“Vivienne, when are you coming back? Today is our seventh wedding anniversary. I’ve already booked the restaurant…”
My fingers paused as I brushed away a yellow leaf that had fallen with the wind.
‘Selene, this is the person you risked your life to protect back then. You were wrong. And I trusted the wrong person too.’
My throat suddenly felt itchy and I couldn’t help coughing twice.
“Vivienne, where are you? Why is there a man’s voice next to you?”
Vivienne hung up without saying a word. She took a mask from her coat pocket and handed it to me.
“You’re allergic to cold air. Every autumn you start coughing. Remember to wear a mask.”
I turned my head away and avoided her hand.
“It’s already cured.”
After saying goodbye to my sister, I turned and walked out.
Vivienne quickly followed after me.
I didn’t understand—seven years ago, she warned me never to appear in front of her again. Why was she now clinging to me like glue?
At the cemetery gate, a row of shared bicycles was parked.
I scanned the QR code to unlock one.
Just as I was about to pedal away, Vivienne drove her Mercedes up beside me and stopped steadily.
“Dorian, all these years… have you still been alone?”
In the autumn sunlight, there was a careful, hopeful look in her eyes.
I nodded, giving no further explanation.
This time, I came back because I wanted to tell my sister in person—I was getting married.
I was selfish enough to want to share this kind of happiness… only with her.
“Dorian, don’t force yourself when you’re alone out there. If you have any difficulties, remember you can come to me.”
“My number is still the same, it’s never changed. I was afraid that if you ever wanted to contact me, you wouldn’t be able to find me.”
I couldn’t help pulling the corner of my lips.
Who would’ve thought the person who once cut off all contact herself, the one who wished never to see me again, alive or dead, was now pretending to be so devoted and regretful?
“No thanks. I’m not interested in getting entangled with a married woman.”
I pushed hard on the pedals and the bike carried me away along the long path covered in golden ginkgo leaves.
The wheels rolled over the fallen leaves, making soft rustling sounds.
This path used to be so familiar to me.
When I was young, I loved coming here with my sister for morning runs and bike rides.
She was better than me at everything, except running.