I took the opportunity to quietly pack up my things. I came with nothing, and I would leave the same way. I couldn’t take anything with me—nor did I want to.
On the third morning, the assistant arrived in a hurry, his face pale with urgency.
"Madam, Mr. Rivers has been working overtime at the company. He suddenly fainted this morning and was rushed to the hospital."
I remained silent, the words barely registering.
Is he really busy working overtime? Or is he busy with someone else?
"Madam," the assistant continued, voice shaky, "before he fainted, the president kept calling your name. Please, come with me."
The car sped down the road, its tires screeching as it cut through the streets. We stopped at the downtown plaza, near the St. Mary’s Hospital.
"Madam, the car broke down. The hospital is close; please walk the rest of the way."
The driver opened the door, bowing respectfully, a silent invitation.
I stepped out, stunned, my heart pounding as I stood in the downtown plaza.
Suddenly, a loud rumble echoed above me.
Snowflakes began to fall from the sky, swirling around me like ghosts of the past, and I felt the cold seep into my bones.
Brookdale has never seen snow.
I used to tell Marcus about the winters in my hometown, how the snow would blanket everything, so pure and beautiful.
"Lila."
The moment I turned around, I saw him.
Marcus, looking perfectly fine—vibrant, full of energy, his health nowhere near the fragile state I had imagined.
He walked toward me, holding a box in his hand, his steps quick.
When he reached me, he slowly opened the box, revealing a set of pigeon blood red diamond necklaces that sparkled in the dim light.
"Lila, do you like it?" he asked, his voice smooth, confident. "I bought this at an auction in Italy. Only you, Lila, can match such a beautiful diamond."
He reached forward and gently draped the necklace around my neck.
Snowflakes began to fall, delicate and slow, landing on our heads as if the world was frozen in time.
He wrapped me in his arms, his face filled with an apologetic softness. "Lila, do you like it? I’ve been so busy with work lately, and I’ve neglected you. I’m sorry."
"If we can stand in the snow together in the future, growing old side by side... I’ll love you forever, Lila. In this life, and the next."
His words should have been comforting, but they felt hollow in my chest.