Chapter 5

It took Connor a moment to process what I'd said. Then, he became flustered.

"I'm sorry. I completely forgot."

He took the fork from my hand and shoved the entire cake into the trash can as if venting his frustration.

"Madison mentioned this flavor was good. That was why I specially..."

I interrupted him abruptly, my voice drained, "I'm not interested in things other people like."

The engagement ring felt suffocating on my finger.

I thought, "So this is how heartbreak travels, starting at the fingertips."

I twisted the ring until my finger turned red before finally managing to pull it off. Then, I casually dropped it into the wine glass on the table.

Connor grabbed my wrist, his brow furrowed. "You're upset over this?"

He sighed with exasperation.

"You know how packed my schedule is every day. It's perfectly normal to forget little details sometimes.

"You're not seriously going to hold this against me, are you?"

I thought, "You've forgotten far too much.

It was like talking to a brick wall."

Connor started to say something else when his phone rang.

I saw the name lighting up his screen with perfect clarity.

After a moment's hesitation, he released my hand. "You need to calm down. We'll talk when you're thinking straight."

Then he grabbed his coat and left.

I stood motionless for a while, then started messaging Ella before heading to the bedroom to pack.

From graduation until now, we'd accumulated countless shared memories.

Most of our everyday items came in matching pairs: couple's slippers, gaming consoles, throw pillows...

Even the paintings on the wall were custom-made from our photos.

Traces of our life together surrounded me completely.

Facing the overwhelming mess, I took a deep breath and packed only a few clothes and valuables.

It wasn't until I was sitting in a late-night taxi, the night wind blowing against my face, that the day finally seemed to end.

The alcohol amplified my emotions as I leaned dizzily against the window.

From school uniforms to wedding dresses, our once-enviable young love.

My thoughts drifted back to graduation year.

The night Connor rushed to my house clutching his college acceptance letter, he was eager to tell the whole world we'd be together for many more years, long enough to grow numb, long enough for one to propose engagement out of fear of losing the relationship.

In the end, it became a joke.

My chest ached so intensely I could barely breathe.

Suddenly, I opened my eyes in the darkness, hearing someone desperately calling my name.

"Amelia, come to the window."