Alexei turned around in complete shock. His eyes changed from dislike to surprise. Finally, he hesitantly called my name.
In that moment, my tears fell. It was like all my panic and fear finally had a place to go.
“Alexei, what’s going on?” I asked. “I had a fight with you this morning. I wanted to go back to my parents’ house, but when I opened the door, I ended up here.”
“I don’t know anyone here. I don’t understand anything here. I’m really scared. Can you please take me home?”
Afraid Alexei wouldn’t believe me, I started talking nonstop about our past.
When we were little, he climbed over the wall to bring me White Rabbit candies. When we grew up, he stole his mom’s gold necklace to confess his love to me.
“The scar on your head, you got it when you fell off my wall. The bruise on your butt, that’s from when your parents gave you a beating. And the cut on your hand… the red mark on your waist…”
The more I cried, the harder it became to stop. People started gathering around us.
Alexei frowned and took me to his office.
***
I sank into the soft sofa, looking at him sadly. “Alexei, you look so different now.”
He looked successful in his sharp suit and his big office. But when I looked closer, he seemed… unhappy. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes showed deep exhaustion.
All of the sudden, he, like everything else in this room, felt so unfamiliar to me.
Alexei didn’t answer. He only rubbed the ring on his finger gently.
After a long silence, he finally said, “I’m sorry, Emilia. I’m married now.”
I froze, suddenly remembering what the receptionist had said.
Of course! It’s been ten years. In Alexei’s world, I’ve been gone for a whole decade. Maybe, in his heart, I’ve already died a thousand times.
But… my nose stung and my tears almost fell again.
It shouldn’t be like this. In the real story, Alexei should have chased after me and apologized. We should have made up, worked hard together, waited for our baby to be born and grown old side by side.
Seeing the sadness in my eyes, Alexei turned his head away. “I’ve called my mom. They’ll come to take you. If you need anything, tell my assistant. I’m busy— I don’t have time to stay with you.”
His cold, distant tone made him feel like a stranger.
I didn’t know what to say. So, I lowered my head, eating the crustless toast on the table, trying to digest everything alone.
The more I thought, the worse I felt.
Suddenly, I heard my mother’s voice. I turned my head and saw her hair was already turning white. Yet, her eyes looked at me with the same gentle kindness as before.
“Mom…” I threw myself into her arms and started crying.
I wanted to tell her everything that had happened, but before I could speak, a delicate-looking girl stepped out from behind her.
“Sis! It’s really you! You haven’t changed at all! Where have you been all these years? Mom and Dad have been searching everywhere for you!”
Mom gently let go of my hand, looking embarrassed. She explained softly that ten years ago, I had suddenly disappeared.
They looked for me everywhere, but couldn't find a single trace. It was like I had completely vanished from the earth.
