Chapter 3

Back then, I was always trailing behind Earl. He had long legs and took big strides, sometimes skipping three steps at a time.

I'd be right behind him, making a fuss and telling him to wait for me.

Thinking about it now, our relationship was always like that.

I was forever trying to keep up with him.

Somewhere along the way, I lost sight of my own path.

I was trapped by the so-called "stability."

If Earl suddenly changed his path, or just stopped waiting for me, I'd be left behind, drifting aimlessly and lost.

I was wrong.

Where I really messed up was pinning my future on someone else.

With that thought, I sped up my steps as if I was pulling a prank.

I reached the fifth-floor landing.

He hadn't appeared after a while.

He didn't keep up with me this time either.

I figured that it was time for me to take off first.

There was a whole process and paperwork to go through to quit my job.

That night, Earl kept urging me, "Bring back your resignation letter tomorrow."

I didn't say anything.

The next day, I showed up for work as usual, taking care of my regular community duties.

In the end, I saw a fire break out right in front of me.

The fire trucks hadn't arrived.

In moments like this, we had to jump in and help get the trapped residents out.

As luck would have it, Madison and her grandma lived right in this neighborhood.

My gut told me something was wrong, so I made my way to Madison's grandma's home according to my memory.

Sure enough, the fire had already reached their house.

I yelled out for Madison.

When I heard her screaming for help, I realized her grandma was down inside the house.

I grabbed two people to help get her grandma out, then called an ambulance.

Madison was crying as she told me, "Grandma wanted to come home today, so I figured I'd bring her back for a little visit.

"But I never imagined..."

I tried to comfort her.

I was so caught up in comforting her that I didn't even notice the wooden window frame overhead, loosened by the fire.

The next moment, a dull ache struck my shoulder.

The burning sensation spread through my entire left arm. I was sweating bullets. I nearly blacked out from the pain.

The fire trucks and ambulances showed up at the same time.

I ended up going to the hospital with Madison's grandma.

I was among the worst off out of all the injured.

Instinctively, my eyes searched everywhere for Earl.

But when I finally spotted him, he had Madison in his arms, comforting her as she cried her heart out.

My heart gave a little stab.

I knew that when a person was staring death in the face, the first person they thought about was the one they loved the most.

For me, that person was Earl.

I wondered who it would be for him.

He was well aware there was a fire on my street. He knew I hadn't finished my resignation process yet.

The first person on his mind wasn't me.

It was Madison.

Or maybe Madison reached out to him first, getting to him before I ever could.

But none of it mattered now.

Despite the searing pain in my arm, I hurriedly slipped the ring off my ring finger.

After the staff finished dressing my wound, it was already late at night.

As I stepped out, I caught sight of Earl at the corner of the hallway, looking flustered and out of sorts.

When he saw me, he rushed over, clearly nervous.

He asked, "How are you? Are you hurt?

"Have you had your scan yet? Come on, let me take you..."

He took hold of my wrist.

I yanked my hand back hard.

Earl turned to me, his face full of shock and disbelief.

"Britney, now's really not the time to be difficult," he said.

He was pulling the same trick again.

I shot him a sarcastic look. "Earl, do you really think I am so immature?

"Or maybe you don't care about me at all, do you?"

Earl spread his hands helplessly. "Come on, what are you talking about?"

My nose burned as I fought back tears.

I wanted to let it go because I was tired.

I walked right past him, head down, ordering a ride on my phone with just one hand.

He grabbed my phone. "Just wait till I finish work. I'll drive you home."

I suddenly looked up. "No need.

"Starting today, I don't need you in my life anymore, Earl."

He stood there, stunned, trying to make sense of my words.

After a long pause, he finally asked, "What do you mean?"

I gave him a bitter, forced smile.

"It's time we went our separate ways," I said quietly.

*****

"Britney, are you out of your mind?" Earl said.

He called in a favor to get his night shift covered, then dragged me straight into his car.

We were on the same road home, but today the silence was even worse than yesterday.

But soon enough, I realized we weren't actually heading home.

I had no idea what he was planning, and I didn't bother to ask.

I just went along with it.

I only realized where we were once we got there.

He'd brought me to our new place.

It was still unfinished, not even signed over to us yet.

But this was the tiny home we'd been dreaming about for six years.

I could already guess what he was planning.

But I felt nothing.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be.