The new assistant is a chatty person. When he came to pick up Henry’s suit, he smiled brightly at me.
“Madam, tomorrow is your sixth anniversary. Mr. Walpole has planned a big surprise for you. You really must make time!”
We had shared beautiful memories during our six years together. I thought there was a formal farewell after all.
I opened the couple-locating software programs I hadn’t used in years and arrived at the city’s largest hotel.
Red and pink roses surrounded the entire hotel and the journey Henry and I had been on together for six years was playing on the giant screen.
On the stage, he knelt down on one knee with the ring in his hand. Facing Inez, standing before him in a white wedding dress.
“Will you marry me? No matter life, old age, sickness or death, no matter whether you are poor or rich, I will never leave you.”
It was the scene I had been looking forward to for six years. I have dreamed about it so many times at midnight and I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep just thinking about it.
Now it was happening for real, only he’d given his first proposal to Inez, the runner-up.
I touched my heart and there was no sadness or pain. In the sixth year of falling in love, I was sure that I no longer loved him.
Seeing them hug and kiss, my heart froze. I slipped away quietly, the last of my feelings fading. Even saying goodbye felt unnecessary.
Henry hadn’t returned home all night. He went home to change clothes at dawn and wanted to pick me up and take me to the hotel.
Opening the passenger door, there was a piece of black silk lying on the seat. He threw it to the ground at the speed of light and explained to me.
“Her clothes were dirty yesterday, so she borrowed my car to change into clean ones. Nothing happened.”
All I cared about now was my flight time. I casually replied, “Oh, alright.”
“Drop me off at the mall entrance up ahead. I want to buy a necklace to match my outfit.”
Henry tried to follow me inside, but received a call from Inez.
“Mr. Walpole, there’s a minor issue with the venue.”
Henry paused and smiled at me. “Jeanne, there is something wrong at the company. I need to handle it.”
“Today’s our sixth anniversary. I prepared a surprise for you. Meet me at the Caesar Hotel after buying the necklace.”
I nodded, turned around and quickly counted the passports and ID cards in my bag.
He called after me again, “Jeanne.”
The mall announcements drowned out his voice. I couldn’t hear the rest. I waved at him, like I said, “Goodbye, Henry.”
