Echoes of the Past Years

He held a half-eaten bowl of soup, trying to feed me. I knocked it down. “I don’t want leftovers.”

Hearing this, he looked guilty. “Elizabeth, I’m sorry. Noelle saved me first and I saved her in return. It’s just a basic human duty. But I promise it won’t happen again.”

I scoffed. Her life mattered, but didn’t mine? I didn’t argue. I just threw the divorce papers at him. “Sign this.

He didn’t even look and just signed. I laughed—if he had checked, he’d have seen it was a divorce agreement.

After signing, Jackson said he wanted to make it up to me and take me to Valoria to relax. But as soon as we reached the airport, his phone rang; it was Noelle.

On the other end, she was crying uncontrollably, saying she was scared of being alone in the hospital.

Jackson hung up, avoiding my gaze. “Elizabeth, there’s an urgent project at the institute. I have to go back. Go ahead, I’ll meet you at the airport when I’m done.”

I waited all day, but Jackson never came. Noelle posted an update on her Instagram story. In the photo, her hand held a man’s and his wrist had the red string I had given him.

The caption said: [My beloved accepted my confession; eight years of love finally led to marriage.]

I liked the post. Jackson called, but I didn’t answer. It grew dark and a light rain started. I suddenly felt tired and wanted to return home. My mother opened the door, said nothing and just gave me a bowl of hot soup.

As I was nearly finished with the soup, she spoke, “Once a man’s heart changes, you can’t hold onto him.”

I paused, still holding the bowl.

“Like your father, he fell for Louise. No matter what I said or did, he left me for another woman without hesitation.”

I went silent, remembering a childhood conversation with Jackson. He hugged me tightly, tears falling. “Don’t worry, Elizabeth, I’ll never betray you.”

But now, he broke his promise and the tragedy repeated. My mother held my hand, determined. “If you want a divorce, I’ll support you. I’ll always be your strength.”

I couldn’t hold back; tears fell into the soup. There were still people who loved me unconditionally. But that night, my mother had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital.

The doctor said she was in critical condition and needed a “special drug” immediately, or she wouldn’t survive the night.

The “special drug” was made only by the research institute and only Jackson had it. I called him frantically, but no one answered.

I rushed to the research institute, to his office and found Jackson holding a weakened Samoyed.

Noelle sat beside it, her eyes red from crying. “Jackson, Snowball is dying! Please save it!”

Jackson froze at the sight of me. I grabbed his arm, trembling. “Jackson, my mother had a heart attack and is critically ill! Give me the ‘special drug’ quickly!”

Noelle, standing beside me, was nearly in tears. “Elizabeth, I’m so sorry… Snowball ate something bad and got acute myocarditis. The vet said only the ‘special drug’ can save him.”