The last time I saw that look in his eyes, was
when I miscarried.
I was four months pregnant back then.
He’d been sleeping with his first mistress.
She was a firecracker, that one.
She’d walked right up to my doorstep,
demanding I make room for her.
I called her a slut, and she told me the one
who wasn’t loved was the real homewrecker.
<
I guess I wasn’t handling it well and she
shoved me hard.
And just like that, the baby was gone.
I was covered in blood and rushed to the
emergency room.
When I woke up, the first thing I saw was a
guilty–looking Ethan.
His eyes were full of regret, he was holding
my hand, crying and saying, “I’m so sorry,
Summer. I was a jerk. Hit me, I deserve it…“.
I slapped him. He didn’t flinch, just took it.
When I’d calmed down, he said, “Just this
once, okay Summer, please give me a chance
to fix things? We can have another baby…”
く
He got rid of that girl.
And went back to being my sweet, loving
boyfriend.
But it only lasted about six months.
Six months later, there was a new woman on
his arm.
And then another, and another.
They were all young, fresh faces, none of
which I could remember the names of before
he moved on.
Tiffany had been the longest–lasting one.
Running into them at the OB/GYN was a little
awkward.
く
I turned around, wanting to leave.
But Tiffany called out to me, “Summer, what a
coincidence.”
She was practically hanging off of Ethan.
Her cheeks were flushed, she looked all shy.
“I’m pregnant, here for a check–up.”
I just stared at her. W
Ethan looked at the appointment slip in my.
hand, his brow furrowed. “What kind of
appointment do you have here?”
I gave him a cold smile, “Ethan, you should
probably avoid getting too personal about
your ex–wife’s medical issues in front of your
new girlfriend.”
<
He seemed annoyed, he actually pushed
Tiffany to the side, grabbing my wrist.
“Summer, I’m still your man, and you’re
suddenly at an OB/GYN. I have a right to
know.”
I stared at him, a little sarcasm creeping into
my voice, “You’re my man? Are you sure
about that? We had a wedding but the
marriage records say I’ve been single all
along.”
Ethan froze, like he just realized something,
his eyes darkening even more.
That’s right, our wedding had been romantic
and over–the–top.
To the outside world, I was his one and only
Mrs. Ford.
<
Especially with all the business deals and
shares we’d tangled ourselves into.
But who knew the truth?
We’d never gone to the marriage bureau.
Every time I brought up filing for the marriage
certificate, Ethan was called into meetings or
needed to fly out of the country.
His time was just so valuable.
Too valuable to spend 30 minutes signing a
marriage license with me.
But when it came to a breakup, we were
fighting tooth and nail over money and
shares.
<
My wrist was hurting, but he wouldn’t let go.
Finally, my name was called.
“Summer, report to Room 5“.
Ethan released me, looking very put out.
I practically jumped past him and Tiffany into
the exam room and locked the door behind
me, not bothering to look at Ethan’s dark
expression.
After checking my records, the doctor gave
me some advice.
He also mentioned bringing in the baby’s
father next time.
“He’s dead.”
く
The doctor stopped looking at my files and
shot his head up, a sympathetic look in his
eyes.
He gave me a bunch of comforting words and
I acted sad.
03
I was tired, and felt very sleepy.
After returning home from the hospital, I
crashed and went into a deep sleep.
I had so many vivid dreams.
At first, I dreamt of when I’d just graduated
from college, when Ethan’s family lost all
their money and he’d been living on the
streets.
<
We lived in a tiny apartment and he hugged
me, wrapped me in his coat, and held me
against his heart.
“Summer, when I make money, I swear, you’ll
never have to suffer. I’m going to hire five
people at
, one to cook for you, one to
do your laundry, one to make the bed…”
I felt his heart pounding in my ear.
I was so young, I actually thought that love
was all that mattered.
Then he actually got back on his feet and
became a success.
And the people around him started.
multiplying.
<
They all came and went, like they were loves
that Ethan could never hold on to.
Then, there were the nightmares of broken
glass, blood and me, crying hysterically.
He looked at me with zero empathy, and said,
“Summer, you look pathetic when you act like
this.”
At that moment, I knew.
The man I had been in love with, was now
someone I did not know.
I woke up as it was getting dark.
I got up, feeling sluggish.
Then, a voice startled me, “I heard…you’re
<
telling people I died. You’re saying I’m the
father of your baby and telling everyone I’m
dead.”
I whipped my head around, looking for the
voice.
There, standing in front of the glass doors,
was a man. The moonlight seemed to coat
him in silver.
The room was dark, without a single light on,
if he hadn’t spoken, I would never have
noticed him.
“Chad, what’s the deal? You’re trying to give
me a heart attack!”
Chad chuckled at my words.
<
He came over and picked me up.
His body was warm, even through my
pajamas. He massaged my back with a soft
hand…
When he spoke, his voice was full of helpless
exasperation, “Who is the one over the top
here? You, Summer. You sleep with me and
then run away. And now you’re planning to
take my baby with you?”
04
Chad was right, I had planned on taking the
baby and settling down in a small town.
Far from Ethan.
And far from Chad
く
After all, the way we met wasn’t exactly
glamorous.
It had been three months ago, on my birthday.
Ethan had told me he wanted to celebrate
with me, one last time, before we split.
He booked a restaurant.
The table was right next to the window so I
could enjoy the city lights.
He came to my place to pick me up. It felt as
if nothing had changed between us.
He set the cake down and lit the candles, “Make a wish.”
eeee
く
I closed my eyes and made a wish.
“I wish…
Ten seconds maybe.
When I opened my eyes, he was gone.
Ethan was nowhere to be seen.
I waited for a while, but he never came back.
The waiter told me, “Mr Ford took a phone
call and left. He said he’d paid the bill. You’re
free to leave whenever.”
I looked at the burning candles, the melting
icing.
“Happy Birthday” was just a mess of red.
<
Finally, I let out a laugh.
After leaving the restaurant, I took a cab to
the harbor.
When we were broke, with no money to go.
anywhere, Ethan would take me to the harbor.
He always said even if he couldn’t take me
anywhere new, the ocean air was a nice
change.
The ocean was still there.
But, he’d moved on.
I kept walking aimlessly.
Until a group of girls started screaming, “Oh
my God, that is just so romantic!”
<
I looked up at the sky, the darkness lit up by a
thousand drones.
