The Day I Needed Him Most, He Chose Her

"I know."

"You know?"

"The whole office talks about it. They say your ex was a real piece of work."

I stared at him for a second, then laughed.

"And you still want to try?"

He looked at me, dead serious. "That just means you had bad taste. But you don't have to pick anymore. I'll do the picking for you."

That night, I lay in bed and thought for a long time.

Not about him. About myself.

Did I still have it in me to try again?

In early November, I said yes.

Not because of anything he said. It was because of something he did.

It was my birthday. I hadn't told a soul. After work, I walked home alone and stopped at the convenience store downstairs for a cup of instant noodles.

When I got to my floor, Valentine was standing outside my door, holding a cake.

"How do you know where I live?"

"You let it slip once."

I unlocked the door. He followed me inside, glanced around. "It's small, but you keep it nice."

He set the cake on the table and lit a candle.

"Make a wish?"

I stared at that single flame, and my mind drifted to my last birthday. I'd spent it with Clay. He bought me flowers that day and told me I was the only woman he'd ever love.

When those flowers wilted, I threw them out.

"Lydia?"

I snapped back and blew out the candle.

"What'd you wish for?"

"Can't tell you."

He smiled and pulled a small box from his pocket. "Here. Birthday present."

Inside was a bracelet with a tiny pendant engraved with the word Peace.

"I hope from here on out, everything is peaceful for you."

I looked up at him.

He didn't look away. He just held my gaze, his eyes bright and steady.

"Valentine."

"Yeah?"

"Did you know I had a miscarriage?"

He went still for a moment.

"Yeah."

"And you're still here?"

He was quiet for a beat. Then he said, "That's a debt he owes you. It's not something you owe me."

I lowered my eyes to the bracelet in my hands.

"Lydia, I don't care what your past looks like. What I care about is whether you'll let me be part of what comes next."

Wind rattled softly against the windowpane.

I fastened the bracelet around my wrist and looked up at him.

"Yes."