4: 4
4
This was a wish I'd had since I was twenty.
Over seven years, Timothy and I had booked plane tickets three times.
The first time, Gwyneth sprained herself skiing, and he drove through the night to take care of her.
The second time, Gwyneth's project was shortlisted for an international award, and he canceled our tickets to go abroad with her for the ceremony.
The third time, right before we were supposed to leave, Gwyneth got dumped and drank herself sick, and he stayed up with her the whole night.
Every time, Timothy said he'd make it up to me later.
But I waited seven years, and that so-called later never came.
When I reached the airport, there was an hour left before boarding.
I'd just finished checking my bag when I saw Timothy and Gwyneth.
Gwyneth wore a white down jacket, and Timothy was bent over her, fixing her scarf.
Gwyneth held up two tickets, her eyes crinkling with a smile.
"Back in college we promised we'd go to Iceland together to see the northern lights. I can't believe it dragged on this many years."
Timothy ruffled her hair.
"This time I won't break the promise."
My phone buzzed at exactly that moment.
A message from Timothy:
【The company scheduled a business trip last minute. I'll be gone a few days.】
【Stay home and think about what you've done. We'll talk when I get back.】
I looked at him across the crowd and gave a small, mocking smile.
The airport announcement began calling for boarding.
I put my phone away, pulled my suitcase, and walked toward my own gate.
From today on, they could go see their northern lights.
And I would go live a life without them in it.
Just as I was about to step into the boarding corridor, a sharp shout came from behind me.
"Charlotte!"
I stopped and glanced back.
Timothy had already pushed through the crowd, striding right up to me.
His eyes dropped to my suitcase, and his face went dark in an instant.
"You actually chased me all the way to the airport?"
I didn't answer.
But he acted like he'd finally caught me in the lie, the corner of his mouth twisting with contempt.
"Last night you said you'd miscarried and were hemorrhaging, and today you can drag a suitcase after my flight."
"Charlotte, don't you think this act is a little too fake?"
I looked at him quietly.
So he couldn't see any of it. Not why my face was this pale, not why it took everything I had just to stand upright.
All he saw was me, getting in the way of his time with Gwyneth again.
Gwyneth came over too, wheeling her bag.
"Lottie, did you find out we were going to Iceland, so you wanted to come along?"
She let out a sigh, playing at helplessness.
"Timothy's only keeping a promise we made back in college."
"You're still carrying the baby. A long flight isn't safe. Don't gamble with your body just to make a point."
At that, the look Timothy gave me turned even more disappointed.
"I said business trip on purpose, because I was afraid you'd read too much into it."
"I never thought you'd not only lie to me about a miscarriage, but go digging into our itinerary and chase me to the airport."
He reached for my suitcase.
"Go home now. When I'm back from Iceland, I'll take you to the hospital for a checkup."
I turned aside, out of his reach.
"No need."
Timothy's face went completely cold.
"Charlotte, don't push your luck."
"Faking a miscarriage, faking the hemorrhaging, chasing me to the airport, and now putting on this look like you've suffered some terrible wrong."
"Aside from watching me and Gwyneth, do you really have nothing else to do?"
Every word overlapped with the accusations from the phone last night.
I used to think that as long as he saw me with his own eyes, he'd realize I wasn't lying.
But now I finally understood.
A person who doesn't believe you will only see another performance, even with the truth standing right in front of him.
The announcement started urging passengers on the Iceland flight to board.
Gwyneth tugged at Timothy's sleeve.
"Timothy, why don't you take Lottie home?"
"We can see the northern lights another time."
The more she gave way, the more certain Timothy became that I was the one being unreasonable.
"Look at Gwyneth, then look at yourself."
"She thinks of you at every turn, and you're ready to ruin the trip she's waited seven years for."
He checked the time and ordered,
"Go home first. And stop joking about the baby."
"Say things like this too often, and when something really happens, no one will believe you."
I suddenly laughed.
So it turned out a curse could come true straight from his own mouth.
Timothy didn't understand my laugh.
He shielded Gwyneth and walked toward the other gate.
Gwyneth turned her head, a faint winner's smile at the corner of her lips.
They vanished into the crowd soon enough.
Just like every time before.
As long as Gwyneth spoke up, Timothy was certain I'd stay right where I was, forever.
But this time, I didn't wait.
I switched off my phone, turned, and walked into my own boarding corridor.
