I didn’t use much force–I didn’t have any strength left–but James staggered, barely steadying himself against the wall, His face was ashen as
he apologized.
I was numb with pain, walking past him without a glance.
James finally got his wish, but it was a year later.
I was vacationing in Australia at the time, surrounded by people who protected me well. I saw the wedding invitation while scrolling through
social media.
The background showed a bouquet and white tablecloths, presumably at the wedding venue. The image was blurred, but you could see two names written side by side at the top: James Sullivan and Rachel Thompson.
કે
I was stunned for a moment. When I refreshed, I saw a comment from a mutual friend: “Why are you posting this on social media?”
Probably afraid I’d see it, the post was quickly deleted–I don’t know if they reposted it while blocking me.
That evening, someone called me. I was lying on the balcony under a deep blue sky when my friend hesitated on the other end of the line.
Finally, I couldn’t bear it anymore and asked directly, “Did James and his first love get married?”
My tone was so calm, without anger or sadness, that my friend let out a sigh of relief.
They probably thought James divorcing me for his humble first love only hurt my pride. After all, what feelings could there be between two people who married for social status?
So after the initial shock, my friend eagerly began to gossip, their tone disdainful:
“She’s not fit for high society. You know James’s mother, right? For such a big family, the wedding for the eldest son’s bride only had five
tables.”
When James and I got married, the family banquet alone lasted eight days. My friend, feeling indignant on my behalf, added with a hint of schadenfreude:
“I heard James’s mother said, ‘For a woman of unknown origin, it’s already giving James face to let her into the family quietly. What more does she want?”
I remained silent, finally hanging up the phone listlessly. My mind was blank, as if I had thought about many things, yet nothing at all.
11:45 PM
<
In the end, I fell asleep on the lounge chair. In my hazy dream, I seemed to return to when I first married James. We went to Delphi for our honeymoon. I had chosen Delphi, not the best honeymoon destination, but I loved it.
D
In Greek legend, Zeus wanted to find the center of the world, so he released two doves in opposite directions. The doves finally met in Delphi, both landing on an egg–shaped stone. So Zeus declared Delphi the center of the world.
It was a romantic city.
But a honeymoon without an emotional foundation is far from romantic. From our departure until we put down our luggage at the hotel, James never stopped working.
When James and I first met until we got married, it was just our elders thinking we were suitable. Neither of us mentioned feelings.
I’m good at hiding my emotions, but no matter how graceful and proper I am, I was still just a 23–year–old newlywed.
While James was busy with work, not even looking up, I said petulantly, “You keep working. I’ll go out by myself.”
That outing led me to get lost. I lost my way at the foot of the mountain in Kalambaka. The ancient ruins here were old yet intact, standing solemnly.
Majestic during the day, at night the tall, ancient stone sculptures cast long shadows in the setting sun.
The vast space seemed empty, and that’s when I started to feel afraid.
When I called James, I almost cried. But his voice through the phone had a strange, calming power.
He asked calmly, “Where are you? What landmarks do you see nearby?”
Finally, he said, “Stay where you are. Don’t move. I’ll be there soon.” After a pause, he added, “Don’t be afraid.”
He arrived quickly. His tall figure came through the ancient stone sculptures against the light, looking around with obvious anxiety on his face.
I don’t know what I was thinking at that moment. My mind just went blank.
Instinctively, I waved at James and called out loudly, “James-”
James looked up at me, letting out a long sigh of relief. His relaxed expression was strangely touching. He had been worried about me.
At that moment, I sighed quietly in my heart, thinking inappropriately that this truly was a romantic city.
James and i were like doves flying from opposite ends of the world, circling different trajectories.
But it didn’t matter. No matter what, we would meet in Delphi and start from here.
Could this be the beginning of a beautiful story?
