- 3.
Leaving Ethan’s office, I felt numb.
Looking at the sleek, sophisticated office, I
felt a profound sadness.
In my junior year, Ethan’s family suffered a
setback, losing their wealth.
It was through my jewelry designs that he
slowly rebuilt the family fortune.
To boost his image, I put my name on all my
designs.
He became a famous designer and
businessman. To this day, I haven’t received a
single paycheck.
I didn’t linger, returning home to pack my
things.
If I remembered correctly, my second
く
keepsake was at home.
But no matter how hard I searched, I couldn’t
find the jade pendant my mother left me.
My parents died when I was very young.
On her deathbed, my mother gave me the
jade pendant.
She said if I ever needed money, I should sell
- it.
Even in high school, when I went a whole
week without food, I didn’t sell the pendant.
I searched until midnight, turning the whole house upside down. I still couldn’t find it.
Frantic, I was about to call Ethan to ask about
the pendant when…
Lana called a video chat.
A wave of unease washed over me. My
fingers trembled as I answered the call. “Lori, good evening.“.
Lana gave a creepy smile. The camera
switched to the rear–facing lens.
<
Ethan was lying naked on a hotel bed.
“Your husband is amazing.”
Lana’s voice was slurred.
From the messy hotel room, I could imagine
how wild they’d been.
The camera switched again. Lana held up a
jade pendant to her ear.
“Ethan told me you said you’d leave if your
three keepsakes disappeared, right?”
With that, she tossed the jade pendant, arcing
through the air, and into the cold sea.
“Lori, if I were you, I’d just disappear quietly.”
“You know what Ethan just said to me?”
“That he can’t find any spiritual joy with you.”
“That you’re like a dead fish.”
With that, Lana hung up.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my
skin until it bled.
Since the jade pendant was gone, there was
no point in searching.
L
I packed my bags and drove to a temple in
the suburbs.
It was late at night. As I reached the temple
gates, the door opened.
A young monk peeked out.
Before I could speak, he said,
“Ma’am, we’ve been expecting you.
“Is your abbot resting?”
I asked apologetically.
“The abbot passed away a year and a half
ago. He told me you’d come tonight and asked me to give you this.”
The monk handed me a worn pouch.
Looking at the pouch, a mix of emotions
flooded me.
After Ethan and I fell in love, at the height of our passion, we visited this temple to pray. While praying, the abbot approached us and asked if we had something he could keep for
- us.
L
“My children, if I don’t keep this for you,
you’ll never find it again.‘
Then, Ethan hesitated for a long time before
taking off the pouch I’d given him and giving
it to the abbot.
“Master, please keep this pouch, a witness to
our love, for us.”
I remembered that as we left the mountain,
Ethan’s eyes were full of stars and love. “Lori, this way, our love will never disappear.” Only now did I remember that the abbot had said those words to me, his eyes full of pity.
Perhaps he knew everything.
I didn’t stay. I drove away from that city full of
memories.
Three days later, Ethan returned home,
beaming.
But when he saw the empty, messy house, he
panicked.
