He still thought I was throwing a tantrum.
I snorted. “Greg, your sister–in–law is living
with you.”
There was a moment of silence. “I’ll find you a
fake husband. Then we can all live together
く
and no one will gossip.”
How pathetic.
I laughed, tears running down my face. “Greg,
I’m not desperate for you.”
The boarding announcement came over the
loudspeaker.
Greg sounded angry.
“I tolerated you for ten years. You think
anyone else wants you?”
“Stop acting and come back here. You have
one hour. Ashley and Tyler are waiting for
dinner.”
I hung up immediately.
I took the SIM card out and tossed it in the
trash.
The plane took off, heading straight into the
sunrise.
That orange light, I took a deep breath.
Time to start a new life.
く
Professor Davis sent someone from the lab to
pick me up.
He said it was one of the lab’s rising stars.
I was supposed to hear about the latest
research on the drive over.
I thought Professor Davis was being nice to
- me.
I couldn’t believe who came.
I looked at the guy standing there, all grown
- up.
He recognized me, “Amy! Long time no see.”
Yeah, a long time.
Ten years, stuck in Greg’s house like a
prisoner.
It was crazy how ten years could change
things.
The kid who used to follow me around was
now a top researcher.
My eyes welled up. “Wow, David, I should call
you Professor Wilson.”
く
David laughed. “Don’t be like that. If you
hadn’t left, this wouldn’t have happened.”
The truth was, my family wanted me to break
off my engagement with Greg, which was also
a key time for a big project.
I went back, but I only found Greg’s change of
heart.
The project had wrapped up.
The lab had been given a new project, and
Professor Davis had chosen me.
But then Ashley ran away.
My family begged me to marry Greg.
In the end, I said yes.
I didn’t know it would be ten years.
On the drive, I listened to David, but it felt
foreign.
I’d been away for too long.
David had become someone I could only
dream of.
I was even more surprised that Professor
く
Davis hadn’t given up on me.
I looked at David, “Professor Wilson, I don’t
understand.”
David stopped and laughed. “You’re making
me sound so old.”
“Just call me David.”
I felt even worse, “I can’t do research.”
David sighed. “Amy, you’re the reason we can
get through this project.”
“I thought we can figure it out if you came
back.”
I knew he was being nice, but I couldn’t help
feel bad.
I’ve spent ten years raising a kid.
The only thing I knew was that nobody
wanted me.
Greg didn’t.
Tyler didn’t.
Even my parents didn’t.
I wanted to let them know I wasn’t able to
く
contribute.
“The project has gotten so far ahead of me.
And I’m not the same anymore. David, please
don’t…”
David pulled over and stared at me.
“Amy, don’t think I’m being kind.”
“Professor Davis still thinks of you. You’re still
great.”
“Only you can do the lab’s project.”
“Even after ten years, you still have
knowledge. You’re our genius.”
“Trust me, you can do it.”
His words hit me in the chest.
Did someone want me?
Did someone need me?
Tears ran down my face, and I nodded.
“I can do it!”
David smiled. “I know you!”
“I got all of the files ready for you. When you
heal, you can learn more.”
く
I thought he would make eggs or noodles.
I was wrong.
There was a lot of food!
It was my favorite.
I didn’t know, but I didn’t ask.
David took care of me, and my leg healed.
After a month, I could walk.
