Thalted my steps. “Do you remember that day? I actually gave you a chance.
“I never liked chicken stew, but I thought that it would take so long to cook that you wouldn’t leave when it got too late. But you still left in a hurry.
“That was your last chance.”
I shortened my leave and went back to work earlier.
My life returned back to the peacefulness from before. I would meet with friends when I had the time, and I met new friends too.
There was a young lady who ran into my brother a few times when he dropped things off for me. She was blushing when she asked me about him.
Not long after, my mother told me that love was in the air for Leonard. That young lady was bubbly and generous and had left a very good impression on me.
The two eventually started going on dates, and I saw Leonard’s spirits lift more and more each day.
After cutting off all contact, Shane seemingly disappeared from my world. A few months later, my mother excitedly brought his name up at the dinner table.
“The owner of the grocer said that he saw Shane buying a lot of instant noodles by himself. I was curious so I asked around, and it sounds like he’s living alone in a rented apartment.
“That woman is living at his parents‘ place, and her belly is quite obvious now, but Shane refuses to marry her.”
My brother placed his utensils down and stood up.
“I’m done with dinner.”
Then, with a stony expression, he walked out without another word.
My mother gave me a careful glance. “Has that shameless man gotten in touch with you?”
I searched through my memories and recalled that he had indeed come to see me about a week ago.
That day, he was waiting for me at the building where I worked. I had just gotten off work, and I saw him the moment I stepped out of the building, but I ignored him.
He nervously trailed behind me until I could not bear it any long and stopped in my tracks.
“Honey…” he called out carefully from behind.
“We’re divorced, Shane.”
He walked over with his head hung low. He had lost so much weight that even his shadow had become significantly thinner.
He fished the huge photobook out from his bag. “Take this. As a memento.‘
