be scared and back down.
I laughed.
“Fine. Lily and I will leave. You three can have
all the fun you want.”
Mark was stunned.
“Once you say something, you can’t take it
back,” he said.
His eyes were glued to me, but his hand
shook.
I pulled away, picked up Lily, and walked out.
That was my answer.
I didn’t want him anymore.
Chapter 2
I took Lily to the hospital and ran into an old
classmate.
Jake had a lab coat on and gently checked
Lily’s eye. “It’s a little red. Some eye drops
will help.”
I nodded and started to leave.
Jake stopped me. “We have a lot of catching
up to do, don’t we, Sarah?”
I sat down with him at a Chuck E Cheese.
Jake and I went to the same school, but he
was the shy guy who was always in the
library.
く
After graduation, he worked at a hospital in
Miami and got promoted fast.
Why was he here?
I looked at Jake. He wiped Lily’s face with a
napkin.
Just then, Mark called. I hung up.
He texted: “The school said you transferred
Lily.”
“Are you insane? Carol and Timmy have a
new place. Are you happy now?”
I turned off my phone. Jake sensed something
was wrong.
く
“Trouble with Mark?”
I told him everything. At the end, I said, “I
want to go home.”
Jake nodded. “I’ve got a plane ticket for
tonight.”
“My dad is always talking about how you
should get back to our hometown and get a
stable career.”
Jake gave me a sincere smile. “The hospital
has been waiting for you.”
Lily’s transfer papers were ready.
Mark texted:
“I’m going away for a month. We’ll get
<
“I’m giving you what you wanted. Please calm
down!”
I blocked his number, and deleted it.
I didn’t need wedding pictures, and I didn’t
need Mark.
After a long plane ride, we were home.
I hesitated at the door.
Eight years had passed since I fought with my
parents to go with Mark.
I was about to knock when the door opened.
Mom was holding the garbage. Her eyes
widened when she saw us.
She looked so much older.
I followed her inside, where I took a breath
and said, “Mark and I broke up.”
Dad snorted, but didn’t say anything.
They were still mad at me.
I was about to leave when Lily jumped off the
couch, ran to my dad, and hugged him.
“Grandpa, Grandma, I missed you!”
Dad picked her up and held her tight.
Mom gave her an orange.
Dad glanced at me. “Put your bags down and
come eat.”
<
school.
I started working at the hospital.
I didn’t waste my time on the wrong person
anymore.
Dad and Mom were relieved I hadn’t married
Mark.
They wanted to set me up with someone.
They arranged a date, and I was surprised to
see Jake standing there with a bouquet of
flowers.
“Sarah, I’ve been in love with you for ten
years,” he said.
The wind blew, and my heart fluttered:
“I didn’t know.”
Jake was tall, but he leaned down when he
talked to me.
“Don’t feel pressured. I just wanted you to
know how I feel. The choice is yours.”
I opened my mouth to answer, but my phone
rang.
