“Ryan, I have a headache, I don’t feel well…..
Am I going to die?”
“Eleanor, I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was yours.
The doctor said turtle soup was good for my
illness, and I couldn’t tell the difference…
Don’t hit me, I really messed up…‘
دو
She covered her face and started crying.
Brandon walked in with Sarah’s medicine.
Seeing Sarah so upset, he felt bad for her.
“It’s just a turtle. Don’t worry, Sarah!”
“Ryan, you know why! It’s more than just a
turtle!”
I stood up, in pain, desperately asking Ryan.
But he picked up Sarah without even turning
around.
“No matter what, her life is more important
than a turtle’s. It died, I’ll get you another
one.”
He left to take Sarah upstairs.
Brandon followed like a knight guarding a
princess.
“That’s right. Why do you even have the right
to question Sarah? If your flesh could be used
as medicine, you should give it if Ryan
asked!”
Sarah smugly looked at me as they walked up
く
the stairs.
I gripped the turtle shell, and finally the tears
came.
I ran to the kitchen and pulled all the pieces
of the turtle from the soup.
I found a place in the garden and buried it.
“I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I chose the wrong
guy and made you suffer…”
وو
The turtle shell shook in the wind.
It was covered in scratches from the knife
Sarah had used.
I was heartbroken. I covered it with dirt, not
caring that my hands were being cut by the
L
branches.
I sat there all night.
The next day, Ryan placed a shawl around my
shoulders.
He had a new turtle tank, with two turtles
swimming inside.
“Eleanor, I know you’re sad. It was an
accident. These two turtles represent us.
Take care of them like you used to. It’s better
than one.”
I stared at them, feeling nothing but disgust.
Did he really think that everything could be
replaced?
く
Seeing me silent, Ryan emphasized,
“Sarah picked them out last night. Don’t
blame her.”
I glared at him, scoffed, and walked away.
They were his and Sarah’s turtles, not mine.
The one that was mine, the one that
represented my relationship with Ryan, was
gone forever.
Ryan couldn’t handle my coldness.
He caught up to me and grabbed my wrist.
“Eleanor, don’t be like this. I agreed to marry
you! What else do you want me to do? Do
you really want me to send Sarah away? She
doesn’t have much time left! Are you even
human?”
I walked away and said,
“You misunderstood. That’s not what I want.
She can stay as long as she wants.”
I walked a little more, then added,
“Also, let’s call off the wedding.”
Ryan was silent, not saying anything.
I went back to my room, lay down on the bed,
and fell asleep.
I dreamed about Ryan and me, our first
meeting, the way he warmed my feet, our
turtle. But his face kept blurring until I
coulan ́t see nim anymore…
When I woke up, it was dark.
As soon as I opened the door, Sarah rushed
up to me and fell to her knees.
“Eleanor, please give me back the picture my
mom gave me!”
“I know that turtle was special to you, I was
wrong, but that’s the last thing my mom gave
me! Please don’t take it!”
“What are you talking about? Get up!”
I was confused, struggling, but Sarah was
surprisingly strong.
Ryan wasn’t home.
Brandon walked up with red eyes and kicked
me to the ground.
I touched my stomach and couldn’t get up.
Brandon looked at me, disgusted and
disappointed.
“You used to fight for me, and now you’re
bullying a sick woman! Eleanor, how could
you be so evil!”
My memory went back five years.
He was in trouble at school and doing stupid
things.
The first time I saw him, he was surrounded
by thugs.
く
I didn’t know he was Ryan’s brother. I ran over
to protect him.
