Ethan rarely acted this way before a trip.
Instead of clinging to me, he asked, “Honey,
didn’t you get your period this month?”
My body froze, “I’ll go check in a couple of
days. Maybe my period is irregular again, like
before.”
He mused, “I’ll go with you when I get back
next week.”
I nodded, “Mmm–hmm.”
The bedside lamp was switched off, plunging
the room into darkness.
We lay embraced in the center of the large
bed.
I rested my head on his chest, listening to his
heartbeat.
Thump, thump, thump.
One after another.
<
Ethan’s business trips were common.
Before he left, I tiptoed to kiss him goodbye,
“I won’t see you off to the airport, be safe.”
He ruffled my hair, “Baby, you too, be safe at
home.”
I smiled and pushed him away, “Okay, go
now, you’ll be late. Nothing will happen to me
at home.”
He was reluctant to leave.
Something will happen at home.
I looked around, searching for anything I
could take.
But I realized Ethan’s home contained only
his belongings and Lily’s.
When I left, I couldn’t pack anything.
Finally, I took a ruby necklace from the
dresser.
It was the first gift Ethan gave me.
I put on the necklace, feeling the cool touch.
I’ll say I lost it later.
く
I’ll say I lost it later.
I took out another phone.
“He’s gone, you can come over now.”
“Remember to pay me.”
I went to the Thompson house, retrieved my
ID and passport, and headed to the airport.
The plane broke through the clouds; the
journey took ten hours.
The ruby necklace on my chest reflected the
sunlight, glittering.
I closed my eyes.
Putting the eight–month dream behind me.
Tomorrow is a new day.
Chapter 2
10
The plane touched down in Paris.
Walking the Parisian streets, I suddenly
remembered that Ethan had never taken me
on our honeymoon.
Sigh, honeymoon trips should be saved for
<
I, a counterfeit product, wouldn’t participate.
Ethan was in another country across the
ocean, I was in Europe, and Lily was back
home.
We were all going our separate ways.
I wanted to reminisce about the good times
with Ethan, so I opened WeChat, only to
realize I wasn’t even on his friend list.
The WeChat account I used to communicate
with him was a temporary one, given back to
Lily.
