When There Is Nothing Left But Love

I nodded and pointed towards the hugging couple. I teased, “You’ve never told me about your past relationships.”

I paused as Rebecca abruptly came to mind. He did say that he had never loved Rebecca.

As we made our way through the crowds, he stuck closer to me and replied, “I didn’t date when I was younger.”

Shocked by his reply, I stared at him in disbelief. “No! You’re pulling my leg, right?”

“Back then, I was swamped with classes and essays every day. Grandpa also arranged for me to take extra law classes, so I basically didn’t have time for anything else.”

His explanation seems pretty reasonable. Pouting, I continued to prod him for an answer. “Didn’t you have any crushes then?”

His eyes bored into mine as he replied, “I had a crush on you the moment I saw you at J University.”

Stunned, I began to blush furiously.

We continued walking at a leisurely pace. Suddenly he asked, “Don’t you have questions for me?”

“What questions?” Confused, I stared back at him.

“A few days ago, Flora told me that there was a lipstick mark on my shirt. Why aren’t you asking me about it?”

caught me by surprise, though I quickly recovered myself and said,

silence. He appeared to be deep in thought, though I didn’t have the mental energy to try and guess what was on his mind. I just wanted

office, I waved goodbye to him and didn’t follow him in. I gestured for him

leave but stood there, staring at me. “You go first. I’ll go

him. I felt a

ran towards him,

frowned, puzzled at my behavior. “What’s wrong? You

arms wrapped firmly around him. “I just want to

don’t you stay here with me then? We can head home together

finally loosened my arms. I straightened out his tie with a small

can no longer afford. This

initially thought of taking a plane, but eventually decided on a

but I’ll get to enjoy some nice

phone, knowing it would be a big mistake if I

I

Ashton, I’m sorry that I’m leaving without saying goodbye. I thought I’d recovered after returning from R Province. I thought I could stay by your side and have a happy life with you. But I should’ve known the world would be much more complicated than I imagined. I

confirmed that I can never become pregnant again. That stillborn baby cost me my dreams of bearing my own child. I can’t blame you, nor can I blame

the baby didn’t die of suffocation; it was actually deformed. What kind of a mother am I to give my baby such a painful fate? Maybe he was too eager to be my child and forgot to bring along some things with him in his rush. He fought so hard to meet me, yet I couldn’t save him in the end. Ashton,

we gain in return is suffering. I don’t want to take revenge

Pristine views of the countryside flew past in a blur; the beauty