Chapter 2

The next morning.

Brandon strolled over to the empty dining table, rubbing his temples with an irritated groan.

"No breakfast today? My stomach feels off. I was hoping for some warm oatmeal."

Without looking up, I slid Rachel's handwritten recipe across the counter toward him.

"I'm clumsy. I doubt you'd like whatever I whip up."

"If you want something warm, ask Rachel to make it for you."

Brandon’s eyes flickered. He stepped over, attempting to wrap his arms around my shoulders from behind.

"Why are you being so passive-aggressive? Are you still sulking over yesterday?"

"Don't touch me."

I stepped aside, looking him up and down with cold detachment.

"Didn't you just finish feeding Rachel's cat medicine yesterday?"

"Who knows what's stuck to your clothes. It disgusts me."

Brandon’s hand froze midair. He forced down his rising temper.

"Don't be like this. I've just been overwhelmed with work lately and neglected you."

"This weekend, let's take a trip up to the mountains to see the fall leaves. Just the two of us."

I remembered the autumn four years ago, watching the sunrise from that very peak.

On the trek down, I twisted my ankle. Without a second thought, Brandon hoisted me onto his back.

For three grueling hours along that rugged mountain trail, sweat completely drenched his crisp white shirt.

Yet when he finally set me down, he was still smiling as he wiped the sweat from my brow.

"As long as you're on my back, I could carry you down this road for the rest of my life."

Remembering the past, those sweet memories and broken promises made my eyes sting with bitter heat.

"Okay."

It was the perfect opportunity to cut all remaining ties once and for all.

Hearing my agreement, a genuine smile spread across Brandon’s face.

"It gets windy up there. Make sure you pack a warm coat so you don't catch a cold."

That evening, the front door pushed open. Behind Brandon stood Rachel, holding a ginger cat in her arms.

"Grace! Brandon said you've been feeling down lately. I happen to be going out of town on a business trip, so I thought I'd drop Sunny off to keep you company!"

Rachel smiled with sweet, innocent charm, casually setting the cat down onto the living room rug.

Staring at the very real, living ginger cat prancing across the floor, a seed of doubt flared in my chest.

The old phone undeniably held years of memories of a little boy running around.

Yet here she was, holding an actual flesh-and-blood cat.

Where was the child?

Instinct took over, and I clamped a hand over my mouth and nose, staggering backward. The stray fur floating through the air made my stomach violently heave.

"Rachel, you know damn well I'm severely allergic to cats."

My voice was ice.

Rachel gasped dramatically, clutching Brandon’s sleeve with reddened, tearful eyes.

"I... I didn't think it through! I just wanted to cheer her up... I'll take him away right now..."

Brandon immediately stepped in front of her, frowning at me with undisguised blame.

"It's just a cat, Grace. Do you have to make a federal case out of everything?"

"Rachel was trying to do something nice so you wouldn't be bored alone at home. Just take an antihistamine! Do you really have to give her attitude?"

"I'm making a scene? An allergic reaction can kill me, Brandon! Don't you know that?" I shot back, my voice shaking with rage.

The cat darted across the living room. Within minutes, my neck began to itch fiercely.

A dry, ragged cough tore from my throat as angry red hives erupted along my collarbone.

I spun around to rummage through the medicine cabinet for my emergency allergy pills.

My eyes flicked past the half-open kitchen door, catching sight of two intertwined silhouettes.

Rachel was half-leaning against the counter, her fingers casually hooked into the hem of Brandon’s shirt, pressed flush against his chest.

"She's so terrifying," she murmured. "Is it going to be harder for you to come visit our little boy from now on?"

Brandon chuckled softly, patting the back of her hand with fond indulgence.

"Ignore her. She’s throwing another one of her ridiculous fits. Be good, and stay safe on your trip."

Hearing the words "our little boy", the very last shred of doubt inside me shattered into dust.

I gripped the edge of the cabinet. The first-aid kit had been cleared out; my regular allergy medication was completely gone.

Panic seized my chest, and cold sweat broke out across my back.

The hives on my neck burned like fire, and breathing became a terrifying struggle.

"Brandon..."

I choked out, leaning heavily against the doorframe.

"The allergy meds are gone. The hives are spreading fast. Take me to the ER."

Brandon turned around, but right at that moment, a piercing screech from the cat echoed from the living room, followed by Rachel’s terrified scream.

His face drained of color, and he pushed past me without a second thought.

Rachel was collapsed on the floor, holding up a hand dripping with bloody scratch marks.

"How did it scratch you that deep?"

Brandon’s face was filled with frantic worry. He snatched her hand, inspecting the wound.

"Come on, I'm taking you to the hospital right now!"

I called out to him, pointing at my rapidly swelling throat.

"I can barely breathe... Can't you drop me off first?"

Brandon glanced back at my blotchy red skin, his eyebrows knitting into a harsh scowl.

"I cleaned out the medicine cabinet two days ago; I probably tossed your expired pills."

"Why can't you ever prioritize what's actually urgent?"

"It's not like I haven't seen your allergies before. You get a rash for a couple of days! Just call an Uber and get a prescription!"

"Rachel is bleeding! She's your best friend! If she contracts rabies, it could be fatal! Can't you show a little empathy for once?"

Watching him gently press a clean tissue against Rachel's hand, I didn't even have the strength left to argue.

Unsettled by my hollow stare, Brandon averted his gaze and grabbed his car keys.

"Call an Uber and go see an urgent care clinic."

"Stop acting so dramatic. Once I get her rabies shot sorted out, I'll come find you at the hospital."

The front door slammed shut with a deafening thud, leaving only drifting cat hair in the empty apartment.

I touched my burning, itching throat, the stinging heat in my eyes slowly turning to ice.

In that singular moment, the pain strangely ebbed away.