Chapter 24
Liam let her go all of a sudden, a little bit of clarity left in his eyes.
“Esme, don’t you remember me? It’s me, Liam.”
“I’m your Liam–the one you loved most.”
She just covered herself, still lost and out of it, mumbling, “Liam? I don’t know you. Where’s Neil? Where’s my Neil?”
Liam just stood there. For the first time, he understood what it meant for your heart to break completely.
Before this, he could still fool himself a little, tell himself Esme was just mad, just trying to get back at him, that she couldn’t possibly love someone else more than him. But right now, it was painfully clear-
He didn’t matter to Esme anymore. Not at all.
The person she loved most wasn’t him. Not anymore.
“Esme…” Liam reached out, but in the end, he only managed to pull his suit jacket tighter around her shoulders.
“I’ve already hurt you so much before. How could I ever bring myself to hurt you again?”
He forced a smile, then slumped back into the driver’s seat.
Through the rearview mirror, he stared at the woman he loved more than anything. He knew, deep down, this was really goodbye.
“Esme, as long as you’re happy, it doesn’t matter if I’m not the one by your side.”
He started the car and sped down the avenue, heading for the hospital.
*Esme, if I ever treat you badly ten years from now, just leave me. Never forgive me.*
That old promise flashed through his mind–something his sixteen–year–old self had written, every word heavy and careful, in a letter to his future self.
If only he’d known that at twenty–six, he’d hurt Esme so badly for the sake of someone else, even drug her, try to take away her life…
He probably would have hated the man he became.
Tears filled his eyes. “Esme, promise me–you’ll never forgive me.”
He wrapped Esme up–she was still under the effects of the drugs–and held her close as he walked her into the ER, step by step. Then, with shaking hands, he called Neil.
He watched as Neil came running, frantic and desperate. Only then did Liam finally walk away.
At the door, he turned back for one last look. He didn’t want to leave her behind.
Chapter 24
*Esme, if I ever let you down in this life…*
*May I never, ever find happiness.*
*Then I’ll spend forever just quietly watching over you, asking for nothing but a single glance. Just one look.*
Epilogue
“Neil, I really love this ocean!”
Esme stood at the top of the hill, her hair damp with sweat.
Neil smiled at her, taking the mountain bike from her hands.
“Neil, let’s go to Greece!” She snuggled into his arms, pointing at a painting in his sketchbook.
“Neil, the sea you painted looks so lonely. But you always said you hated being alone. That’s why I want to go back with you.”
Her eyes sparkled. Neil glanced at his old painting, then at her, and couldn’t help but kiss her forehead.
“Alright,” he said softly. “If you’re there, this sea will come alive again.”
And it was true. Esme spread her arms wide, turning her face to the sunlight. The ocean below the cliffs seemed to come to life, sparkling and full of movement.
“Neil, someday, let’s see every ocean in the world together.”
Esme leaned on his shoulder, her eyes full of hope.
He didn’t treat it like a joke. He looked at her seriously and promised, “Okay. I’ll paint every ocean–and you, and me, and Pearl. We’ll live by the water.”
He kissed her gently, as if sealing an eternal promise.
They made a pact: to see every sea in the world, and always be together.
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