Chapter 2 · The Wreck Had Two Doors, He Chose Hers

I saw all those tiny details over the past three years.

But I kept playing dumb.

I couldn't bring myself to admit I was living in a never-ending old dream, like an outsider who showed up after the story had already been written.

After all, I was Jonathan's wife.

While I was packing, I came across an old lighter in the drawer.

It had a silver casing, with a tiny "G" engraved on one corner.

It was a gift from Grace.

I'd seen it once before.

It was not long after we got married. Jonathan was drunk, and as I helped him out of his coat, the lighter fell from his pocket.

I asked him, "You still have this?"

He only said five words.

"Forgot to throw it away," he said.

And he kept it all this time.

There were some things he couldn't let go of, and they were never just things.

I put the lighter back in its place and slid the drawer shut.

Then I started clearing out my clothes, books, skincare, documents, every trace of myself I'd left here over the years.

When Michael came in to help, he looked totally lost.

"Mrs. Carter, what are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm moving out," I said.

He looked like he wanted to say something, but thought better of it.

Everyone around Jonathan knew I looked gentle, but when it came to making decisions, nobody could change my mind.

Michael stayed quiet for a while before finally saying in a low voice, "Mr. Carter didn't mean it that way."

"What way?" I replied.

"Yesterday... Ms. Hughes was hurt more badly," he murmured.

I kept packing, not slowing down for a second.

"Michael, you've worked with him for years. Do you really think yesterday is all I care about?" I said.

Michael Clark fell silent.

Because deep down, he knew that it wasn't.

It never was.

*****

The first time was three months after we got married.

It was my birthday.

Jonathan promised to have dinner with me, but I waited at the restaurant for two hours, until the last guests had left, and I was the only one sitting by the window.

Finally, he called, his voice low. "Something happened to Grace overseas. I had to handle it on short notice."

I asked softly, "What about my birthday?"

He paused for two seconds, then said, "We'll do it tomorrow."

The second time was when I had a fever of 103.1°F.

He was out of town on a business trip, and I didn't want to bother him, so I went to the hospital alone for an IV drip.

But in the middle of the night, while I was hooked up to the IV, I saw Grace post on her social media.

Her location was the same hotel as his.

The photo only showed half of a man's wrist, but I recognized that watch, I was the one who went with him to buy it.

When he came back the next day, he brought me medicine and a gift, and his explanation was flawless. "I happened to run into her. She was upset, so we talked for a bit."

I didn't expose him.

Because I was still lying to myself.

I kept telling myself that one day, he'd finally realize who was the one truly standing by his side.

The third time was last year, when Jonathan's grandma, Nancy Carter, was hospitalized.

The doctor needed a family member to sign some papers, but I couldn't get through to Jonathan no matter how many times I called. I was running up and down the hospital all by myself, busy until the early hours of the morning.

He finally came back at 2 a.m.

I thought he'd rushed back to be with Nancy.

But the first thing he said when he walked into the room was, "Grace has a performance tomorrow. She was having a hard time tonight, so I took her to a friend's place. My phone was on silent."

Nancy gave me a look and sighed.

I still remember that look, even now.

There was pity in her eyes, and something else, like she'd known the truth from the very beginning.

But I was the one who kept pretending not to see it.

I sealed up the last box of books, and my phone rang.

It was Grace.

I stared at her name on the screen for a moment, then picked up.

Her voice was as gentle as ever, with a slight rasp from getting over being sick.

"Evelyn, would you mind meeting up?" she asked.

I was ready to say no.

But some things had to be settled sooner or later.

"Send me the address," I said.

Chapter 2

I saw all those tiny details over the past three years.

But I kept playing dumb.

I couldn't bring myself to admit I was living in a never-ending old dream, like an outsider who showed up after the story had already been written.

After all, I was Jonathan's wife.

While I was packing, I came across an old lighter in the drawer.

It had a silver casing, with a tiny "G" engraved on one corner.

It was a gift from Grace.

I'd seen it once before.

It was not long after we got married. Jonathan was drunk, and as I helped him out of his coat, the lighter fell from his pocket.

I asked him, "You still have this?"

He only said five words.

"Forgot to throw it away," he said.

And he kept it all this time.

There were some things he couldn't let go of, and they were never just things.

I put the lighter back in its place and slid the drawer shut.

Then I started clearing out my clothes, books, skincare, documents, every trace of myself I'd left here over the years.

When Michael came in to help, he looked totally lost.

"Mrs. Carter, what are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm moving out," I said.

He looked like he wanted to say something, but thought better of it.

Everyone around Jonathan knew I looked gentle, but when it came to making decisions, nobody could change my mind.

Michael stayed quiet for a while before finally saying in a low voice, "Mr. Carter didn't mean it that way."

"What way?" I replied.

"Yesterday... Ms. Hughes was hurt more badly," he murmured.

I kept packing, not slowing down for a second.

"Michael, you've worked with him for years. Do you really think yesterday is all I care about?" I said.

Michael Clark fell silent.

Because deep down, he knew that it wasn't.

It never was.

*****

The first time was three months after we got married.

It was my birthday.

Jonathan promised to have dinner with me, but I waited at the restaurant for two hours, until the last guests had left, and I was the only one sitting by the window.

Finally, he called, his voice low. "Something happened to Grace overseas. I had to handle it on short notice."

I asked softly, "What about my birthday?"

He paused for two seconds, then said, "We'll do it tomorrow."

The second time was when I had a fever of 103.1°F.

He was out of town on a business trip, and I didn't want to bother him, so I went to the hospital alone for an IV drip.

But in the middle of the night, while I was hooked up to the IV, I saw Grace post on her social media.

Her location was the same hotel as his.

The photo only showed half of a man's wrist, but I recognized that watch, I was the one who went with him to buy it.

When he came back the next day, he brought me medicine and a gift, and his explanation was flawless. "I happened to run into her. She was upset, so we talked for a bit."

I didn't expose him.

Because I was still lying to myself.

I kept telling myself that one day, he'd finally realize who was the one truly standing by his side.

The third time was last year, when Jonathan's grandma, Nancy Carter, was hospitalized.

He finally came back at 2 a.m.

I thought he'd rushed back to be with Nancy.

But the first thing he said when he walked into the room was, "Grace has a performance tomorrow. She was having a hard time tonight, so I took her to a friend's place. My phone was on silent."

Nancy gave me a look and sighed.

I still remember that look, even now.

There was pity in her eyes, and something else, like she'd known the truth from the very beginning.

But I was the one who kept pretending not to see it.

I sealed up the last box of books, and my phone rang.

It was Grace.

I stared at her name on the screen for a moment, then picked up.

Her voice was as gentle as ever, with a slight rasp from getting over being sick.

"Evelyn, would you mind meeting up?" she asked.

I was ready to say no.

But some things had to be settled sooner or later.

"Send me the address," I said.