Chapter 9
The little girl wasn’t afraid of people and took my mom’s hand, leading her out of the hospital.
“Auntie, I’ll help you look for it. It must be really important to you.”
My mom vaguely agreed.
The two of them started searching by the lake…
The little girl’s parents were frantic
when they realized she was missing and immediately called the police.
When the officers found them, the two were jumping with joy by the lake.
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My mom ultimately found my gold ring, but she could never find me again.
It seemed she realized this too, as a look of desolation washed over her.
Sylvia hurried over, furiously yelling at my mom, “Why did you take someone else’s child with you?!”
My mom proudly showed her the gold ring in her hand, “Look, this is the gift your sister bought me with her first paycheck.”
Sylvia’s expression froze.
“Mom, Odelia is gone… When will you accept this reality?”
My mom ignored her, turning to thank the little girl instead.
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4
Over the years, my mom had gained some weight, and the ring simply wouldn’t fit anymore.
But she still forced it onto her finger, gritting her teeth.
Her finger turned a swollen purple.
“Mom! You’re crazy! You’ll ruin your hand like that!”
“What’s the point of doing this now? Do you think Odelia can see it? Or forgive you? The dead are gone, can’t we who are alive live well?”
My mom suddenly looked stern, “You are the one who has wronged your sister the most! How can you speak like that?!”
“Yes, I wronged Odelia! But who’s to blame?!
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Who told me my whole life that my poor health was because of Odelia? Who told me that Odelia had to be called Odelia because no matter what, in any situation, she must give in to me!”
“Tell me, whose fault is it really?!”
I watched as the two people who once were the closest became enemies, and surprisingly, I felt little emotion.
It was as if my mom was struck by these words, and she ran off like a madwoman.
Alpha Nolan stood by, watching it all unfold.
Sylvia walked past him, and they didn’t even glance at each other.
Like strangers passing by.
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Some pains only grow clearer with time.
Alpha Nolan always believed he and Odelia had a future, that even if they missed this wedding, they would have another chance.
He thought the time I was avoiding him was just me pouting over something trivial.
After all, we had a profound connection; we were destined partners, and no matter what he did, I would understand and accept it!
But one sudden day, I shut myself away at home.
He began drinking, losing track of day and night, drowning himself in bottle after bottle to escape the shackles of reality.
Sometimes, he would sit at home, looking at our old photos, at the pictures of me in a
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wedding dress on social media, smiling at first.
Then, as he kept smiling, he started to cry, eventually breaking into loud sobs like a child, sprawled out on the living room floor.
He called me heartless, lamenting how I had left him so decisively.
Then he seemed to think of something else and added, “Well, a man like me doesn’t deserve to be with you, anyway. I’m not worthy…”
At night, he would wrap all my old clothes around himself, as if that act could provide some comfort.
Only then could he smell the familiar scent, remember the days when we only had eyes for each other.
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If it had been the old me, I would have felt heartbroken, but now I just watched, numb and indifferent.
Ghosts don’t need sleep, and now I’d rather watch the passage of time through the window than look at this man.