He Chases Mountains and Seas, I Keep the Quiet and the Love

4: 4

4

After I checked out of the hospital and got home, Thomas still hadn't come back.

I packed my own things into a suitcase and left the signed divorce papers on the dining table.

Then I bought a plane ticket to Norway to see the northern lights.

It was a wish I'd had since I was twenty.

In seven years, Thomas and I had booked tickets three times.

The first time, Marina hurt herself skiing, and he rushed off through the night to take care of her.

The second time, Marina's project made the shortlist for an international award, and he canceled the tickets to go abroad with her for the ceremony.

The third time, right before we were set to leave, Marina got drunk over a breakup, and he stayed by her side the whole night.

Every time, Thomas said he'd make it up to me later.

But I waited seven years, and that so-called later never came.

When I reached the airport, there was still an hour before boarding.

I had just finished checking my luggage when I saw Thomas and Marina.

Marina was wearing a white down jacket, and Thomas was bent over, fixing her scarf.

Marina held up two tickets, her eyes curving with a smile.

“Back in college we said we'd go to Iceland together to see the aurora. I never thought it'd take this many years.”

Thomas ruffled her hair.

“This time I won't break the promise.”

My phone rang at exactly that moment.

A message from Thomas:

【The company set up a last-minute business trip. I'll be gone a few days.】

【Stay home and think things over. We'll talk when I get back.】

I looked at him across the crowd and gave a small, bitter laugh.

The airport announcement began calling for boarding.

I put my phone away and wheeled my suitcase toward my gate.

From today on, they could go see their aurora.

And I would go live a life without them in it.

Just as I was about to step into the boarding tunnel, a hurried shout came from behind me.

“Carrie!”