Chapter 4

Before I left, I divided the items at my place into three portions.

I classified them into what I would bring with me, Sawyer’s belongings, as well as all the items that the three of them had left over the years. I placed all their items outside my door.

In that pile were the sports shoes that Jason had left, Liam’s gaming device, as well as Sawyer’s clothes that used to take up half of my closet space.

The property management office called me and asked if those items were trash.

I denied it.

“Please put them in the lobby and let them collect the items on their own.”

Very soon, Sawyer sent me a voice message.

[You threw my clothes to the property management office?]

[I didn’t throw them away. In fact, I folded them.]

[Are you out of your mind? We’re going over at night. Why are you putting them at the entrance?]

I stared at my empty closet.

Getting rid of a person from my life had been far easier than I had imagined.

It had only taken a few boxes.

[I won’t be at home at night.]

Sawyer did not think much of it.

[Are you working overtime again?]

[If so, you could make dinner first. We’ll reheat it on our own.]

Jason also sent a grocery list into the group chat.

[Grilled fish, roast chicken, and grilled shrimp.]

[Willa has had a weak stomach these past couple of days. Don’t make anything spicy.]

Liam transferred me some money.

It was only twenty dollars.

[There are six of us tonight. Here’s some money for you to buy groceries. If it’s not enough, you can top it up yourself.]

Sawyer sent a laughing emoji.

[Liam, you’re too generous.]

The few of them were cracking jokes, yet no one asked about my preferences.

No one even asked why I would not be around.

I did not accept the money transfer. Instead, I left the group chat.

After a short while, Sawyer sent me a text message.

[Why are you being so immature?]

[Who are you expecting to add you back into our group chat after you exit?]

I blocked his number.

At two in the afternoon, the landlord brought someone over to view the house.

The new tenants were a young couple who had just gotten married.

The young wife saw the kitchen, and her eyes lit up.

“This kitchen is so big. I can finally cook for you.”

Her husband immediately shook his head.

“It’ll be too tiring for you. If you’re cooking, then I’ll do the cleaning up. I can’t let you do everything on your own.”

She laughed and shoved him playfully.

It was a very normal sentence.

Yet, I stood still for a very long time.

It turned out that some people knew how difficult it was to cook.

They would not treat their loved one’s efforts for granted.

After I signed the lease termination, I called a moving company.

The driver helped me to carry the heaviest box and simply asked, “Is your boyfriend not sending you off?”

“We broke up.”

“That’s good.”

He pointed at the truck full of boxes.

“A person who truly loves you won’t let you move all of these alone.”

I did not say anything.

Before I got into the car, I turned around to look at that door for the very last time.

Sawyer had once said that once we got married, it would be our second home.

Jason said that he would come and have dinner with us if he was still unemployed.

Liam said that when we had children, we would still stay in the same neighborhood.

They had planned the future very well.

Yet, they had never thought that I might not want to be in their future any longer.

On the way to the train station, Willa called me from a different number.

“Dawn, please don’t misunderstand us.

“How about I move out tonight? I don’t want to affect your relationship.”

Even though she said that she was willing to move, her pleading tone sounded like she wanted me to ask her to stay.

However, I did not give her what she wanted.

“Sure.

“You can move out tonight.”

She was stumped.

“But my house isn’t fixed yet…”

“That’s your issue.

“You can stay in a hotel, look for your agent, or ask the three guys to continue to think of a solution. You’re an adult. You can’t always rely on other people to take care of you.”

I heard Sawyer’s voice over the phone.

“Dawn, do you have to be this cruel?

“Willa’s apologizing. What more do you want from her?”

I ended the call and blocked that number too.

Before the train departed, I received a few more text messages.

Jason asked if I had bought the fish.

Liam asked me to buy some drinks on the way home.

Sawyer only sent me a text message.

[Come home before seven.]

[We’ll wait for you before we eat dinner, alright?]

I looked at the time and shut my phone off.

As the train departed the station, my smart lock app sent me a notification.

[An invalid passcode has been entered.]

Immediately after, my doorbell camera sent me a photo.

Sawyer was standing right in front of my door. He was holding a grocery bag containing the fish.

Jason and Liam were holding the drinks, and Willa was standing behind them.

They were crowding in front of my door as they waited for me to head home and open the door for them.

The next second, Sawyer pressed the doorbell.