Chapter 3

3

I slept soundly that night and didn't wake up until noon the next day.

When I went downstairs, the master bedroom door was slightly open, but Sienna was gone.

There was only a note left on the dining table.

"I was supposed to go to the restaurant with you yesterday, but I got caught up with things at the gallery."

"I'll come home early tonight to make up for the anniversary. Forgive me, okay?"

Next to the note was a small, six-inch photo.

It was the picture of me and Sienna holding hands.

She had made a tiny version of it and placed it in the most obvious spot.

It felt like she was trying to prove her shallow "deep love."

I tore it into pieces and threw it into the trash along with the note.

In the early years of our relationship, Sienna's OCD was severe, but she tried to overcome it.

Back in college, when other couples walked around the field holding hands, we held opposite ends of a piece of cloth.

We kept a distance of at least two feet between us.

I could feel her genuine fear of intimacy, so I never forced her to do anything she didn't want to do.

Even our first kiss was through a pane of glass.

Back then, Sienna's face would turn red, and she would apologize to me with tears in her eyes.

"Ethan, when I get better, I promise you'll be the first person I hug."

I wasn't angry. Instead, I felt incredibly protective of this "unique" girl.

I told myself I would wait as long as it took and stay by her side.

Suddenly, a strange number called my phone.

The ringing snapped me out of my memories.

I leaned back in my chair and answered. A familiar voice came through.

"Ethan, I'm heading to an overseas office next month. We haven't seen each other in six months. Let's grab a few drinks in a couple of days."

It was Zack, my former colleague.

We used to be in the same department and were very close.

To take care of Sienna, I had walked away from my career.

I even gave up my social life because I was worried that going out would make her feel insecure.

After some small talk, Zack told me he was going to work for a newly listed company.

The compensation package they offered was several times better than what we had before.

"Ethan, since I'm leaving the country, I don't know when we'll see each other again. I've booked a place for tonight. You better show up, you hear me?"

Zack's voice sounded a bit emotional.

I cleared my throat and asked tentatively, "Why don't you see if there are any openings over there? Maybe I could just go abroad with you."

The line went silent for a few seconds before Zack let out a shout.

"Are you kidding me? You're actually willing to leave?"

I confirmed it, and Zack sounded even more excited.

"Of course there are openings! A tech specialist like you? Companies would kill to hire you."

"You... you wait for me. Let me finish up some paperwork here, and we'll talk more when we meet tonight!"