"I Want Out"
He turned his gaze to me. Not just remorse, but a raw wound exposed. "Vivian coming here… what you said to her… was right." His voice held newfound, painful clarity. "I trapped myself… I trapped her in the past. Thought it was duty… it was cowardice." He looked into my eyes, deep and weary. "Amy… give me time. Don’t know how long… But this time… I want… out." He reached out. Not hovering. Gently, tentatively, he took my hand where it hung. His palm was hot, damp, trembling.
Surface Calm
Days passed slowly. James kept up his appointments, but the tension eased slightly. Vivian vanished. No calls, no messages. The monthly transfer left an ugly blank space, then vanished. James sometimes stared blankly out windows. I knew. Amy was our sole light. She drew stick figures holding hands, taped pictures to our bed. Daddy drawn tallest. James would see them, eyes reddening, then crush her in a hug, face buried in her small shoulder.
An Unexpected Transfer
One evening after dinner, Amy building towers on the rug. James cleared dishes, more efficient now. Water ran in the kitchen. My phone vibrated. Bank alert. I tapped it open. A deposit. Amount: fifty thousand yuan. Sender: Vivian Greene. Memo: Repayment. I stared. Fingers turned cold. Fifty thousand? Ten thousand monthly for nearly four years… it wasn’t arithmetic. It was symbolic closure. James emerged, wiping hands, saw me frozen, face draining. He hurried over, saw the screen, froze. "She…" his voice choked.
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He turned his gaze to me. Not just remorse, but a raw wound exposed. "Vivian coming here… what you said to her… was right." His voice held newfound, painful clarity. "I trapped myself… I trapped her in the past. Thought it was duty… it was cowardice." He looked into my eyes, deep and weary. "Amy… give me time. Don’t know how long… But this time… I want… out." He reached out. Not hovering. Gently, tentatively, he took my hand where it hung. His palm was hot, damp, trembling.
Surface Calm
Days passed slowly. James kept up his appointments, but the tension eased slightly. Vivian vanished. No calls, no messages. The monthly transfer left an ugly blank space, then vanished. James sometimes stared blankly out windows. I knew. Amy was our sole light. She drew stick figures holding hands, taped pictures to our bed. Daddy drawn tallest. James would see them, eyes reddening, then crush her in a hug, face buried in her small shoulder.
An Unexpected Transfer
One evening after dinner, Amy building towers on the rug. James cleared dishes, more efficient now. Water ran in the kitchen. My phone vibrated. Bank alert. I tapped it open. A deposit. Amount: fifty thousand yuan. Sender: Vivian Greene. Memo: Repayment. I stared. Fingers turned cold. Fifty thousand? Ten thousand monthly for nearly four years… it wasn’t arithmetic. It was symbolic closure. James emerged, wiping hands, saw me frozen, face draining. He hurried over, saw the screen, froze. "She…" his voice choked.
NEXT >>
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