10
Three months later, Jason’s wound healed.
We moved to a new location. Before we left, I
decided to talk to him.
“Jason, thank you for saving me, but the
battlefield is dangerous.”
I said what we both knew, the words that
く
would cause him pain.
“You should go home.”
I used to hate him; seeing him was sickening.
Now, there was no love, no hate, just the
same compassion I had for anyone else.
Jason looked at me, pain flickering in his
eyes.
“But without you, I’ll die…”
His eyes reddened. He hugged me tightly. I didn’t pull away. “Jason, everyone can live
without anyone else.”
“Staying with you would make me unhappy.” He trembled and let go. His expression was
complex.
After a long pause, he asked a question he’d
been holding back.
“Lindsay, will you be happy without me?”
“I don’t know,” I replied firmly, meeting his
gaze.
“But I know that before, I was completely lost
<
in you. Coming here made me find my true
worth. It’s not about relying on others but
finding my own path.”
“I like who I am now.”
He sighed heavily.
“Maybe you’re right. I respect your choice.”
His eyes were red with sadness.
“But promise me, take care of yourself. Don’t
put yourself in danger again.”
“Ethan’s a good man. I trust him to take care
of you.”
I smiled, saying nothing.
11
After that day, I never saw Jason again. Life
returned to normal.
A week later, we moved. Jason disappeared
from my life.
Three years later, the war ended.
Ethan and I returned home. The war had
made us appreciate our ordinary lives.
<
In our first month back, Ethan proposed.
Six months later, at our wedding, I heard news of Jason from the director.
He had neglected his business, lost
everything, searching for me. After the war,
he became even more despondent.
He drank heavily, ending up with severe kidney disease. He was dying.
The director hid my return, not wanting to
worsen his condition.
Tiffany, after being rejected by Jason, had quickly found a wealthy older man. His wife found out, beat her up, and released videos
of them online.
She was labeled a home–wrecker and faced
intense online hate. She couldn’t take it and
committed suicide.
All this had nothing to do with me.
Looking at Ethan, I was grateful I’d escaped
that darkness.
Jason and Tiffany’s tragedies were their own
choices.
I focused on my new life, embracing my
bright future.
