I’d thought for a moment. “Could you help me
find someone? His name is Daniel. He’s a war
photographer.”
<
10:53
544
0000
His face darkened. “What’s he to you? If you
don’t tell me, I won’t help.”
I bit my lip. “He’s my brother. My cousin’s son.”
His expression softened. He nodded. “I’ll see
what I can do.” Then he left.
I watched him go, pulling a photograph from my
wallet. It was a picture of a lean, handsome
man, strikingly similar to Ethan. I traced his
features. Ethan had such a terrible memory. I’d
told him I grew up in foster care, that I didn’t
have any cousins. I’d told him about the boy in
the foster home who’d looked after me, how
we’d grown up together. He’d heard, but he’d
forgotten. He never questioned why I was so
drawn to his face. Just his face.
Ethan really loved Olivia. Even after all these
years of her indecisiveness, her refusal to
commit, he was devoted. And I really loved
Ethan
—
or rather, his face. The face that
<
10:53
looked so much like Daniel’s.
544
I was grateful to Ethan. He’d been my lifeline. I’d lost contact with Daniel three years before I met Ethan. Everyone said he was gone. I was a walking ghost. Until I saw Ethan, a year younger than me, a junior at my college. Seeing his face, so like Daniel’s, I wept.
I’d found ways to be near him, doing everything for him without asking for anything in return. Everyone knew I was Ethan’s shadow, carrying his bag, his jacket, fetching things for him, relaying messages between him and Olivia, taking care of him when he was drunk. Maybe I
was too good to him, too devoted for him to
ignore.
So one night, after a fight with Olivia, he pulled
me into his arms, drunk and slurring, “You like
me, don’t you?”
Looking at that face, I nodded.
<
10:54
0203
~
From that day on, I became Ethan’s secret girlfriend. If a backup plan could be called a girlfriend. That arrangement lasted for six years. Ethan and Olivia never worked out, but
somehow, he and I ended up living together.
Sometimes, he’d hold me and say, “Avery,
you’re the best woman to me. You don’t even
care about my money.”
“I wouldn’t refuse it if you offered,” I’d teased.
“But you don’t ask for it.” He’d study my face
with those dark eyes. “You don’t spend my
money, you don’t wear the jewelry I buy you, you don’t pressure me to go public.” He’d add, almost thoughtfully, “Sometimes I even wonder
if you’re using me as a placeholder.”
I’d just nuzzle into his chest, laughing.
Placeholder or not, it didn’t matter. We’d spent
six years together. Those years were important
to me. But not to Ethan.
544
く
10:54
544
2030
He still loved Olivia. A late–night drunken phone
call from her and he’d be out the door in a flash. At first, he’d leave without a word. Later, he started making excuses, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. I thought it meant I was becoming more important. I was wrong.
He still chased after Olivia, leaving the country without a backward glance. And he was gone
for a year.
He came back once during that year. Drunk, he called me to pick him up. He was in a VIP room at a club, video chatting with Olivia. Seeing me, he beckoned me over. “Avery, come here.” He turned the phone to me. “Let me introduce you. This is my girlfriend of six years, Avery.”
Olivia’s face was impassive, but her eyes
lingered on me for a moment before a small
smile played on her lips. “Ethan, have you
moved on?”
10:54
く
((
544
He smiled back. “Yeah. Why would I keep
chasing you when I have a wonderful, caring woman at home?”
Olivia watched as he put his arm around me and asked how long we’d been together. I answered honestly: six years. Olivia hung up without another word. Even the usually
composed Olivia couldn’t hide her shock.
Ethan’s arm tightened around me, then
suddenly went still. That night, he’d held me
close as we slept. Then he’d taken a phone call.
When he came back, he kissed me relentlessly,
watching me all night. By morning, his voice
was hoarse. “Avery, it’s over between us.”
I hadn’t slept either. I’d overheard his phone
call. Olivia had told him to break up with me.
She said if he did, she’d be with him. I knew I
couldn’t compete. I simply nodded, turning
away to hide the tears welling up in my eyes.
<
10:54
He held me from behind, his grip tight. He whispered in my ear, “I found your cousin’s
son. He’s not dead. He has amnesia and he’s
living overseas.”
644
My whole body went rigid. I turned to face him. “Can you bring him back?”
He kissed my lips one last time. “Yes. I owe you that.” He left that same day to go back to Olivia. A few days later, I saw Daniel. He was in the best hospital, with the best doctors. His memory soon returned. He remembered me.
Daniel had been injured and lost his memory
while saving a child in a war zone. The moment
he woke up, he held me tight, his voice gentle in my ear, “I’m so sorry you had to go through
all this while I was gone.”
I burst into tears. The emptiness inside me
finally began to heal.
く
Daniel and I had lost ten years. We didn’t want
to waste another moment. We got engaged
quickly. He asked if I had loved anyone else
during those ten years, warning me not to rush
into anything I’d regret. Ethan’s face flashed
through my mind, then vanished. I shook my
head, smiling. “No.” I traced the scar on
Daniel’s hand, a reminder of his bravery. “No,” I
repeated firmly.
