“Amelia, please don’t be mad.”
“Just let me explain. Just one sentence…”
“Okay, one sentence.”
“Two sentences? Please?” Teenage Jason,
grinning, tugging at my sleeve.
“Go away, Jason.”
“Don’t cry! Hit me! Amelia, hit me as hard as
you want, just don’t cry.”
10:23
<
95
My phone buzzed, snapping me back to reality. A text from an unknown number. “He says you’re no fun in bed. That you haven’t tried anything new in three years. He’s bored.” “He says he hates condoms. He told me if I get pregnant, I can keep it. Because you can’t have kids anyway.” “Mrs. Miller, you’re useless. Why are you even still here?”
I laughed.
Jason looked over, curious. “What’s so funny, honey?”
I locked my phone. “Sarah wants to meet for
coffee. I forgot. She’s giving me a hard time.” He seemed relieved. “Are you still going?”
“Of course. She won’t let me live it down
otherwise.”
“I’m almost jealous of Sarah. You always
choose her over me.” “I don’t want you to go.
Let’s just have a night in, just the two of us.
11
I turned to him. He was already signaling,
turning the car around. I smiled faintly. “There’s
always next time.”
“Exactly! We have forever. I’ll let you have
<
Sarah this time.”
He dropped me off at the club and drove away.
Half an hour later, another text from Chloe. “Did
he ditch you already?” “See? He told me he
can’t resist me when I cry.” “I’m pregnant. He
said I can keep it. He wants a girl, but I want a
boy.” “I just know it’s a boy.” “It’s a shame we
can’t…you know…for a month. He bought me
new lingerie.” “He has…needs. And you can’t
satisfy him. He must be frustrated.”
I didn’t reply. I just saved screenshots of every
message. My hands shook. Maybe Jason had
played the part too well. Maybe I’d been too
naive, too trusting. Now, as the truth of his
double life unraveled, I couldn’t control the
tremors that ran through me. The tenderness in
our bedroom, the words he whispered, all lies.
He’d grown tired of our quiet intimacy. I
thought restraint was love. Reality slapped me
hard. The dwindling intimacy wasn’t love or
concern. It was boredom. He couldn’t even be
bothered to pretend anymore.
Before going home, I called Professor Davis, my
old mentor. “Amelia? It’s been a while, dear.”
“Professor, is your research team still looking
for people? To like to jon.”
“Can your heath handle it, dear? To wanted to
join after graduation She wanted me too. But
I’d been too frail. The research involved
constant travel often to remote and challenging
locations
“I just had a check–up. The doctor said as long
es I’m careful I be fine.”
“Will your husband agree? Amella, this means
you’ll be away for long periods. Some of our
projects are classified. Communication with
family is…Imited.”
Professor. I’m getting a divorce.”
‘Did he…hurt you. dear?”
I smiled. swallowing the lump in my throat.
Yes. He created.”
“Ten years… Are you sure. Amelia?”
Professor, remember what you told me when
you were getting divorced?”
“If you hear your lover has changed his heart,
cast it away. Cast it away, let the wind scatter
<
10:23
its ashes.”
Tears streamed down my face. “Professor, I’m your student. Of course, I’ll do the same.”
“Good! Good! I’ll be waiting for you, Amelia.”
It was the first time I’d asked Jason for money. He laughed on the other end of the line. “Honey, my money is your money.” “Use my
card. Buy whatever you want.”
“No, this is different,” I insisted.
“Okay, okay. I’ll have David transfer the funds
right away.”
“Jason, I won’t take your money for nothing. I have a gift for you too.” “Three days from now, go to our high school. The front office.” “Mr.
Henderson, remember him? He’ll have
something for you.”
Jason laughed. “How could I forget? I
transferred there junior year. He handled the
hundreds of love letters I sent you freshman
and sophomore year.”
I smiled. “Right. Don’t forget to pick it up.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, honey. I can’t wait.”
The moment the money hit my account, I
<
anonymously donated it to Professor Davis’s
research team. I printed the divorce papers and
the screenshots of Chloe’s messages, sealed
them in an envelope, and delivered them to Mr.
Henderson myself. I took the broken pearl
necklace and the first ring he’d ever given me
to a jeweler and had them melted down. I
burned the ashes, along with his love letters.
On my last morning, I had breakfast with Jason,
saw him off to work, just like always. He
apologized. “I was going to take you to that hot
springs resort today. Another broken promise.”
“It’s okay. Work is more important.” I looked at
him, a faint smile on my lips. “Go on. Don’t be
late.”
He looked at me, tenderness and guilt battling
in his eyes. “You’re always so understanding,
so…good.” “I’ve been so busy with work these
past few years. I haven’t spent enough time
with you.”
I watched him, my mind drifting. The boy who
warmed my cold hands in his on frosty winter
mornings. The man who knelt before his
parents for a whole day, just to marry me. Ten
years together, and he still looked so young, so
handsome. He had loved me, that was real. The
betrayal was real. The guilt and pity, real too. But his wandering eye, his thirst for something
new, that was real too.
I knew I could stay silent, be Mrs. Miller forever.
No one could take that away from me. But I
didn’t want to be Mrs. Miller anymore. I wanted
to be Amelia again.
He pulled me into a hug. “Honey, I love you so
much.” “Wait for me. Let’s have dinner together
tonight.”
I somehow managed a smile, somehow bit back
the useless questions. Just then, his phone
rang, insistent. I pushed him away. “Go. Don’t
keep them waiting.”
He turned, reluctantly, his steps quickening. I
smiled and went upstairs. I gardened, just like
always. I had a simple lunch. After my nap, I
changed, packed a bag with my essentials and
documents. As I came downstairs, Maria smiled.
“Going out for the afternoon, ma’am?”
<
I nodded, smiling back. “Yes. Don’t bother with
dinner tonight.”
He wouldn’t be home for dinner. And I wouldn’t
be coming back.
The driver dropped me off at my usual club. I
went downstairs. Professor Davis‘ car, with its
unmarked plates, was waiting around the
corner. I clutched my bag, crossed the street,
and got in. As the door closed, my phone rang.
Jason’s name flashed on the screen. I didn’t
answer. This was our last conversation.
“Honey…I feel terrible. There’s this important
dinner tonight. I can’t get out of it.”
“I can’t have dinner with you.”
“But I promise I’ll be home early, okay?”
“Honey, please don’t be mad. I’ve already sent
David to pick up that gift I ordered for you.”
“You’ll love it.”
I stared out the window, at the endless stream
of cars. The city’s noise faded, replaced by a
vast emptiness. The image that had haunted me
for ten years, the boy in the blue and white
uniform, finally vanished. I knew. I didn’t love
<
him anymore.
“Honey, why aren’t you saying anything? Are
you mad?” His voice was cautious.
“You know what? I’ll cancel. I’ll come home. I
want to have dinner with you…
“Don’t. It’s fine.” I looked down at my bare ring
finger. “Go. Sarah and I are having dinner
tonight.”
“Then I’ll be back as soon as I can, okay?”
“If it’s too late, just stay at the office. Don’t
bother coming back.”
“I’ll come home, no matter how late.”
I didn’t reply. He said a few more words, then
hung up. I put my phone away and closed my
eyes, the car a gentle cradle rocking me away.
Jason stood by the window, a cigarette
dangling from his lips. It was late. Amelia, with
her delicate health, was probably asleep. Chloe
emerged from the examination room, red–eyed.
Jason had put out his cigarette. He looked at
her, his voice cold. “Well?”
“Slight bleeding. The doctor said I should stay
in bed as much as possible this month.”
く
10:23
“Then stay home from school. Rest.”
“Jason…will you stay with me?” She clung to
his arm.
He pulled away, frowning. “I told you not to call
me that. Not in public.”
“But no one’s here…”
“Fine. I’ll have the driver take you home.”
“Aren’t you coming with me? I don’t feel well.
I’m scared I’ll bleed again…”
“The doctor gave you medicine. Take it and
rest.” He walked towards the elevators. “I’m not a doctor. What good would I do there?”
Chloe bit her lip, tears welling up. She didn’t want to annoy him, so she choked them back. She followed him into the elevator. “Jason…” As she was getting into the car, she turned
back.
Jason checked his watch, impatience etched on
his face. “What now?”
“Will you come tomorrow?”
“The doctor said no sex for a month.” He raised
an eyebrow. “What’s the point?” “I need to be there for my wife this month. Don’t cause any
<
trouble.”
Seeing her tears, and mindful of the pregnancy, he relented a little. “Take care of yourself. I’ll
come see you when I can.”
She watched him drive away, tears freezing on
her cheeks. She couldn’t understand. She was
young, beautiful. What did Amelia, that sickly
wife, have that she didn’t? The thought made
her seethe. But she couldn’t let Jason go. She
couldn’t let go of the life he’d given her. So she
endured.
Jason’s car pulled up to the house. The
housekeeper rushed out. “Is Mrs. Miller asleep,
sir?”
He took his coat, then froze. “What do you
mean?”
Night had fallen, the house lights casting a glow
around him. “Mrs. Miller went out shopping this
afternoon.” “When the driver went to pick her
up, she said it wasn’t necessary, that she was
having dinner with you.” The housekeeper’s
voice trembled. “She told me not to prepare
dinner.”
