Three years? Five? Or even longer?
I couldn’t remember. All I knew was that we used to be inseparable.
We understood each other better than anyone else in the world, sometimes without needing words at all. Just one look, and he’d know exactly what I was thinking.
I guess it was my deep dependence on him that made him so sure I’d never leave him.
So, he hurt me, recklessly, unapologetically, and openly chose someone else.
He forgot that I was human too, with emotions, pain, and the ability to break.
As I scrolled through my phone and saw the endless stream of missed calls, I finally hit “block” and deleted his number.
Then, as I was about to erase him from my social media, I noticed something.
He had changed his profile picture.
The cartoon I’d drawn for him eight years ago was gone, replaced by a real photo that was nothing like the style he used to love.
At that moment, I remembered something I’d read online:
“When a guy who hasn’t changed his profile picture in ages suddenly changes it, there’s another woman.”
My breath caught, my fingers trembling as I pressed the delete button.
Just like that, ten years of memories and chat history vanished in a blink, and with it, my feelings.
A message from my aunt popped up, reminding me to stay safe. I quickly typed back, telling her not to worry.
I turned off my phone and boarded the plane, not looking back.
Three hours, long enough to let the past ten years replay in my mind, but not too long to drive me crazy.
When the plane landed, I wiped away the moisture on my face, checking my reflection in my phone screen to make sure there were no signs of tears before stepping off the plane.
From a distance, I saw my parents waiting for me, arms full of gifts.
Dad grabbed my suitcase while Mom gently placed a little tiara on my head.
Tears welled in her eyes as she said, “Our Rachel has grown up so much. You’re even more beautiful than in the photos. You’re finally home. Please don’t leave us again…”
Dad smiled at me, his eyes filled with love and warmth.
“Don’t worry, the guy I picked out for you this time is definitely someone you’ll approve of!”
“They live just a mile away, so if you ever feel wronged, just come home. Your mom and I will always have your back.”
I forced a smile and hugged Mom, resting my head on her shoulder.
For ten years, my parents had tried to convince me to come back.
But I’d always refused with some excuse.
During Chinese New Year, I had planned to visit them, but Jason had insisted we go to his family’s holiday gathering instead. He said it was important for me to get a feel for their family atmosphere.
