Gone With the Secret

I shook my head and whispered, "I'm fine."

Simon did not need to know that I was about to leave.

He seemed to relax.

His voice was heavy with regret as he apologized, "Yoana, I'm sorry. I had no idea you were allergic to mangoes."

However, he did know. He used to remember everything about me, down to the smallest detail. Then, those memories were just gone.

I shut my eyes, not wanting to speak.

After a while, he left, called away by Sophia. Once the IV drip was done, I checked myself out and headed home alone.

It was the final day of the countdown, and I began to pack.

Opening my closet, I found all the clothes I had excitedly picked out for the baby. Clothes that were no longer needed.

I packed them up, along with some of my own things and the birthday gifts Simon had given me over the years—treasures, once upon a time.

Then, without a second thought, I dumped everything into the trash bin downstairs.

Simon returned that afternoon to an empty room, his confusion clear as day.

"Why does the house feel so empty? Where did all the baby's clothes go? The birthday gifts in the cabinet vanished too."

I set down my glass of water and fibbed with ease. "Well, we had too much stuff. It's musty and moldy in here, so I tossed it."

Simon's voice rose with irritation. "You threw out all the birthday gifts I gave you?"

Those gifts were part of a promise he made, to give me something every year. He used to pick them out with such care, but ever since Sophia came back, my gifts turned into nothing but her castoffs.

I just hummed in response.

He went to rummage through the trash, only to find it had already been taken out.

He was clearly upset. "We've kept those for over ten years. How could you just throw them away?"

To him, they were treasures. To me, they were just things. I wonder what he would do if he knew about the miscarriage, about my plans to marry someone else.

He noticed my silence.

Then, with a heavy sigh, he wrapped his arms around me from behind. "Yoana, I'm sorry for getting worked up. It's just stuff, right? I'll get you more later."

However, there would not be a later.

I tried to wriggle out of his hold, but he clung on tight.

"Lately, even though you're right here, I feel like you're miles away. It's making me anxious. Are you still mad at me?"

I told him I was not, my voice even.

He softened his tone. "Yoana, what do you want to do?"

I paused, then said, "Let's go see the ocean, just once."

For years, I had dreamed of watching the waves with Simon.

He looked at me, disbelief in his eyes. "Is that all?"

"Yes."

He agreed, still surprised.

The perfect time to see the ocean was at dusk. That was when Simon and I would say goodbye.

I packed up and headed to the shore to wait for Simon.

However, what I got instead was his text.

[Yoana, something came up today. I'll take you to the beach tomorrow.]

I let out a sarcastic laugh. Just as I thought.

The beach at twilight was stunning, and I soaked in the beauty of the fading sun all by myself.

Lighting a candle with my lighter, I whispered, "Happy birthday to me."

Then, I sent Simon one final text.

[We're done.]

Once I sent it, I suddenly remembered I had not tossed out some old report, but it did not really matter anymore.

That was when Sophia decided to drop the act and call me.

"Got wise at last, huh? Were you trying to make him chase you by playing games? Dream on if you think those tricks will bring Simon back. He's in my cozy bed right now. You wouldn't believe how much he missed me just a while ago."

Sophia sent me a smug photo of her and Simon cuddling in bed.

She continued, her voice rising.

"If you weren't around, Simon would've been dying to marry me. So what if I was gone for three years? He's still in love with me."

I let out a dismissive snort. "Well, enjoy your prize. He's all yours."

Sophia was livid. I could hear her grinding her teeth and the crash of her throwing things around.

After hanging up, I snapped a photo of the evening waves. Without a second thought, I headed straight for the airport.

As I boarded the plane, my phone started blowing up.