7
I looked at him one last time.
The days we spent scrimping and saving in our little apartment. The joy of opening the firm for the first time.
He had said, “We’re going to be together forever.”
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We’ll have our own home in this city, get married, have kids, and never be apart.”
It all felt like yesterday, and yet a lifetime ago.
My eyes welled up, but my mind was clear. I had truly let go.
“Are you sure you want to do this? Yes, I made the rule. But the three days are over, and I’m the one who came to you. What more do you want?”
I had said everything I needed to say. I didn’t want to drag it out. I turned to leave.
He grabbed my arm again, his brow furrowed, but his eyes were bright.
“The firm has a big case coming up. If we win, we can go public.”
“You said you would handle it personally. Have you forgotten?”
I hadn’t forgotten. Not long ago, I was still dreaming about it. After the firm went public, Steve and I would
get our license and have a cozy little home.
But Steve’s promises were too fragile.
“Merrin, please, don’t do this.”
“I’m going abroad to visit my family soon. Don’t make me leave with this hanging over my head.”
Before I could say anything, his phone rang. He glanced at it, frowned, and hung up. But it rang again, and a
third time. He finally answered.
“Mandy, what’s wrong?”
‘Okay, don’t worry, I’m on my way. I’ll explain to my parents.”
‘Stop crying, it’s not a big deal. I’ll clear things up with them.”
‘I’m coming now. Fifteen minutes, tops. Wait for me.”
He hung up and looked at me apologetically.
‘My parents are furious that I’m not with Mandy.”
‘Either way, I started this. I need to go explain to them.”
‘Merrin, wait for me. When I get back, we’ll go get our license.”
He rushed off. I watched him go from behind the cafe window. My heart was as still as a windless lake. Not
a single ripple.
Steve went abroad. He tried calling me a few times from a different number, but I didn’t answer. Not long after he left, Mandy followed him. His parents, who adored her, were thrilled to see them together.
I started my new job. On the second day, I ran into Leo. He said he didn’t want a salary, he just wanted to be
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Chapter 2
my assistant. But a law firm isn’t a playground. I refused.
My colleagues teased me. “Does that guy have a crush on you?”
“He comes here every day. It has to be for you, right?”
“He’s so handsome. So clean-cut and well-behaved.”
I just smiled and kept organizing my files. “No, he’s my best friend’s brother.”
“If you say so,” a colleague replied with a knowing smile.
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I paused, glancing over at Leo in the corner. He was sitting quietly in the reception area, reading a book. I pursed my lips and looked away, telling myself not to make the same mistake twice.
My friend’s family was well-off, but she’d told me her aunt’s family was even richer. Leo’s family lived in the capital. He was just here for the summer to visit his grandparents. In a few weeks, he would return to a world
far removed from mine.
I started to actively avoid him. He was smart; he noticed right away.
That evening, I got a second text from him.
“Do you hate me?”
I stared at the words for a long, long time. My throat felt tight, and my chest ached. How could anyone hate
someone like Leo?
But some things are better left unsaid, undone.
“No, you’re a good person.”
“But… you’re making things a little difficult for me.”
The “typing…” indicator appeared and disappeared for a long time. Finally, he sent one last message.
“I… I’m sorry. I won’t bother you again.”
I buried my face in my pillow for a long time before I could bring myself to type back two words: “Thank you.”
