When Love Fades with the Wind

When they saw me, they looked dumbfounded. A flicker of surprise flashed in Lennox's face as he asked in puzzlement, "Are you sick? Why are you at the hospital alone?"

Before I could answer, Anne stepped in. “Kelly, don’t take your health lightly just because you’re still young. No matter how busy you are at work, you have to take care of yourself. Don’t let Lennox worry about you.”

Her tone carried a sense of concern, but beneath it lay a subtle distance I couldn’t ignore.

I pressed my lips together and agreed by humming. “I’ve already had my check-up. I just need to grab my medication and then I can leave. You two should go ahead with your prenatal exam.”

Lennox’s eyes filled with concern as he started toward me, but Anne tugged him back.

“Lennox, it’s almost our turn. Let’s go in,” she said, feigning discomfort as she rubbed her belly. “I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been overthinking lately, but my stomach hasn’t been feeling great. I’m worried it might affect the baby.”

She emphasized the word “baby,” and the worry in his eyes dissipated instantly. Instead, guilt replaced it as he said, “Kelly, you should head home first. I’ll come find you after I finish the check-up with Anne.”

I remember when his brother was still alive, he always addressed Anne as “sister-in-law” with utmost respect. Now, though, he called her name with such familiarity.

As I looked at the family of three, I couldn’t help but realize how much of an outsider I had become. The man who once vowed to love me forever no longer held me in his heart.

I recalled the times when he always put me first no matter what happened. A wave of bitterness welled up in my chest as I choked out, “Alright, you two go ahead.”

On the way home, I stared out the car window at the familiar scenery flashing by. My mind replayed scenes from our past when we were always by each other side.

I had known Lennox since high school. Back then, he was my desk mate. He was a quiet, studious bookworm, while I was lively and mischievous kid.

Since my parents were often busy with work , they were worried I couldn’t take care of myself, they made me live on campus.

I hated the cafeteria breakfasts, so I always pestered him to bring me food from outside. He would sigh in exasperation but always indulged me. This went on for three years.

After high school, we naturally chose the same university.

Having been classmates for so long, I couldn’t help but gravitate toward him in the unfamiliar environment by seeking comfort and support from him. I relied on him for everything and he never seemed to tire of helping me.

My mom often scolded me. She said it wasn’t right to trouble others so much. I shrugged off her words and relayed them to Lennox.

At the time, he put down his pen and said nonchalantly, “Do you really think I’m some kind of pushover? Kelly, if I didn’t like you, I wouldn’t bother with you at all.”

His feelings for me were never hidden and I had known from the very beginning. So I shamelessly basked in his kindness.

When we finally got together, his love became even more unrestrained. With him around, I felt carefree, as if nothing in the world could ever trouble me.

Knowing how much he had done for me, my mom used to joke that the hardest thing I’d ever faced in life was going to work.

However now, I realized she was wrong. The hardest thing I ever faced wasn’t work. It was the fact that the man I loved married someone else and I was the last one to know.

Tears blurred my vision as I recalled those memories and by the time I realized it, my face was already soaked with tears.

The taxi driver noticed and handed me a tissue. “Young lady, there’s no hurdle you can’t overcome. Keep moving forward and good fortune is waiting for you just ahead.”

I accepted the tissue and thanked him through my sobs.

After paying the fare, I was about to call a friend to vent when I absentmindedly opened my social media feed. That’s when I saw Anne’s latest post from just five minutes ago.