Chapter 5: Awakening
That night, I went back by myself to the house that used to be mine and Eric’s. I packed up all my stuff like I was try- ing to erase any sign that I’d ever been there.
Before I left, I looked at the suitcase he always kept by the door, like he was always ready to go. If Kelly just waved her hand, he’d run to her side, even be there for every big moment in her life.
It turned out, everything had a trail.
After I got to my new place, I got a message from my best friend, Sarah Sutton.
“What’s going on? Did you break up with Eric?”
“Yeah.”
“Maddie, your wedding date was already set. Hearing this out of the blue is a bit… You know what they just said?”
I knew she was talking about his friends.
“They were betting in front of Eric about how long your tantrum would last. They must have been drunk, and even Eric joined in.”
“Oh?”
“He bet three days, 150 thousand dollars.”
“Then he’s gonna go broke.”
When she heard my calm voice, there was a pause on the other end.
“Maddie, is this… for real this time?”
“You have to think clearly. Leaving other things aside, you’ve spent a full ten years on him!”
I didn’t answer right away, just asked, “Sarah, can you accept the man you love making jokes about your flaws with others?
“I did love him, but everyone should have a bottom line.”
The other end showed “typing” for a long time, then fell silent without any more response.
That night, I had a dream about my childhood after a long time.
I was five years old, just old enough to understand. Kids my age threw sand at me, calling me ugly. I ran home cry- ing, hugging my mom and asking why I was different.
Why did a dark brown birthmark have to grow on my fair face? Why did everyone frown at the first sight of my face?
Why couldn’t she have given birth to me more beautifully?
My mom cried with me, saying she was sorry. In the dream, her tear-stained face melted into deep and shallow marks on the pillow.
I slumped over, hiding my face. The bitterness that I’d held back for so long started bubbling up from my throat, and the pain spread from my chest to my head. My temples kept pounding, but I stayed clear-headed.
Honestly, ever since my mom left, I’ve known this isn’t some unforgivable curse.
It was a gift my mom left me.