Chapter 10
Three days later, Jacob finally made it back to the old house in the countryside.]]
The yard was quiet.
When he saw the base of the jujube tree carefully wrapped in burlap, his eyes went red again.
In the distance, the sound of children reciting echoed from the little schoolhouse:
“Spring morning, I sleep unaware, the birds are singing everywhere…”
Jacob followed the familiar voice and spotted me standing at the front of the class, holding a reader.
After coming home, I took a job teaching at the elementary school.]
My Ethan never got the chance to go to school, but the other kids here still could.]
After class, I was walking toward the office with my lesson plans when I saw Jacob at the end of the hallway.
He stood tall in his crisp uniform, looking almost exactly like he used to–except for the pale stubble on his chin that added a trace of weariness.
I turned to leave, but Jacob quickly caught up and grabbed my arm.
“Ellie…. I didn’t know you were teaching again..
I let out a short, cold laugh.
0
Yeah, if I’d known I’d end up teaching myself, I wouldn’t have dragged Ethan to the city, just for him to be turned away from school after school.“] Jacob scratched his nose awkwardly.
e.1
“Ellie, I know you’re still mad at me. You have every right to be.”
Tve cut things off with Lillian for good.“]
“Can you just… give me one more chance?”
“Don’t shut me out completely
His voice was low and full of emotion, his eyes shining with unshed tears.]
Please
I stared out toward the hills in the distance and slowly shook my head.
Jacob, let it go.
There’s no going back.
It’s like that jujube tree in the yard.“]
“After Ethan died, no one tended to it anymore.
1:ned everything to bring it back, but it still withered and died.“)
7 did resent you.
Tor a long time. But eventually, I made peace with IL
Before Ethan passed, he made me promise not to blame you.“]
He said you were our Lero.
That you were a good dad.”
I looked up at him, his eyes dazed and hollow.
“If you really regret what happened, then serve this country well“]
“Don’t let Lihan down. I
I turned away from the stunned man and walked quickly back to my classroom.[]
The bed rang, and the kids came charging into the room like a tidal wave
Jacob finally bänked back to reality, turned, and walked away}}
The next thirty years
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I stayed in that vilage, teaching and raising generations of bads. I never belt.{}
Job: If seemed, had finally found forwa
Every time he left on assignment, he’d stop by to listen to one of my classes from outside the window He never interrupted]]
But every time he left, he’d leave behind a bag if peanut butter codes and a service medal!]
Eventually, jacub stopped showing up
But his comrades would stil deilver the same gift at the same time every year
Dag of peasut butter coutes
When I turned sixty, I stood at the front of that and clam and taught my final lesa
Chapter 10
Before the bell rang, I glanced out the window at the hillside.
Under the blooming Paulownia tree.
That’s where my son is buried.]
“Ethan… Mommy misses you.”
“Mommy spent her whole life teaching.
“Did you hear it all?”
