Echoes of a Vanished Love

Liam returned, worn out, while he held a bouquet of fresh flowers in his arms. Then, he walked toward me without any trace of guilt or apology on his face. "I brought you your favorite lisianthuses, Michelle."

lisianthuses, a symbol of loyalty and love. But they looked like nothing but a joke in Liam's arms.

As I took the bouquet from him, Liam assumed that I'd stopped being angry and began to explain himself.

He said, "Vivi has bone cancer, and her only wish is to marry me. I grew up with her, so I can't just not help her attain her wish. I'll be getting engaged to her in three days. You've always been a considerate person, so you surely understand where I'm coming from, right?"

He sounded more like he was informing me of something rather than giving me an explanation.

So, he was going to be engaged to Vivi in three days, was he? It was certainly a coincidence, as I was also preparing to leave in three days.

I nodded silently.

In the past, he hated when I threw tantrums like a spoiled princess. He told me that every time I encountered a trivial problem, I'd try to gain his attention by asking him over and over again whether he loved me. Later, I gradually mended my ways and learned to be tolerant.

Right now, I wasn't making a fuss or forcing him to tell me whether or not he loved me, and it actually made him glance at me with surprise.

"I'll be moving out to live with Vivi tomorrow. You might have to put up with living alone for the next few months. Vivi is sick, so she needs me more than you right now," he said.

I smiled and put the bouquet down. Seeing that I wasn't raising any objections, Liam moved closer to me and tried to touch my face.

I smoothly evaded his grasp. There were still obvious lipstick smudges on his shirt collar, and a sweet perfume invaded my nose, making me gag.

My rejection angered Liam, and he quickly left the apartment without saying anything else.

I, on the other hand, tossed the flowers and cake into the trash. Then, I started packing my things.

I didn't want the flowers, and I no longer wanted Liam either. I no longer had any attachments to this home that I'd lived in for six years.