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Chapter 12

Author: Asir
After walking Harvey to the exit of my neighborhood without a word, I was about to head back when I caught his pleading, reddened eyes. With a sigh, I compromised and decided to walk him to the subway.

We had walked through this stretch of road countless times when he used to pick me up after work, when we went on dates, and when he insisted on walking me home afterward.

Later, even after I got married, he'd come with me to visit my parents.

So many years had passed. Businesses had closed, new ones had taken their place, and storefronts had been renovated. I thought things would stay the same, but nothing ever did.

Harvey kept talking, recalling memory after memory, and I never realized how much we'd been through. His memory was so sharp that he remembered things I'd long forgotten, and a few of them even made me laugh.

We had done so many silly things as a couple back then—covering an entire wall in the study with photo booth strips, burying a time capsule under the ancient tree
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  • Anniversary of a Lie   Chapter 13

    Harvey altered the divorce agreement and stripped it down so much that he was nearly left with nothing.Arthur was stunned, and I knew he was thinking to himself that Harvey was a fool.I froze briefly before deciding to accept it. Why should I turn it down when it was all mine to begin with?…The sun was out on the day Harvey and I visited the courthouse. Harvey had tried to tidy himself up as if he didn't want to look too wretched, but he still looked worn down and aged. And in contrast, I felt alive and steady.The courthouse was right next to the city clerk's office, where marriage registration was handled.At 25, Harvey had walked out carrying the 23-year-old me, promising that he would never let me down in his lifetime. He had even covered my eyes on our way out so that I wouldn't have to see the courthouse.At 30, he walked into the courthouse with the 28-year-old me.I stared at the flimsy sheet of paper and lifted my hand to write "incompatibility". At least it save

  • Anniversary of a Lie   Chapter 12

    After walking Harvey to the exit of my neighborhood without a word, I was about to head back when I caught his pleading, reddened eyes. With a sigh, I compromised and decided to walk him to the subway.We had walked through this stretch of road countless times when he used to pick me up after work, when we went on dates, and when he insisted on walking me home afterward.Later, even after I got married, he'd come with me to visit my parents.So many years had passed. Businesses had closed, new ones had taken their place, and storefronts had been renovated. I thought things would stay the same, but nothing ever did.Harvey kept talking, recalling memory after memory, and I never realized how much we'd been through. His memory was so sharp that he remembered things I'd long forgotten, and a few of them even made me laugh.We had done so many silly things as a couple back then—covering an entire wall in the study with photo booth strips, burying a time capsule under the ancient tree

  • Anniversary of a Lie   Chapter 11

    Harvey was gone a long time, and I never expected him to find the wish card either. That tree was gigantic and bore the weight of countless strangers' wishes. A single wish card was almost impossible to distinguish from the rest.When the knock came, I was a little surprised. Harvey stood there, looking pale and weak with dark circles under his eyes. It was obvious he hadn't had proper sleep for days.The weather-beaten wish card dangled from his hand. His knuckles were scabbed, with no medicine applied.My surprise wasn't feigned since I hadn't thought he could do it. But instead of taking the wish card over, I said, "Come in."Delight lit up his near-dead, ashen face.I returned to my room and grabbed a file from the top of the desk. It was the agreement Arthur had drafted yesterday and freshly printed. I hadn't expected Harvey to show up so soon. It was just in time to get it signed."Here's the divorce and asset settlement agreement. Sign it when you can, and we'll pick a day

  • Anniversary of a Lie   Chapter 10

    When Harvey realized I wouldn't budge, he showed up at my parents' door with arms full of gifts. Dad threw them straight back out, scattering the expensive gifts across the porch. As the man who had once called Harvey the perfect son-in-law, he now gripped a frying spatula and wanted nothing more than to give the latter a beating.Harvey flinched but kept his head bowed and stayed on his knees as the spatula struck down again and again."When I handed Jil over to you, you promised to love and protect her. Have you forgotten? Only a few years in, and this is what we get! We may be old, but we're not dead!"Harvey dared not cry out in pain and only grunted softly every time the spatula struck. He wanted to explain himself, only to open his mouth and close it again."Just go. We don't want you getting hurt and blaming it on us later." Holding the spatula, Dad was about to close the door when Harvey, who had stayed silent the whole time, lunged forward and jammed his hand in the fr

  • Anniversary of a Lie   Chapter 9

    Harvey began frequently showing up outside my office. He'd wait for me to get off work and send lunch through the receptionist at noon."Don't eat too much takeout, honey."For years, he'd get up before dawn and pack my lunch for work. Then, he'd get me out of bed and rush me to work. We'd squeeze into the subway, shoulder to shoulder, and start the day together.He never forgot flowers, either. I went through the card that was filled with poetic lines. He knew I had always loved his handwriting.Oblivious to what was happening, my colleagues grinned and teased, "Your husband really spoils you, Jilian."Deep down, I started wavering because they were right; Harvey did treat me well.When I fell sick, he'd stay up all night with a cool cloth to wipe my sweat and a thermometer for fear that my fever might start rising again without him noticing. He'd always track my menstrual cycle, slip tampons into my bag in advance, and stock the fridge with dark chocolate bars.He took such go

  • Anniversary of a Lie   Chapter 8

    Cassie had called a few days before our wedding anniversary. Harvey had hardened his heart and refused to answer, probably because he had made up his mind to cut off all ties. But that choice left him wallowing in regret.The question he had asked me at that celebratory party made no sense; this wasn't what I wanted at all. If I could never compete against a living first love, what chance did I have against her death that carved her presence deeper into his chest?He told me to calm down, and sure enough, I did. I was so calm that I reached out to a divorce lawyer and began dividing assets.After the lawyer, Mr. Sage, got into the seat across from me and ordered coffee, he made small talk to ease the air. I had never been good at such professional talks with strangers, and the jargon I couldn't follow terrified me. Back then, Harvey would squeeze my shoulder and steady me when I tried to retreat. "Babe, you'll get dumber if you don't talk to people," he'd say. Whenever I faltered,

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