He told Zach to stop calling him Daddy. The
name reminded him too much of the child he’d
lost.
Ashley was furious. She locked herself in her
room, refusing to eat or drink.
She was sure Ethan would come crawling back,
apologizing, giving in.
Just like he always had.
But he didn’t.
“You weren’t like this before!” she cried.
Ethan looked at her calmly. “I helped you before
10:45
62
because I thought I was the reason your
marriage fell apart. But why should I help your
now? You slept with me while I was still married
to Anna. You’re not a good person, Ashley.”
“You wanted to marry me, and I did. But you
expect me to keep supporting you like before?
No way.”
Ashley raged, she cried, she had a complete
meltdown.
Ethan just watched.
A few days before I returned, they got divorced.
The day after I got back, Ethan called, eager to
meet.
Refreshed from my travels, I put on some light
makeup and a simple, elegant dress.
I was shocked when I saw Ethan. He used to be
<
handsome, the reason Ashley chased him for so
long. Now, he looked gaunt and haggard, sitting
listlessly by the cafe window.
His eyes were dull, fixed on his coffee cup.
They only lit up when he saw me.
He stood to pull out a chair for me. I thanked
him and sat down.
He seemed nervous, pushing my coffee towards
- me. “Caramel macchiato. Your favorite. This
place makes a good one.”
He waited until I took a sip before asking
cautiously, “How are you, Anna?”
I dabbed my mouth with a napkin. “I’m good.”
He looked down for a moment, then back up at
me, his eyes full of hope. “Can you… give me
another chance?”
>
10:45
I chuckled softly. “Do you think that’s
possible?”
62
The light in his eyes flickered and died. “No… I guess not…”
“I have a new love.” I paused. “Someone smarter than you, more reliable than you, and someone who loves me more than you ever did. And most importantly, someone who will never betray me.”
Ethan looked agitated. “Who is it, Anna? Don’t be naive. Let me tell you, men…”
“It’s me.” I smiled. “Before I find someone else
I love, I need to learn to love myself.”
Ethan visibly relaxed, then tensed again when I
mentioned finding someone else. He opened his
mouth to speak, but his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen, his face falling.
10:45
62
“Ashley? Figures, even when talking about our
divorce, her calls still interrupt us.” I was
completely over it now, even finding it mildly
amusing.
“Anna, we’re divorced. I haven’t spoken to her.
She’s the one who keeps calling…” He kept
declining the calls, but Ashley was persistent.
Finally, he answered.
Ashley’s voice was loud enough for me to hear.
“Zach’s gone! He’s missing! You have to
come!”
Ethan hesitated, looking at me, then stood and
ran out of the cafe.
See?
If I hadn’t left, there would have been a 78th
time, a 79th time, a 100th, a 200th…
10:45
I heard the rest of the story from the gossipy
gym owner.
Ashley had taken Zach to an amusement park.
She’d let go of his hand for a moment, and he’d vanished. He was never found.
Ashley blamed Ethan. “If you hadn’t divorced
me, I wouldn’t have been alone with him at the park! I wouldn’t have lost him!”
Ethan blamed Ashley. “You were supposed to
be watching him!”
They tore each other apart. Ashley even had a
mental breakdown.
I didn’t follow the story any further. I applied to
a design program in Spain, planning to get my
master’s degree. I wanted to spend some time
in Europe, soaking up the sun on the
Mediterranean coast.
<
They tore each other apart. Ashley even had a
mental breakdown.
I didn’t follow the story any further. I applied to
a design program in Spain, planning to get my
master’s degree. I wanted to spend some time
in Europe, soaking up the sun on the
Mediterranean coast.
We are but fleeting beings in this vast universe,
as insignificant as a grain of sand in the ocean.
Ethan’s 77 disappointments had once
consumed my world, plunging me into darkness.
But after seeing the world, experiencing its
vastness, I realized how small my problems
were, how insignificant. What did it all matter,
in the grand scheme of things?
