But after the call was connected, a female voice came from the other end, “Richie, there's a call for you.”
“I don't want to answer it. It's very annoying.”
Just a few numbers, but they become a sharp bone scraper.
I was in so much pain that blood was dripping from my eyes. I opened Richie's WhatsApp, [3.]
Memories came flooding back like a raging flood, making up that dark rainy night.
As I was performing outside, I accidentally broke my left leg. I called Richie and asked him to pick me up. I was prepared to be rejected, but unexpectedly he agreed.
I was nervous but could not help feeling happy. My heart, which had been floating in the air for some time, finally fell back to its original place, but was soon crushed by his own hands and scattered everywhere.
It was because on the way back, Richie received a call from Tiffany and learned that her dog was lost, so he left me behind without hesitation.
I stood on the deserted roadside, crying miserably.
As a result, I continued to send messages with trembling hands, [2.]
The message was sent, but just like my clown-like mumblings over the years, I would never get a response. Even in Richie's mouth, it was a heavy burden.
“Letha, can you put your focus on yourself?”
“You're suffocating me.”
“Letha, can you give me some freedom?”
Each sentence echoed in my mind like a spell. I pulled myself out of my memories and sent out the last message with red eyes, [1.]
Richie, I give up.
I left the hot air balloon base and returned home without even the energy to wash up. I just threw myself on the bed and fell asleep.
But I did not sleep well and my dreams were full of messy and chaotic scenes.
In the ward filled with the smell of disinfectant, the man said in a deep voice, “Let's be together.”
Sometimes it was that late night when I was panic-stricken and at a loss. I was struggling hard on the end of the phone and Richie said nonchalantly on the other end, “I don't want to answer it. I'm very annoyed.”
The scattered voice, like a lingering spell, trapped me.
I woke up in suffocating sadness and felt something cold on her cheek. As I raised my hand and touched it, I saw water stains on her fingertips and realized they were tears.
My throat was severely blocked and there was a lingering pain in his heart.
Suddenly the phone rang, bringing her back from her emotions.
It was my best friend, Reba Rollins, calling, “Letha, where are you? I'll be there in twenty minutes. Remember, room 805 is there, don’t go to the wrong place.”
I then remembered that I had recently talked to Reba about going abroad, so we made an appointment to have dinner that day.
I stood up hastily, “I'll leave now.”
Half an hour later, we met at the agreed hotel.
Reba ordered a table of dishes generously and teased me with a smile, “Come to think of it, you always insisted on Dr. Arnold before, how come you are willing to leave him now?”
That was how much I cared about Richie before, but it did not exist anymore.
I curled my lips and was about to speak when I was interrupted by the ringing of the phone. It was the director of the hospital.
“Ms. Forbes, why did not Richie come to work today?” He said anxiously, “He has an operation to perform this afternoon, but I can't find him now.”
My mind flashed with the scene from yesterday.
I frowned slightly. Was Richie ignoring even his own patients for Tiffany?
