Chapter 9
Back at camp, my colleague sidled up for some gossip.
“Was that hottie your boyfriend? Must be true love to track you down across the world! Not like my ex–the minute I mentioned going abroad for aid work, he dumped me and found some young thing.“]
“But why didn’t your man come back with you?“]
I quietly packed away my lunch container, answering matter–of–factly:
“Not my boyfriend. My ex–husband.”
My colleague froze, then asked no further questions.]
Soon, I put the whole incident behind me.]
Until two years later, a rare opportunity arose for me to return home.[]
Now, I had developed a much deeper understanding of medicine. And I wasn’t returning alone–my boyfriend, Reed, was coming with me.[]
We’d met in the field during a rescue operation when a major explosion occurred []
I’d been working without breaks and collapsed from hypoglycemia. Just as I was about to be blown to pieces, a figure rushed forward, shielding me with his body.
I escaped unharmed, but Reed lost a leg in the blast.]]
Consumed with guilt, I pledged to care for him for life–to be his partner.]]
Initially, I approached our relationship with the mindset of caring for him, making amends.[]
But gradually, as we spent more time together, I recognized my true feelings–his gentleness, his patience, his deep affection and understanding slowly warmed my frozen heart.]]
I discovered I could love again.]]
With encouragement from colleagues, I wholeheartedly accepted him. We became a true couple, promising never to part.]
I thought: perhaps God had seen my loneliness and deliberately placed this connection in my path.]
So this time, I was determined to hold tight to what we had.]]
Soon, the day came for our return.]
Director Jensen personally came to the airport to meet us. He looked me over with obvious satisfaction.]]
“You’ve lost weight, Nora. These two years must have been challenging.”
Such ordinary words of concern struck me deeply.
Fighting back the sting in my eyes, I opened my arms to embrace him.]
After walking a few steps I spotted Griffin in the distance, holding a young boy’s hand.[]
Somehow he’d learned of my arrival and had come to the airport]
But two short years had changed him dramatically–he was unshaven, with dark circles under bloodshot eyes. No longer the polished man I’d known, he looked weathered, with strands of gray hair prominent at his temples.
It was clear Griffin hadn’t fared well these past years.]
After a moment’s hesitation, he ultimately didn’t approach, withdrawing the hand he’d started to extend toward me
I simply stared at him expressionlessly
Chapter 9
Reed, sensing something, deliberately took my hand, intertwining our fingers.
“Nora, is that your ex–husband? Should we go say hello? He looks like he wants to talk to you.“[
But his words carried obvious jealousy.
My possessive boyfriend’s territorial streak was showing again.]]
I looked away, shaking my head gently.
“There’s nothing to say.”
“Besides… I have you now. What could I possibly need to discuss with him?“]
From the moment I walked out of that banquet hall, Griffin and I had become strangers with nothing left to say.
Mollified by my reassurance, Reed’s jealousy finally subsided as he pulled me into his arms for a passionate kiss.]
“Nora, I love you so damn much!“]
i smiled softly, looking down. “Me too.”
Then I turned away and got into the car.
We hadn’t driven far when I received a message from Griffin.]
Over these two years, he’d been constantly texting me, though I never received them without a domestic SIM card.]
The message sent just one minute ago contained only two words:
“I’m sorry.“]]
My finger hovered over the screen for a long time before I finally deleted and blocked Griffin’s number.]
Then I snapped my SIM card in half and tossed it out the window, just as I had discarded all my painful memories and misplaced affections.]]
I never wanted any contact with him again.]
After completing this final act, I tightened my grip on Reed’s hand.[]
The darkness had passed. The rest of my life would be filled with light.
