Chapter 3

"Life is like a dream, and our days slip by with the years."

I do not even remember where that line came from. Back then, Simon used it as an excuse to get close to me.

He said, "Look at that kind of open, easy view of life. Isn't that exactly us?

"Even our names sound like a permanent vacation. Summers and Moore. Like we were meant to last. How could we not end up together?"

Every time he said it, he would look at me with a smile, his eyes bright.

I stayed with him as he built everything from nothing for ten years.

We started in a rented room and grew into a company that now holds its place in the industry. Only the two of us know how much we went through in those years.

When I was twenty, my parents died in a car accident. He said he wanted to start a business and give me a home.

At twenty-four, we took turns drinking at business dinners just to land deals, and we both ruined our stomachs, but watching the company grow day by day made it feel worth it.

At twenty-six, friends around me started getting married one after another. One night, after I had too much to drink, I told him I wanted a home of my own.

He remembered.

At twenty-seven, he bought an apartment outright and put it in my name.

At twenty-eight, I asked him when he would marry me. He did not answer. Instead, he bought me a simple band and put it on my finger, and I was happy for months.

At twenty-nine, an intern joined the company. She had just graduated, full of energy.

Her name was Lily.

After that, she went on business trips with him. She handled everything, from meals to accommodations, and even helped pick out gifts for me.

When I was not around, there was always someone by Simon's side.

She stepped in to drink for him, handed him water, and remembered everything.

What he liked to eat, his birthday, my birthday, and every anniversary.

She remembered it all, down to the smallest detail, and seemed to forget who she was.

I noticed something was off about six months ago. It was nothing too serious, just some teasing words and playful contact, so I did not take it to heart.

I never thought about leaving.

After ten years, he was more than just a boyfriend.

He was my friend, my family, the last piece of belonging I had in this world.

But over these past six months, that feeling kept fading until I could watch him laugh and joke with Lily without feeling anything at all.

Sometimes I wondered if I had changed, if I had fallen out of love. Otherwise, why would I not care?

But ten years together is not something you can walk away from overnight, just like you would not suddenly cut off your parents. I did not even know how to begin saying goodbye.

So I came up with a plan.

Marriage.

I brought it up on our anniversary, during the National Day holiday, on his birthday, and then again on my thirtieth birthday.

Three times should be enough, but this was the fourth.

I had already decided that if he said yes, even if we just registered the marriage first and postponed the wedding, I would be willing to settle down and build a life with him.

But he told me to wait. Just wait a little longer.

Alright, Simon.

I am done waiting.

Before, I thought I was the one who had stopped loving him, and that lingering sense of guilt kept me from bringing up a breakup. I thought maybe marriage could tie together what was starting to fall apart.

Now, looking back at all the small details, I finally understand.

I was not the first one to change.

And that is a relief.

Now I can finally say goodbye to him without hesitation.