Where Love Ends, Emptiness
Blooms
Four years after John’s death, I went to his
grave to talk to him, only to find it gone.
Panicked, I rushed home and told my son to
call the police.
My son sighed and said, “Mom, Dad’s grave
wasn’t there. He’s buried with Aunt Sarah.”
“He said he was forced to marry someone he
didn’t love when he was alive, and his only
wish was to be buried with the one he loved
after death.”
く
The Sarah he spoke of was John’s “the one
that got away” for thirty years.
The next moment, I was back to the day John
abandoned me after my miscarriage to go
find Sarah.
Instead of begging him to stay, I silently
booked a one-way ticket out of town.
I stayed at the clinic for three days, leaving
only when the abdominal pain became
bearable.
Г
John didn’t visit me once. I took care of
everything myself: the medicine, the
injections, the bills.
He was busy comforting Sarah, wiping her
tears, assuring her that his marriage to me
was forced. He had no time for me.
Back home, I was packing when John walked
in, looking around with displeasure.
“I’ve been gone for three days, and you couldn’t even tidy up the house? It’s a mess.”
The “mess” was an unmade bed and a few clothes lying around.
Г
But he always treated me like this, ready to
scowl at the slightest inconvenience.
I glanced at him, continuing to pack, and said
flatly, “I just got out of the hospital.”
John paused, his lips pursed. He watched me
for a moment, then, strangely, started helping
me fold clothes, his voice softening.
“How are you feeling?”
I scoffed. I couldn’t believe he was asking.
Three days ago, he’d abandoned me, bleeding, to rush to Sarah’s side without a
<
single backward glance.
“I’m fine.” I didn’t look at him, continuing to
pack my clothes into the bag.
John noticed what I was doing and casually
asked, “Why are you separating our clothes?”
“Taking them to the laundry.” I held the bag,
my face expressionless.
He didn’t seem to care what I was doing, just
nodded absently.
I put the bag in the shed and went back
inside.
く
John was holding a beautifully wrapped bag,
beckoning me with a gentle smile.
“Come here, I bought this for you in town.”
I stood still. He didn’t get impatient, but
walked towards me, still smiling.
He tore open the bag, pulled out a veil, and
placed it on my head.
He led me to the mirror, nodding with a smile.
“I saw a bride wearing this veil at a wedding,
and I immediately thought you would look beautiful in it, so I bought it for you.”
Staring at my reflection wearing the veil, I felt
a pang of sadness.
In my past life, I’d yearned for John to buy me
a veil, to have a proper wedding, but it never
happened.
In this life, he fulfilled my wish just because I
hadn’t thrown a tantrum.
I would have been touched before, but now
my heart was still.
I took off the veil and said impassively, “I
don’t like it.”
John was taken aback, his face full of
L
disbelief. He glared at me.
The look on his face screamed, “How dare
you?”
His tone hardened. “Suit yourself. I need to
talk to you about something.”
“The factory is going to award you ‘Employee
of the Month’. Sarah is right behind you in
line. I need you to tell the factory you don’t
want it, and give it to Sarah.”
I looked at him, my eyes dull. So that was why
he’d been so nice. He’d been buttering me
Г
“I earned that recognition.”
My stance was clear: I wasn’t giving it up.
He looked at me impatiently, frowning..
“Sarah is married and moving to the city. Only
‘Employee of the Month’ gets transferred to
the city branch. Can’t you understand her
situation as a woman?”
I scoffed. Sarah was already married, and he was still going out of his way for her.
No wonder he’d carried a torch for her for
over thirty years.
L
I remembered how, in my past life, my
‘Employee of the Month’ award had been
abruptly revoked and given to Sarah.
Judging by his attitude now, he’d probably
sabotaged my chances.
“I can’t give it up.” I looked away, calmly
stating, “I earned it.”
My composure infuriated John. He clenched
his fists, gritting his teeth.
“Amy! I don’t know how I ended up marrying
such a cold, heartless woman! You have no
compassion!”
