Aurelia was finally pulled out by the firefighters,but the flames had left severe burns across her back.
The doctor warned that the wounds were too deep and would surely leave scars.
She didn’t care.She was going to die anyway;what difference would scars make?
When she stepped out of the ward,she saw Santino again.He was holding Astrid in his arms,his face tense as he studied the blisters on her hand.
“I told you not to go near the kitchen,to wait for me to cook.Look at your hand,it’s burned so badly.Do you know how much it hurts me to see this?”
His voice went on in a steady stream,yet Astrid only smiled,her expression glowing with joy.
Watching them together,Aurelia felt the burns on her back sting faintly,but the ache in her heart cut even deeper.
Three days later came Santino’s birthday.Astrid had planned a party for him,inviting classmates and even asking Aurelia to attend.But Aurelia refused.She no longer wanted to be caught up with Santino.On that same day,her flight to Iceland awaited.
From that moment on,she and Santino would never cross paths again.She mailed the gift she had prepared for him,ten safety charms she had prayed for over the years,one for each year,meant for him and his mother.
Before leaving,Aurelia went to see his mother.The elderly woman lay in a hospital bed,kept alive only by the ventilator.No matter how hard Aurelia had tried to bring in the best doctors,she had never woken again.
Aurelia let out a soft sigh.Only three hours remained before her flight.
At the airport,a birthday video from Astrid arrived.Laughter filled the screen,voices urging Santino to cut the cake.He complied,taking the knife and pressing it down.
Watching this,Aurelia’s heart trembled,and her fingers tightened around her phone.For ten years,Santino had always spent his birthday with her,and it had become a habit to leave the very first slice for her.
Even after everything that had happened,even though she wasn’t there,Aurelia still held on to one last fragile hope.Would Santino think of her when he cut the first slice of cake?
She kept watching as the voices of the crowd rang out clearly through the video.
“Santino,give the prettiest slice to Astrid!”
“Yeah,yeah,you two are such a sweet couple,showing off even on your birthday.”
At those words,Santino’s hand with the plate paused.He looked up and caught Astrid’s shy expression.
“What are you waiting for,Santino?Hurry and give the cake to your girl!”
The teasing voices pulled Santino back from his thoughts.This time,he didn’t hesitate;he placed the first slice of cake firmly into Astrid’s hands.She accepted it,her face glowing with joy.
Everyone was happy,except Aurelia,who could only glimpse that joy through the phone screen.
Like a stray dog,she could never claim it,couldn’t even witness it openly,and could only hide in the dark,watching quietly from afar.
Looking at the carefree,joyful smile on Santino’s face,Aurelia’s heart sank with a heavy ache.It had been so long since she had seen him like this,and perhaps it truly was time for her to leave.
She was about to close the video when faint whispers drifted through.
“It’s only because Santino is too kind.Even after being ruined by that woman,he still hasn’t cut her off.If it were me,I would have hated her long ago!”
“Exactly.She spread those things on purpose just to ruin Santino’s name and gain from it.A woman like that…only someone as kind as Santino would still keep her around out of gratitude.”
After that,Aurelia could no longer make out the voices,nor did she wish to.She shut off her phone at once.It wasn’t only Santino;everyone believed she had gone too far.Everyone wanted her gone.
This time,without a trace of hesitation,she walked slowly yet firmly toward the boarding gate.
Before takeoff,Aurelia sent Santino one last message.[Happy birthday!Congratulations on your freedom.]
The plane lifted,breaking through the heavy clouds as it flew north across eight time zones,toward that faraway land where volcanoes and glaciers stood side by side.
For ten years,they had been tied together,torn apart,sharing both sweetness and indifference.But now,she cut the final thread.
There would be no“future”waiting for them.The promises of“forever”no longer mattered.
