Different Kind of Forever

I pushed the steak away. I didn't want to keep acting along with them.When I stood up, my wife, Penelope Peters, hurried to her feet too and signed to ask what was wrong.I shook my head and said quietly, "It's late. I'm going back to rest."Penelope tried to leave with me, but several of her close friends stopped her together."Milton's health isn't great. He needs more rest. Why are you in such a rush to leave?""Exactly. Darren will be here any minute. You haven't seen him all day. Don't you miss him at all?"My son, Hughie Peters, tugged on Penelope's sleeve. "Mommy, I miss Darren. Can we not go home with Daddy?"Panic flashed across Penelope's face.Seeing that I showed no reaction, she frowned and said, "Don't mention Darren's name in front of your dad.""Why are you so worried? Daddy's deaf. He can't hear," Hughie said.After hearing that, I pressed Penelope back into her chair."I can go back by myself. You all stay."As soon as I finished speaking, I turned and le

A week ago, after my hearing was cured, I went home, ready to share the news with her and Hughie.Before I even reached the bedroom, I heard Penelope's wild voice coming from the room next door.My whole body turned ice cold. I even wondered if I was imagining it.Before I could step any closer, Hughie, who had always disliked me, used checking his homework as an excuse to stop me.He pushed me away while muttering, "I don't want you going in there and messing up Daddy Darren's good time."That was when I realized how badly he wanted to replace me as his dad.They thought I was still deaf. They thought they had covered everything perfectly.They had no idea I could hear every single thing clearly.That same day, I applied for the teaching volunteer program in Lumora and booked my ticket there.Just like we once promised each other, I would disappear completely from her world. I didn't want Penelope or Hughie anymore.In that moment, the frantic sounds of her and Darren in the

The moment I heard Penelope's words, my heart skipped a beat.In her hand was the document proving enrollment in the Lumora volunteer teaching program.While Penelope's expression darkened, I said calmly and slowly, "It's my friend's. His family is strict and won't let him go abroad, so he used my information to fill out the application. It got approved, and I'm just delivering the documents to him."Under her doubtful gaze, I took the papers from her hand.Only then did Penelope finally relax.Hughie laughed from the side. "Daddy, guess what we brought back for you?"I paused for a moment before answering softly, "Chocolate cake your mommy made herself.""How did you know?" Hughie's eyes flashed with surprise.How could I not know?Back when we were dating, Penelope used to make all kinds of desserts for me.She said she wanted to feed me well so I would get nice and chubby. That way, no one would ever steal me away from her.But her cakes were always bitter and overly rich

Over time, this place started to feel like a prison.According to the principal, I was the only person in seven years who had chosen to come here on purpose.When I heard that, a trace of guilt crept into my heart.I hadn't come purely to volunteer. I was really just looking for somewhere far enough, away from Penelope and Hughie.I followed the principal to the school and quickly realized things were far worse than I had imagined.The blackboard was a massive slab of stone propped up with wooden posts. Off to the side were chunks of charcoal, used for writing on the stone.The classroom itself was a small wooden shack, with wind leaking in from every direction.A few poorly dressed children sat below.At the front, an elderly man swayed as he stood. Even using all his strength, he could only leave faint marks on the stone."The parents are busy all day," the principal said. "They drop the kids off here in the morning to study. At night, they come back and take them home. I kn

Life in the city was already so much better than most. What did we really have to complain about?Before I could think any further, Aisla's voice rang out beside me again."Don't worry. No matter what happens, I'll protect you," she said. When I looked at her, the determination in her eyes only grew stronger.Seeing that, I could only smile and gently pat her on the head.Maybe staying here really was a good decision. At the very least, the people here were sincere. They wouldn't lie to me.But that very day, while I was teaching the class, two unexpected figures appeared in front of us."Daddy!""Milton, so you really are here!"It had been a long time since I had seen Penelope and Hughie. I had never seen them look this disheveled.Penelope used to carry herself like a princess, calm and composed, no matter what she did.Now, her hair hung loosely over her shoulders, her eyes bloodshot. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, faint but unmistakable.Hughie was usually clean and