Chapter 7

I never imagined Alex would abandon me.

He loved me so much.

My hands and feet were always cold.

In winter, he would wrap my small hands in his warm ones, placing them against his chest to warm them.

At night, he would check the floor heating in my room and thoughtfully prepare a hot water bottle for me.

When I was fifteen, I had an argument with him and angrily ran away.

He was too proud to chase after me.

That night, I encountered some thugs on the street and almost got into trouble.

He rushed to my rescue, using his young fists to fight off the menacing drunkards.

That was the first time I saw fear and panic in his eyes.

He held me tightly, his injured lips resting against my ear, whispering my name repeatedly.

“Clara.”

“Clara.”

“I’m sorry, it’s my fault.”

“There won’t be a next time.”

“From now on, I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

He succeeded in not letting anyone else hurt me.

Later, he was the one who personally plunged the knife deep into my heart.

Uttering the cruelest words in the calmest voice.

He said, “Clara, I don’t love you anymore.”

But Alex, do you know?

More than not being loved, I would rather you had simply not wanted me.