When There Is Nothing Left But Love

As I watched him slam the door and leave, my mind buzzed away. It was fine in the beginning, so how did it become like this?

Moments later, Mrs. Eriksen came upstairs. When she saw me on the floor, seemingly at a loss, she merely sighed. “Oh dear, you two…”

“Mrs. Eriksen, I want some peace!” I said, overcome by fatigue. I rose from my spot, stumbled out of the study and into my bedroom, where I proceeded to lock the door.

I must have blacked out after that.

I laid on the bed, in a daze, until midnight, when I was awakened by a nightmare.

There was no one beside me. I got up to pour myself a glass of water. I checked the time. It was three o’clock in the early morning. I supposed I would not be able to fall asleep again after this hour.

I had not eaten anything that night. I opened the door and went downstairs. Mrs. Eriksen had left some food for me. I took several bites but, honestly, I did not have much of an appetite.

As I headed upstairs, I glanced at the study out of habit. There was no one inside. The chaotic mess had been cleaned up.

It seemed Ashton did not return at all that night. I retired to the bedroom and looked through the email sent by OrbitTech again.

It did not take long for the weather to get cold, as the second round of heavy snowfall in K City came as expected.

The entire yard was covered with snow. To avoid traffic jams, people have already begun to shovel snow outside their homes.

Mrs. Eriksen was surprised to see me up and about when she came in for work. She said, “The new year’s rolling in soon. People are stocking up on new year goods and decorations. Letty, what do you say we go shopping after breakfast? See what the stores have on sale.”

her. “I have somewhere to go in the afternoon, so I’ll have to pass. Has Ashton purchased

City. She usually spent the new year break with them every year. For

had become quite lonely during festivities, as though the holidays had

wonder what’s going on at Macy’s. With that thought, I had the urge to give Jackson a call, but I shrugged it off when I checked

to Mrs. Eriksen and said, “I’m heading to the company in a while. Ashton’s not here, so you don’t have to make breakfast

to say something, but I had already grabbed the keys and

started at nine. I got there early, so I waited in the office for a while before I went looking

and development of AI could not possibly be achieved in a few short days, but I was pleased to see

out of the R&D Department, I bumped into Sally. It had been a few days since she moved back to the White residence, and it seemed she had officially returned to work

saw me egging to leave, and said, “Are you in

head.

around the corner. What plans do you and Ashton have this year? Are you returning to J City or staying here in K City? I heard that

her. “Why don’t you

said, I got ready to leave, but when I reached the lobby I chanced upon a group of people just entering the

them were Ashton and Joe. They must have come to talk about

was particularly eye-catching. He stood with one hand in his pocket and seemed to be chatting with Joe about something

Briefly stunned, I pursed my lips and looked away as I headed towards

as he came up and

stopped walking. My eyes darted to Ashton, who was still wearing

from the side and I responded to them