After I left the hospital, I went home to pack my belongings.
Five years with William had filled the place with our memories. However, since I had decided to leave William for good, I planned to erase every trace of myself from the home.
I threw out the matching slippers, toothbrushes, and pajamas.
I opened a drawer and found a photo album tucked in the back. It held only pictures of William and me, a record of our five years together.
It showed the day we confessed our feelings, the first birthday he celebrated for me, the first gift he gave me, and our first trip together, among others.
On the cover, he had written by hand, "I will love my only lover, Diana, forever."
I suddenly found it absurd. I tore every photo to pieces and tossed the album into the trash.
When I carried the trash downstairs, I ran into William coming home.
He saw me hauling so many trash bags alone and mentioned with concern, "Didn't I tell you to rest and avoid heavy work while you're pregnant?"
I said nothing and let him take the bags from my hands to throw them into the bin himself.
"Why are they so heavy? Did you clean the place?"
I nodded.
William noticed how quiet I was and assumed I was still upset. "Don't be mad, honey. I bought your mom's favorite Blue Mountain coffee. Let's visit her together."
I looked at the gift box and felt a little dazed.
Mom loved Blue Mountain coffee before she fell ill. It was pricey, and we were an ordinary family, so we could only splurge once in a while.
After William and I built a business together, I thought life would get better.
However, he didn't promote me. He sweet-talked me into quitting and staying home while he handled the earnings.
Two years ago, on Mom's birthday, I suggested he buy her Blue Mountain coffee as a gift.
He frowned and blamed me. "Coffee is all the same. Why does it have to be the expensive one? I worked hard so we could live better, not for you to buy luxury items."
Later, I saw on Caroline's social media that William had given her a limited edition Blue Mountain coffee gift set for her birthday.
By then, Mom had been seriously ill and couldn't drink any coffee. She never tasted another sip before she died.
I pushed away the gift box William held out. "She can't drink it now."
It was already too late.
William froze for a moment and then came back to himself. "Sorry. I forgot that she probably can't have coffee due to her condition."
He awkwardly pulled the box back and took my hand. "Then, we can go to the grocery store together and buy something else for your mom. How about that?"
I was about to refuse when his phone rang first.
I clearly heard Caroline's teary voice on the other end. "William, a big spider got into my place. I am so scared!"
Worry flickered in his eyes, and just like always, he turned to me and said, "Sorry, Diana. I needed to go to Caroline's place. I will go with you to see your mom next time."
He was always promising there'd be a next time, but it never came.
Thankfully, I no longer waited for him like I did before. I wouldn't give him another chance.
