“Rose, please keep me company.
I quietly pleaded with the person on the other side of the phone.
“Alright.”
Rose came quickly. She held me and gently comforted me.
“Hello, Doctor, I’ve made my decision. In three days, I want you to help me move on.” After saying that, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I decided to get some rest and start sorting through my belongings and memories tomorrow.
Clutching the only photo of Jack and me, I curled up on the bed, feeling the urge to talk but unsure who to reach out to. My phone buzzed with a message from Jack.
“Julia, I have a two–day business trip. Wait for me to return.”
“Okay,” I replied, taking ages to type just that one word.
“Rose, can you stay with me?” I quietly pleaded over the phone.
“Of course,” Rose replied.
She arrived quickly, holding me and offering comfort. I whispered, “Let’s go up to the attic.”
I took out the photo album from the nightstand and flipped through the pictures. Young Jack, holding a basketball, was smiling so genuinely. It was a candid shot I took for Lily.
It was at the party they threw to welcome Lily back, where Lily had secretly invited me. I saw Lily leaning closely on his shoulder.
She would hand him water while he played basketball, ignoring those who whispered behind their backs, calling her a fool. I felt uneasy back then.
Lily had told me, “Julia, you’re just an orphan. Jack’s just playing with you. You’re so naïve.”
Now I understand. I was really out of place, really naïve.
As my eyes welled up, Lily was already running to Jack and his friends, laughing and joking, provocatively glancing at me.
Remembering this, I curled up in the attic filled with the baby’s breath flowers he gave me.
Suddenly, my heart felt like it was being pierced, the pain was so deep that tears started falling uncontrollably.
I cried for what seemed like forever, like a lost puppy abandoned by its owner.
Rose held me close, begging sincerely, “Julia, don’t do this. It’s Jack’s fault. No matter what you choose to do, I’ll be here with you, okay? Please, I’m begging you, stop crying”
“Rose, I’m just exhausted. It’s okay, it’s almost over.”
.
<
“You agreed to the Doctor?” Rose exclaimed, looking at me.
“Yeah, Rose, just stay with me this one last time, please?”
“Alright, I’ll stay with you, I’ll even go with you.”
I shook my head. There are few people who truly care, but Rose has always been the constant.
On the last day, I took out the photos one by one, burned them, and let go of my past.
I packed my clothes, handed them to Rose, then placed the baby’s breath in the car and headed to that hillside.
The hillside where I first fell for Jack.
The hillside where he gave me flowers for the first time.
With tools at hand, I buried those flowers in the barren soil, one by one.
I’ve cried plenty these past days, so much that I can’t cry anymore. Maybe the heavens are crying for me now.
Soon, a gentle rain began to fall, and the mountain breeze softly touched my heart, which was ready to stop beating.
I hope that next year, the baby’s breath will cover the hillside.
My love was scattered by the wind.
Evening came.
Jack called.
“I’m coming back early tomorrow. There’s something I need to tell you.” He sounded a bit panicked.
“What are you doing?” I asked gently, surprising myself with the softness in my voice.
Jack’s tone relaxed, “Julia, let’s not separate anymore. Let’s be good to each other, alright?”
“Jack, do you remember the first time we met, you said I was pretending to be innocent?” I teased.
“Back then, I didn’t know you, I was wrong.”
His voice was tender, almost deadly so, but my heart only grew colder.
I knew he was at the hospital caring for Lily and her child, Jack’s mother had already approached me. I saw it with my own eyes.
A family of three–it’s nice. Jack, it’s okay, you can lie to me tonight.
Honestly, I’ve always craved such tenderness since I was a child.
“If we were to meet again, I’ll praise you properly, Jack continued softly.
“I’m tired, Jack, I cut him off.
“Okay, I’ll come back early tomorrow to see you.”
“Jack, you said my vow doesn’t count anymore, right?” I sighed, then continued, “I hope you’re free, I am too, and so is Lily.”
I didn’t give him a chance to respond and hung up the call.
I placed the house key on the table, taking one last look at the memories with Jack.
“Happy birthday, Jack!”
10:12 PM
<
“Happy birthday, Jack!”
“Jack, the food you cook is so good!”
“Jack, do I look good today…?”
“Jack…”
“Julia, I’m really busy…”
The night breeze brought my scattered thoughts back.
