Chapter 1

At the beginning of March, the personal tax app notified me that I still owed 1000 dollars in taxes.

Just now, a pair of shameless neighbors scammed me out of 15 thousand dollars because I didn't deliver any wheat to them this month.

But I was already twenty-eight years old.

I earn a monthly salary of 1500 dollars. Every month, I had to share a 3 thousand dollars mortgage payment with Earl Dixon.

Looking at the "tax payment due" reminder on the tax app, I felt completely drained, like I had nothing left in me.

I was crying as I dialed Earl.

I wanted to get married.

But before I could even get the words out, Earl's annoyed voice cut in.

He said, "I've got another surgery. Can you call me later?"

The cold beep of the call ending kept ringing in my head.

Suddenly, something just clicked in my mind.

*****

I called up a friend to help me with the 1000 dollar tax.

In twenty minutes, I paid off my dues.

On the other side, I texted Earl's sister, turning down her request for me to collect her royalties again this year.

No matter how annoyed she sounded, I didn't care anymore.

At least next year, I wouldn't have to cover her tax bill for her.

After finally letting out a sigh of relief, I headed back to the office.

I picked up my pen and wrote: [Resignation Letter.]

Standing in front of the mirror, I stared at my swollen cheeks and the bluish bruises under my eyes.

I dabbed on some ointment, making sure not to miss a spot.

It was ironic that my boyfriend Earl was a doctor, but he never bothered to check on my health.

It was not a big deal. From now on, I wouldn't need him anyway.

I finished writing my resignation letter in one go and handed it straight to my boss.

She glanced at it, looking totally baffled.

She asked, "Britney, are you serious?

"Are you really going to quit this steady job just because of those two old folks? Are you kidding me?"

I knew exactly how my boss would react.

I'd already come up with a bunch of excuses in advance.

For example, I could say I was planning my wedding and wanted to open a small shop after getting married.

Or maybe I'd found a better job somewhere else.

But honestly, none of that was true.

Right at this turning point, those excuses didn't matter anymore.

No one could stand in my way now.

"I'm not joking," I told her.

She let out a sigh and read my letter over again.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up.

She pointed to a line in my letter and tried to persuade me, "See, you wrote it yourself. This job might not pay much, but at least it's steady.

"Didn't you say you were about to get married? You have a boyfriend, right?"

She looked at me with absolute certainty, like she was sure her next words would make me change my mind.

She asked, "I heard he's a doctor, right? Britney, think it through. If you didn't have this steady job, would he even consider marrying you?

"Would his family ever accept you if you were just some unemployed freeloader?

"You're already twenty-eight, for crying out loud. Why are you still so stubborn? Think about your boyfriend, and think about your parents!"

I actually did take a moment to think about Earl.

When he said he wanted to stay in this city, I didn't even blink. I went and applied for a government job right then and there.

I got stuck working at the neighborhood office, but back then, I was barely twenty and totally fired up about everything new.

Even my relationship with Earl gave me hope for the future.

But six years had gone by quickly.

I put up with him for six years, but every time I brought up marriage, he'd always find some excuse to avoid it.

He always had a reason to dodge it.

Think about my parents, I realized that I had been neglecting them over the past six years.

My job barely paid enough to get by. I always ended up relying on them to bail me out.

During the holidays, I couldn't even go home. They missed me so much that they ended up in tears, always asking when I would finally marry Earl.

I wished I knew the answer myself.

My boss's question suddenly made everything clear to me.

I chuckled lightly. "I've figured it out."

My boss asked, "So you're not quitting?"

I shook my head. "I'm quitting.

"But I'm not going through with the wedding."

I headed over to the flower shop on the third floor of the Business Mall.

Every time we passed by, I'd point at those gorgeous flowers inside and ask Earl to get me some.

But every single time, he'd just roll his eyes and speed right past.

Earl would always say, "They're pointless. Better save the cash for the mortgage."

It was not like I wasn't disappointed.

Still, whenever I remembered that we'd soon be making this city our home, happiness was all I felt.

I wondered what happiness really felt like.

I bought myself a bouquet of blue roses.

As I breathed in their fragrance, it hit me that this was what happiness felt like.

But I never expected the happiness the universe gifted me would vanish so quickly.