You Let Me Slip Away and Now I Stand Beyond Your Reach

I pulled out a mocking smile and ran home through the pouring rain.

When Willard came back, I had just finished my shower and my hair was still dripping wet. He froze when he saw me. "What happened? You look like a drowned rat."

"I went to the hospital," I said.

His expression instantly froze. "Why did you go to the hospital today?"

I chuckled, "I've told you this so many times."

Willard ran his fingers through his hair in irritation. "I've been so busy lately, I forgot. Anyway, your injury's healed, skipping one visit won't kill you."

I watched him in silence. "The doctor said if I don't take proper care of it, it might flare up again."

That man fell silent, his eyes flashing with irritation when he looked up again. "Are you trying to bring up that scar again?"

So, my reminder had become a bargaining chip for him to take credit.

Willard became furious when I remained silent. "Why are you giving me that expression again? I just didn't go with you to the hospital. Do you have to be so dramatic?"

I glanced at his shirt collar and murmured, "You forgot to wipe the cream off your collar."

Willard instinctively reached for his collar, but then his hand froze midair. "You … "

I slowly added, "The watch on Jolene's wrist suits her well."

His face instantly turned a deep shade of red. He pointed at me, shaking with anger. "You followed me, huh? Cynthia Serrano, are you sick? She just got back to the country and isn't used to things yet. What's wrong with me taking her out to clear her head?"

"She's been alone since she was a child, with no one to depend on. She's so pitiful! All she has is me!"

"Why do you have to be so nitpicky? Is that funny?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, that's funny. I was alone when I went to the hospital, too and you didn't seem to feel sorry for me."

Willard's face flushed red as he tried to justify himself. "How can you compare yourself to her? Besides, when have I ever not cared about you? Do you really need me to tag along every time?"

Before he could finish, his phone rang again. It was Jolene.

Willard hurriedly answered and then Jolene's tearful voice came through the phone. "Willard, I think I caught a fever from the rain. I feel so dizzy."

"Wait for me at home, I'll be there right away!"

He hung up, not even bothering to look at me before heading for the door. When he reached the doorway, he turned back and threw out a final line. "You stay at home and think about what you did. Tomorrow, you'll come with me to order the flowers for the wedding banquet."

"And stop doing cheap things like spying on me. It really makes you look bad."

Willard had left, but his words kept buzzing in my ears. Look bad?

He was so right. Only now did I realize that my heart must've gone blind a long time ago.

On the way to the florist, the air in the car felt suffocating. So, I put on my headphones and turned my head toward the window.

Willard tapped his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel. "Actually, the houses down in the south of the city aren't bad either. Convenient location, good neighborhood."

He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. Seeing that I was ignoring him, he cleared his throat and raised his voice. "I heard they're new buildings with a better environment. A lot of young people like to rent there. How about we go take a look?"

I responded with a snort while my eyes were still closed.

Willard's brows furrowed, his voice filled with frustration. "Cynthia, I'm talking to you!"

I slowly opened my eyes. "I'm listening. What then?"

He instantly looked like a deflated balloon. "Uh, nothing, I was just saying."

At that moment, the wind that blew in through the car window cleared my head a bit.