I looked around helplessly. All the sadness I had been holding in finally burst out the moment security guards came to escort me away.
“Why? Why are you treating me like this? What did I do wrong? Alexei, did you forget? You once swore in front of my parents that you’d treat me well for life!”
Thinking of the past, I wiped my tears and kept crying. “Alexei, you weren’t like this before. You loved me so much.”
“You used to bring me small cakes from your office, holding them carefully in your hands. On my birthday, when we had no money, you secretly sold your blood just to buy me a gift.”
“And once, when you lost your job, I sold our wedding jewelry to help us get by. When you found out, you cried alone for so long and said you’d become successful—so I’d never have to suffer again.”
“How long has it even been? Have you forgotten everything? Just last night we were still holding each other!”
Alexei looked at me quietly. A thousand emotions seemed to stir in his eyes. In the end, he only sighed softly.
“Emilia, that was ten years ago. I have my own family now, my own life. I can’t—and I won’t—go back to the past for you.”
Then what about me? What was I supposed to be? And what about the child inside me?
Just yesterday, Alexei was still eagerly waiting for our baby to be born. Why did he suddenly have a family with another woman overnight?
I cried until I could hardly breathe. But Alexei was determined to send me away. Even Camille couldn’t bear it and tried to persuade him to let me stay. He still wouldn’t change his mind.
He simply turned his head away and said in a tone I couldn’t quite understand, “Emilia, people can’t live in the past forever. I can’t and neither can you.”
I froze for a moment. Then slowly, I loosened my grip—on his hand and on the past I refused to let go of.
Yes… everyone else has moved on. No one should have to stay behind with me in yesterday.
I lowered my head and walked slowly toward the door. My mother tried several times to speak, to stop me. Yet, after hesitating, she stayed silent.
When I reached a familiar door, I took a deep breath. I wished that by opening it, I could return to ten years ago—to those who truly loved me.
But no.
Beyond that strange door was a strange hallway. The family I once knew looked at me with unfamiliar eyes.