The Post That Ended Us

Amusement Park

"Daddy! Can I ride the carousel?" A bright little boy's voice rang out behind me.

"Sure. Whatever you want, sport." The man's gentle voice pierced straight through my heart like a poisoned blade.

It was Luke.

Despite the bustling ambience and the short sentence, I recognized his voice.

I turned around stiffly. I spotted them in the crowd a couple of feet away.

It was so harmonious that it stung me.

Luke was wearing a casual white shirt with his sleeves rolled up. His scar was noticeable on his wrist.

He was peering down at a toddler in a teddy bear onesie with a gentle smile.

Ramona stood beside him with her long hair cascading down her back. She wore a light yellow dress and put on light makeup. She was wiping the toddler's sweat with a tissue.

When her gaze fell on Luke, it was full of affection and trust.

When the three of them stood side by side, they caught the onlookers' eyes with their stunning appearance. Anyone would perceive them as a happy family of three.

I was rooted to the spot. The noises around me had been drowned out.

I thought I was mentally prepared. I thought the memories during the drive here had already hurt me enough.

But only when I saw their happiness with my own eyes did I truly understand how devastating it was to be betrayed by the two people I trusted most.

It felt as if someone had reached into my chest and crushed my heart, leaving only its remains behind.

I trailed behind them the whole day, never daring to tear my gaze from their smiling faces.

By halfway through, I felt numb.

…

In the afternoon, the toddler asked for ice cream. Luke turned around and went to queue for it.

Ramona took the boy's hand, and both of them waited in the shade.

He was bouncing a red rubber ball against the ground to kill time.

Suddenly, his hand slipped. The ball fell out of his hand and rolled toward me.

Ramona was checking her phone. She didn't notice he had lost his toy.

The ball rolled to a stop at the tip of my foot.

The toddler, running after it, was huffing and puffing in front of me. He was adorable, I would give him that. He had Luke's brows and eyes, but Ramona's nose and mouth.

The toddler looked up at me with his round eyes and asked chirpily, "Can I have my toy back, miss?"

I took a deep breath and crouched down. I picked up the ball and handed it to him.

"Thank you, miss!" He happily took the toy and shot me a vibrant smile.

"Come back, Howie!" Under the tree, Ramona finally realized the boy had run away. She looked around for him in a panic.

When she spotted him with his toy behind a crowd, she exhaled in relief. Then, her gaze darted from his face to the woman crouching down before him.

I rose and removed my sunglasses, meeting her eyes with a surprisingly calm gaze.