I chased Alfred Henson for eight years.
Everyone said I was his little shadow, trailing behind him wherever he went.
But on his twenty-seventh birthday, I stopped following. If anything, I found myself instinctively avoiding him.
He noticed.
That day, he stepped in front of me with a cold expression, blocking my path. Then, for the first time in all the years I'd known him, he actually offered an explanation.
"I didn't stand you up on purpose. Maud was sick. She's all alone in this city with no one to turn to. I had to take care of her."
"Things were hectic, and I forgot to let you know. That was my fault."
So it was because of Maud Matthews. Again.
I shook my head lightly. "It's fine."
After all, I was marrying someone else next week. After that, we'd be strangers.
——
Seeing how reasonable I was being, no tantrum, no scene like the ones I used to make, Alfred raised an eyebrow. A flicker of surprise crossed his face, though underneath it, I caught the faintest trace of relief.
"Maria, I knew you wouldn't take it to heart."
"To make it up to you, tonight I'll take you to a movie—"
I shook my head before he could finish.
"No need. Go take care of whatever you need to."
"Your time is valuable. You shouldn't waste it on me."
Alfred stared at me in silence for a long time, his brow furrowing again.
"Maria Sullivan, what's gotten into you?"
He probably thought I was being too agreeable. Unreasonably so.
Maybe it even unsettled him.
That was fair.
Because for the past eight years, everyone around us knew the same thing: Maria Sullivan was the shadow Alfred Henson couldn't shake, following him with tireless, unwavering devotion.
It started when I was nineteen. I'd been working a part-time job when a group of drunks nearly dragged me into a dead-end alley. Alfred appeared out of nowhere, like some kind of hero dropping from the sky, and saved me.
After that, every time I looked at him, my eyes lit up like stars.
When he started his internship at a company, I pretended to pick up a part-time gig nearby and trailed him at a careful distance. When he met clients at five-star hotels, I stood outside handing out flyers, craning my neck every few seconds to catch a glimpse of him through the doors. When he got into a fight, I was the first one to throw myself in front of him.
Even though I was terrified, I planted myself between him and danger without a second thought.
Until a bottle smashed against my head and everything went black.
When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed. The first thing I saw was Alfred's scrutinizing gaze fixed on me.
"Maria Sullivan, why would you do something like that?"
I stared at him, completely lovesick. "Because..."
The words I like you were right on the tip of my tongue.
Then the sharp click of heels echoed from the hallway.
"Alfred, I heard some girl saved you. I came to check on you..."
A woman walked in carrying a fruit basket. The moment she appeared, I watched Alfred's perpetually cold face soften into something warm.
He stood and introduced her. "This is my friend, Maud Matthews."
Then he turned to Maud, his voice gentle. "Didn't you say you were busy today? How'd you find the time to come?"
Maud draped her arm casually over Alfred's shoulder. "We grew up together. You and me go way back. You think I'd just sit around when I heard you got hurt?"
She must have noticed me staring, because she quickly added, "Don't get the wrong idea, sweetheart. We've known each other since we were in diapers. That's all it is."
In that moment, I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat.
A woman's intuition is rarely wrong.
Sometimes all it takes is a single glance to know exactly what two people are to each other.
And in that instant, I knew.
