Together for a While, Apart for a Lifetime

He asked, “Going to die? What's going on?”

I was delighted, thinking that maybe Milford would believe me. So, I recounted in one breath what had just happened.

There was silence outside before an exaggerated burst of laughter could be heard, “Hahaha, Deanne, you really made me cry.

“Rocky, come and see your little fiancée. She has started making up stories to get your attention.”

Rocky walked to my door and sneered, “Deanne, you really impressed me.

“During the past few days since you came out, have you ever not targeted Leila? Do you know you were wrong now?”

I moved the stool with great effort, but it did not move at all.

“Yes, I was wrong. I was really wrong,” I could only admit, “Please, Rocky, please help me call the police, I will really die."

Rocky shook his head, his voice indifferent as he responded, “Deanne, you are really hopeless.

“Forget it, come out and apologize to Leila, and I will forgive you.”

Milford also chimed in, “Yeah, stop playing your role, come out and sincerely apologize to Leila. In that way, I will still be your friend in the future.”

My throat was getting more and more sore until I could hardly speak, “I'm really not kidding. Please come in and take a look. You will know at a glance whether what I said is true or not.”

Rocky was a little hesitant, but he immediately dispelled the idea by Leila's words, “I understand what Deanne means. She won't come out unless I leave.

“I'll leave right away. I'm an outsider after all, and I'm really happy that you're so kind to me.

“I'm so sorry to interrupt your honeymoon, Deanne. Don’t be angry. I'll buy a ticket and leave tomorrow.”

My heart sank completely.

I knew that once Leila said that, I would have no chance anymore.

My room was at the end of the corridor and there was only Rocky next to me. 

Sure enough, he was angry again.

“Deanne, I really did not realize you had such a little thought,” Rocky yelled. “I'm telling you, you're the one who has to leave! 

“Go away by yourself tomorrow. I don’t want to see you again.”

After that, the three of them went back to the room chatting and laughing.

From time to time, I could hear their ridicule towards me from next door.

Milford was still deliberately imitating the tone of my voice just then to make Leila happy.

It sounded so harsh, but my heart did not hurt so much. I just closed my eyes and waited quietly for death to come.

A revolving lantern began to play in my mind.

Milford was my childhood sweetheart, and Rocky was my fiancé. Obviously, the relationship between the three of us was very good before.

When did it become like this?

Probably after Leila came to my house.

She was smart and beautiful, and always won everyone's attention and favor.

It made both of their hearts fly to her.

I wanted to laugh, but I only moved the corners of my mouth.

That was how my life went. I died an ugly death in the room.

Obviously, I loved beauty the most when I was alive.

In the middle of the night, the murderer came back again, wearing a mask and a hat. 

I could not see his face clearly, but I could see he stared at my body and sneered, “How pitiful! I've been gone for so long and no one came to save you. It's your bad luck to meet me.”

He put on gloves and began to work on my body.

He skillfully divided me into pieces and packed them into the suitcase.

I noticed that he had laid a thick waterproof membrane on the ground, so the blood stains were easy to clean.

Soon, he left with his suitcase.

If someone ignored the bloody smell in the room, it would look like an ordinary room.