Exterminated by Marriage

Everyone knew that Andrew Stone and I were meant for each other.

He loved me, and he had always boldly professed his love for me.

My encounter with Andrew was the most insignificant bit of chaos in my messed-up and trashy life.

The indie band performance had just ended then. With my guitar in hand, I had set out to return to my rented place for some sleep. However, I had bumped into a group of ignorant fools who had tried to rob me.

I was about to show them who’s boss when Andrew showed up.

He was wearing a clean white shirt, and he had a phone in his hand. His face was flushed as he appeared at the entrance of the alley.

Even now, I could still remember him putting his trembling hand on the wall. I could even see the sweat on his forehead.

He had shouted, "I've called the police! You'd better run while you still can!"

Good citizens would resolve conflict by calling the police.

However, I settled matters with my fists.

This was something I had learned from my drunkard dad.

In reality, Andrew and I would never have met if he hadn't tugged at my sleeve that night and asked for my name.

"Dawn Chapman," I had replied.

His life seemed completely different from mine.

Since then, I would always bump into Andrew here and there.

He would appear in the bar I performed at, the food stall downstairs, and also the casual restaurant I frequented.

In the most classic way, Andrew had tried to draw my attention to him. He didn't even dare to ask me for my number.

This went on for four months. Then, it was winter, and it was snowing heavily one day. Because of the weather, our performance had been put on hold.

I was leaning by the window and smoking when I happened to see a "teddy bear" moving slowly downstairs.

It seemed to be Andrew.

I didn't know what I was thinking, but I went downstairs.

Sure enough, it was Andrew.

He was standing in the snow as snowflakes covered his body, hair, and eyelashes. He looked like Santa Claus.

But when he caught sight of me, a brilliant gleam appeared in his puppy eyes.

That was how I started dating Andrew.

He was a good student in a famous university whereas I was a street punk who had dropped out of school to work.

No one had supported our relationship.

But time and again, Andrew had stood firmly by my side.

He had said that he would do anything I asked, and he would even admire the sea in the early morning with me if I wanted to.

When he said those words, Andrew and I had been standing at the top of a mountain. He had looked at me with his eyes that shone brighter than all the stars combined.

I firmly believed that Andrew and I would walk hand-in-hand through this messed-up world forever.

On our first anniversary, we had planned to watch the sunrise at the beach.

When the large truck barreled toward us, Andrew didn't even hesitate as he shielded me under him.

Right after that, my world was turned on its head.

The sound of the crash and the noise of glass shattering had rung out almost simultaneously.

Something heavy weighed on me, and Andrew's blood dripped into my eyes.

"Thank goodness you're okay, Dawn…"

Those were the last words I heard before I lost consciousness.

I wondered how many people in this world would sacrifice their own lives to love someone else.

Still, Andrew had done it.