I carried you for nine months, Emily! How can
you say I don’t want you? Don’t you have a
heart? Do you know how hard the past three
years have been for me?”
“Come live with me and your stepdad. A young
woman shouldn’t be living alone.”
I looked at her and laughed. “No, thank you.”
“Why?”
“I’m not a child anymore. You should focus on
my brother.”
I didn’t need her the way I used to. What I
craved wasn’t just having someone to live with.
<
2
craved wash just naving someone to live with.
I wanted unconditional love, unwavering
support, a safe haven when I was scared and vulnerable. She didn’t understand.
But I still made peace with her. I comforted her, telling her not to overthink things, that my brother needed her, and I would visit when I had time.
She finally left, tears in her eyes. “Your brother has early childhood classes now. I’m so busy. Come have dinner with us when you’re free.”
I looked at this forty–something woman. She no longer dressed as meticulously as before. She carried a large tote bag filled with my brother’s things. She used to wear heels every day, now
she wore comfortable flats. But her face… it
held a happiness I’d never seen before.
In that moment, I understood why she divorced.
my dad. Everyone deserves to pursue
happiness
<
12:32
E2
“Okay,” I said, turning and walking into a
nearby store, picking out a small toy. “Give this to him.”
“I will. I’ll tell him it’s from his big sister.” My mom wiped her tears and hailed a cab.
18
That evening, Alex took me for a walk by the lake. He held my hand, then pulled out a cigarette. I discreetly let go of his hand as he lit it. He tilted his head, using his left hand to hold the lighter. Before flicking it, he spun the lighter in his hand.
That small gesture stopped me in my tracks. Jake also lit his cigarettes with his left hand, spinning the lighter before igniting it.
He was about to light the cigarette when he
noticed me watching. He paused, then put it
away.
Iseled anlmlu
E2
“What’s wrong?” I asked calmly.
“Not smoking anymore. Quitting.” He walked over and tossed both the lighter and cigarette into a trash can. Then he took my hand again.
My mind raced. I was suspicious, but it didn’t make sense.
As we reached an intersection, a group of burly men with tattooed arms blocked our path.
“Boss, why haven’t you come to see us?” the leader, a man with a menacing face, asked.
I’d seen plenty of men like him in Myanmar. But
seeing them here made my heart pound. It
wasn’t sure if this was Jake, or just the well-
dressed man who looked exactly like him. If it
was Alex, we were both dead.
“Run,” I whispered.
He tightened his grip on my hand, glancing.
behind us. Another group of men had appeared.
This was an ambush, planned, not a
coincidence.
Alex scanned our surroundings, then squeezed
my hand reassuringly.
“What do you think you’re going to do?” he
chuckled.
He wasn’t backing down. He was going to fight.
He pulled out a small knife, dragged me to a
nearby car, and used the knife to unlock the
door in under five seconds, shoving me inside.
“Alex, I’ll call the police,” I grabbed his hand as
he turned to leave.
“Don’t. Stay in here, lock the doors.” He leaned in, kissed my forehead, and ruffled my hair.
“Don’t he afraid ”
<
“I’m Jake.”
Those two words made my mind go blank.
Jake wasn’t dead. The murderous devil from
Myanmar, he was back. I didn’t know whether
to be relieved or terrified.
For the next fifteen minutes, he fought them all,
more than twenty men. I couldn’t bear to watch,
yet I couldn’t look away. Anyone who tried to
open the car door was knocked to the ground.
When he finally pulled me out of the car, his
body covered in blood, I felt like I was back in
that small Myanmar village, trapped by his side,
witnessing his brutality firsthand. The men on
the ground groaned and writhed in pain.
“Your place?” he asked.
“Jake, I was wrong! Please, don’t hurt my
<
12:32
family!” I pleaded, trembling.
I didn’t know what he was doing here. He’d
always been in Myanmar. This wasn’t his
territory.
“Let’s go home.”
He carried me to a taxi and took me back to my apartment. I didn’t dare call the police. He’d find
a way to punish me.
Back at my place, I saw how badly he was injured, multiple stab wounds on his back and waist. He didn’t make a sound as he went to
the bathroom to clean himself up.
“Should I get you some bandages and
medicine?” I wanted to call my parents, warn
them to stay away.
“No.” He grabbed my hand. “They probably
have more men.”
