Futile Sincere Affection

Synopsis

Five years after her divorce from Harrison Vance, Essie Greene ran into him by chance when she went to the hospital for a prenatal checkup. Harrison was dressed in a hospital gown, with bandages wrapped around his forehead, standing in the busy hospital lobby, looking utterly lost. The moment he saw Essie, his eyes reddened. He rushed over and hugged her, his arms trembling. "Essie, what took you so long? They all say we're divorced. But we loved each other so deeply. How could that be possible? They're lying to me, aren't they?" She was enveloped by his familiar yet unfamiliar cold, woody scent, mixed with a faint smell of hospital disinfectant. Essie stared at him blankly. Those eyes that had once held only cold indifference were now filled with burning, intense love once again. It was almost ridiculous. She did not ask what had happened. Instead, she raised her hand and pushed Harrison away. Her voice was calm and detached as she said, "Harrison, we've been divorced for five years."