No one came to see me in the days that followed.
Alexei's assistant, Alfred, brought me the newest model of phone and patiently taught me how to use it. Then, as I stared at the empty contact list, I realized I had no one to call.
Everything I remembered belonged to the past. I was the only one trapped in this strange new future.
The fight of that night meant the world to me. But to them, it was just a small, forgotten incident from ten years ago.
No one cared anymore.
I had no interest in the brilliance of this future. Sadly, I had no way to return to the past.
After a long deep thoughts, I asked Alfred to take me to my father’s grave.
As I stood before the mound of earth, I poured out all my grief and pain—to the only one who might still listen.
“Dad, I’m sorry. I swear I won’t fight with Alexei anymore. I won’t make you or anyone angry. Please, come back. Please, all of you, come back to me.”
“You said that when my baby is born, you’d be the one to give him a name. You said that when I came home, you’d cook your best beef brisket just for me.”
“You can’t break your promise like Alexei did. You’re my family—the closest family I ever have in this world. Why did you leave me too?”
Light rain began to fall, pattering softly on the ground. A moment later, an umbrella appeared above my head.
My heart trembled. I looked up with hope—but it was only Alfred.
He looked a bit embarrassed and explained, “Mr. Durand went with Camille for her prenatal check-up. He won’t be coming here today.”
I sighed weakly and said I needed to leave. But on the way out, I ran into Camille.
Her arms were crossed and the gentle look she once had was gone.
I was confused for a moment. Then suddenly, Camille grabbed my hand and slammed her head against a rock.
A shout came right after. “Emilia! What are you doing?!”
“Emilia, stop following me! Don’t appear in front of me again!” Alexei rushed over, pushing me away. His voice shook with anger. “You disappeared without a word back then and ruined all of our lives. It took me years to move on, to build a new life. Now you want to destory it too?”
“Emilia, I don’t love you anymore.” He looked straight into my eyes and said each word with clear intent. “Please… please forget the past and let me go. I’m begging you.”
The rain poured harder. I couldn’t tell whether the wetness on my face was rain or tears. The world around me felt so huge yet I belonged nowhere.
Suddenly, pain twisted in my stomach. I instincitively reached out toward Alexei for help—but instead, I accidentally pulled a pocket watch from his hand.
The moment it began to tick, memories long sealed away flooded my mind.
