Chapter 3

3.

I went back to the apartment we shared. It was empty and cold.

Morgan used to stay here whenever she had time. We would cook and eat together.

She used to lean against my chest, listening to music. She'd whisper, "Silas, I want to be with you forever."

But now, she hadn't even given me an explanation. She just moved on to a fiancé.

My chest ached with a sharp, physical pain. I didn't want to fight the sickness anymore.

I packed a small bag. I wanted to spend my remaining time traveling.

The doctor said I had three months left.

That was enough time to see the world.

I had asked Morgan many times to travel with me.

She always turned me down, saying she was too busy with work.

My first stop was Aspen, to watch the sunset over the snow-capped peaks.

As I was leaving, my phone rang. It was Morgan.

Her voice was cold and distant. "You saw the post. Weston and I are getting married. Don't look for me anymore. We're done."

She hung up before I could say a word.

The screen went dark again.

I remembered years ago, when Morgan wrote her first book. The protagonist had my name.

She said, "People might leave, but stories stay. I'll write you into my world so you're always with me."