He had teased me, saying I looked like a little old lady with gray hair. I jumped into his arms, brushing snow all over him.
"Does this count as us growing old together?" I asked eagerly.
His eyes had sparkled brightly at me, like they were filled with stars. I had thought I owned him.
Unfortunately, in the river of time, those stars gradually dimmed, leaving only darkness. I had lost the most precious thing after all.
A moth made a sudden thud against the lampshade, pulling me back from my memories.
Shaun was looking at me.
After what seemed like a century, we spoke at the same time.
"Why are you crying?"
"What are you doing here?"
There was a moment of awkwardness in his expression, but he quickly regained his composure and replied, "I'm here to pick up some documents from a client who lives here."
I nodded, confirming to myself that he wasn't here to see me, strangely not disappointed.
"Missing my brother," I replied.
"You have a brother? I haven't heard you mention him before," he said, surprised.
My brother's death was not glorious. The whole city had been in an uproar back then, but the school, for privacy reasons, hadn't disclosed much.
Since then, our family rarely mentioned him, not out of shame but fear of sadness.
Now it seemed that Shaun didn't know at all that I was the sister of the person who bullied him.
I dared not to continue chatting. He had always been sensitive, and I was afraid of what he might find out, so I said goodbye to him and walked away.
A moment later, footsteps behind me made me think he had gone. Turning back, I bumped into him.
The strange smell of tobacco stimulated my nasal cavity.
Years passed, and Shaun, who had a cleanliness habit, learned to smoke.
In a panic, I pulled away and tried to walk away, but Shaun suddenly reached out, pulling me into his arms.
"Eva, do you want to come back to me?"
His voice was deep and as intoxicating as wine.
My heart raced so fast that I felt dizzy. A surge of impulse gathered in my mouth, ready to burst out, when Wilbert's text came in.
[Have you arrived home?]
Instantly, I deflated like a balloon that had lost its air, rapidly shrinking and cooling down.
"Shaun, I..." Before I could finish, I sniffled and hurriedly used a tissue to wipe it, feeling embarrassed.
He didn't laugh at me, but instead raised his hand to gently stroke my back. His voice was soothing, but I could feel his tension.