く
He slammed the door and left, the already
flimsy wooden door rattling in its frame.
نه
John went to the city and didn’t come back
that night.
I found out from the ticket salesman.
It went without saying who he was with.
In my past life, he wouldn’t have gone to the
city after an argument. He’d have spent the
night in the school office.
And the next morning, I would have humbled
く
myself, begging him at the school gates to
come home.
Or perhaps, I wouldn’t have even known he’d
gone to the city at all.
But not this time. I would never crush my
self-respect to appease him again.
I bought a train ticket to Miami, leaving in five
days. Instead of going home, I wandered
around town.
This was my second time in the city. The first
time was with John.
Walking down the street, I couldn’t help but
く
recall the beginning of our relationship.
We’d met on a blind date. He was
straightforward, not very good at sweet-
talking.
After a few meetings, he asked, “Want to go
to the city?”
Walking through the city, he pointed out all
the interesting sights.
He bought me cotton candy, candied apples,
and hair clips.
It was the first time I had anything so sweet it
made my teeth ache.
L
As we walked, he took my hand, so nervous
could hear his heart beating. He said, “Amy, I
don’t know how to treat a girl right. I heard
that if you like her, you should keep buying
her things.”
Back then, I didn’t understand what a
confession was. I ended up with him in a
daze.
If I’d known then that John often came to the
city to pursue Sarah, I might not have longed
to come back.
I spent half my life with John, and he finally
changed his attitude towards me after
Sarah’s untimely death.
<
I thought my perseverance had paid off, that
my love had finally borne fruit.
But it turned out to be nothing but wishful
thinking:
In John’s eyes, I was just someone he married
out of obligation, without love. His heart
would always belong to Sarah.
I was walking down the street when a familiar
figure in the distance stopped me in my
tracks.
John was riding a bicycle with Sarah, her arms wrapped around his back, laughing sweetly.
<
She looked so happy, until she saw me. The
smile vanished from her face.
Sarah was the first to greet me, looking me
up and down with amusement. “Amy, are you
looking for John? He just told me you’d come
begging him to come home.”
Her words were laced with mockery and
disdain.
John walked over, pushing his bike, frowning.
“What are you doing here? Don’t think I’ll fall
for your pleas like before!”
Seeing his smug expression, I kept my
composure. “Just passing through.”
John frowned, clearly not believing me. His
tone softened as he approached me.
“Alright, I don’t want to argue. Let’s go
home.”
“No need.” I stepped away.
John grabbed my wrist, his expression
darkening.
Caught off guard by his sudden pull, I
stumbled, my stomach hitting a parked
bicycle.
<
Pain shot through me, and I doubled over,
clutching my abdomen.
Panic flashed across John’s face. He quickly
crouched beside me, asking anxiously,
“What’s wrong? Did you hit your stomach?
Come on, I’ll take you to the clinic!”
My brow furrowed, sweat beading on my
forehead from the pain. I nodded weakly.
He helped me onto the bicycle. He hadn’t
gone two steps when Sarah suddenly cried
out.
John stopped immediately, turning to her in
alarm.
L
“What’s wrong?”
Sarah collapsed on the ground, pointing to
her ankle. “I think I twisted it.”
John put down the bike and rushed to her
side. I knew that once he went to her, he
wouldn’t take me to the clinic.
Sure enough, after a moment’s hesitation,
John carefully helped me off the bike, his
voice apologetic.
“Sarah’s injury seems more serious. Wait
here. I’ll take her to the clinic and come back
for you. Just hold on.”
r
He hurriedly rode off with Sarah, without
looking back.
I wasn’t foolish enough to wait for him. I
struggled to my feet and went to a pharmacy
to buy painkillers.
I didn’t leave immediately after returning
home.
My train ticket was for the day before the
factory announced the ‘Employee of the
Month’. Even though I knew the factory
wouldn’t last more than a few years before
downsizing, I didn’t want to hand over what I
<
rightfully deserved to Sarah.
After all, in my past life, Sarah had used that
award, which should have been mine, to taunt
me repeatedly, and she’d taken many things I
cherished.
I went to the factory and made it clear that
the award belonged to me. I had earned it.
On the day the results were due, Mr. Jones,
the supervisor, called me to his office.
John and Sarah were there. He hadn’t
returned home since that day in the city.
He’d probably spent every waking moment by
Sarah’s side, showering her with care.
His gaze fell on me, cold as ice. He hissed,
told you to give up the award!”
I said indifferently, “I didn’t agree to.”
ויי
Sarah sobbed, her face crumpled, tugging at
John’s arm. “John, I know you’ll make sure
things are fair.”
John’s coldness melted away. He tenderly
wiped her tears, his voice gentle. “Yes, I will
help you.”
Mr. Jones coughed awkwardly, turning to me.
“Amy, John said you wanted to forfeit the
L
