As for the lab report, who hadn't been sent back to revise by their advisor? Even Barnaby himself had to resubmit seven times before his passed. There was nothing unusual about it.
And yet he'd turned all that rage on me.
Barnaby was quiet for a moment, but still refused to back down：“People change.”
“So you have too, is that it?”
I narrowed my eyes and looked again at the clothes he was wearing.
“Felicia!”
He snapped like I'd stepped on a nerve, instantly furious.
“Have I been too gentle with you? Too indulgent? Is that why you've turned so unreasonable?”
And with that,
he turned and walked into the study.
I still remembered the fall semester of junior year. Barnaby got careless in the heat of the moment, didn't use protection, and I got pregnant.
I wanted to keep the baby.
He said our studies had to come first, that it would look bad, and pressured me into the abortion. He held my hands the whole time, making promise after promise.
“I'm sorry. This is my fault. I'm the one making you suffer.”
“There will never be a next time!”
“From now on, I won't let you go through any hardship, any grievance. No matter what happens, your feelings come first. I will never let you be sad or hurt again!”
And now, in the span of a single day, he'd hurt me over and over.
Those promises were a joke. And I was the fool who believed them.
I was still lost in thought when a message came in from Professor Lawrence：【Departure date is set. Day after tomorrow, evening flight. Doesn't conflict with your courthouse visit that morning.】
【What did Barnaby say? Is he willing to go?】
I stared at the pile of torn paper on the floor and hesitated before replying：【Let me talk to him again.】
The next morning, Barnaby left without eating breakfast.
A few minutes later, Mamie posted on social media.
【The happiest thing about early mornings? Feeding a spoonful of cake to the person you like.】
She'd attached a photo.
I recognized the birthmark on the right side of the man's neck immediately. It was Barnaby.
This was the so-called “strong” sense of boundaries he'd sworn he had.
Noon.
I dropped off the application with Professor Lawrence and walked past the lab on my way back. Through the crack in the door, I saw Barnaby standing behind Mamie, his arms around her, patiently guiding her through the experiment.
When I'd heard he was teaching her hands-on, I'd assumed they were facing each other.
I never imagined it looked like this.
Evening.
I was packing my bags when Mamie posted again.
【The moonlight is beautiful tonight.】
【I have someone with me. Do you?】
The photo showed two silhouettes making a heart shape with their hands.
There was no question.
This was Mamie provoking me.
I didn't confront anyone. I just quietly liked the post and went back to packing. By the time I finished, the post had already been deleted.
But messages from classmates and friends were already coming in.
【Someone saw the person making the heart with Mamie. It was Barnaby.】
【Felicia, you should keep an eye out. Barnaby and Mamie seem to be getting closer and closer lately.】
I sent the same reply to all of them：【His legs are his own. Where he runs off to play hero isn't my problem.】
That night.
Barnaby didn't come home until midnight. The moment he got into bed, he pulled me into his arms. The smell of alcohol on him was laced with the familiar scent of our laundry detergent.
My stomach turned.
I tried to pull away.
He only held on tighter.
“Felicia.”
“Make me egg fried rice in the morning.”
In the end, I gave up trying.
The next morning, Barnaby took a dress out of the closet. The dress I'd been saving to wear to the courthouse.
“Felicia.”
“Mamie wants to do a photoshoot today. Let her borrow this.”
One second before,
I thought he was getting it out for me.
One second later,
all I felt was disappointment.
“What's with that look? It's just for one day. Don't be so petty. Consider it your apology for badmouthing her last time.”
