Prologue

PROLOGUE

Year 2000

NOW Jon decided to do his big surprise for Frances. Later eight P.M. he organized it for the case because he had noticed that her body was like a lifeless and her face was wrinkled. For Frances, he didn't want the only queen in his life to be sad all day. He hired an event organizer for this big surprise and to make this a very special day. Jon planned it one week ago. He planned because he loved Frances so much. No one can change that.

After he called the event organizer, he first entered his and his wife’s room. The event organizer would call him back to make sure everything was okay. It was already seven A.M. and around eight A.M. they will do the surprise. He took scissors and colored papers from the cabinet and started writing love letters for his wife. He doesn't think if what he does is childish, the important thing is, with a simple effort, he can make her happy. That's what only matters most. While he was writing the love letters, his feelings overflowed with happiness. He could not fully imagine that his love with Frances would reach a long-term marriage. Reaching this point, their love deepens, that's what it means. And he knew it's a love that would never end.

And while he was writing a love letter, it reminded him of the first time they both met. It was memorable.

Jon is mad at his mom because she always leads him in all his decisions in life. Nothing has changed. Even in his marriage he should be controlled but he did not follow her wishes for him. His mother is a strict woman. It can mess up his life if it doesn't do him any good. And her mother is a selfish woman. It started when his father was accidentally killed in a restaurant because he was mistaken for a mafia boss. She suffered and began to change. He doesn't know her anymore. But he can't blame her because every night while he's in her room hugging the picture of his dad, she cries. It will only stop when you are visited by sleepiness. Even if he wanted to join his mother in mourning, it was as if something was stopping him. It's like she is blaming him for the loss of her husband.

But now he was mature enough, he didn't want her to care about what he wanted to do in his life. Whatever the circumstances are, he doesn't mind. His decisions, his rules, and his life. He's selfish if he's selfish.

"Jon, I am talking to you!"

He ran into the room. If he listens, his head will only hurt.

"If you don't want Chescka to be your wife, then leave my house!" she screamed furiously. "I'm doing it for you too, Jon!"

“You're not,” he thought.

He listened to the last thing he said before he closed the door. But no matter how angry his mom is, he will not follow what she wants to happen. Since then, his treatment towards her has changed and he wants to leave her. Now she wanted to do it again to him but he wouldn't let his mother do it. Now he has the courage to run away from it. He could live his life alone. It's not like before that he was so hopeful that he couldn't escape. But he wouldn't leave her with hate. He will also leave his anger at home. And maybe someday, he could visit her. At least someday everything is okay.

Your life now is going to be okay, he said to himself.

He got clothes and a few important things that he could use in the new phase of his life.

He knew that anger would still build in his heart when he left but at least, not completely. But despite his departure, he is afraid and sad for his mother. Who will take care of her? But Jon already chose to leave. When everything is okay, he will return to his mom. He really loved his mother even though her behavior was different. This is still his beloved mother, who took care of him when he was young and raised him to fear God.

He sat at the foot of the bed and stared at the clothes he had placed in a large suitcase. He wanted to cry for doing this to his mother but things were already up. If he could, he wouldn't have done it. He knew his mother would realize it when the time came. That's what he was waiting for.

"I'm sorry, mom..." he said in a sad voice. He placed her mother's small picture in his wallet and kissed it.

He stood up and packed the suitcase. He is determined to leave. For a second, he looked around the room. "I will miss this room. Goodbye.” He closed his eyes and seemed to kiss the room in his mind.

After saying goodbye to his room, he immediately went out. In the living room, his mother was sitting on a long sofa. She seemed angry at him that much. And there was something in his mind that made him stop for a while. He looked at his mother. He knew she wanted to tell him something to stop him but her attention remained focused on the newspaper.

"We will make this thing remain like this, but at least, not that I am here," he casted it with doubt and sadness in his heart. He didn't expect this to happen to both of them. Far from what he expected to happen after his father's funeral.

"So you will leave?" It wasn't more often a question. There was something hiding in her voice and face, and Jon already knew it. Her mother didn't want him to leave her alone. It just can't say what its heart wants to say. It was pride that invaded her emotion.

"I will." It was his proclamation and a final decision. And I will miss you, mom.

His mother let out a heavy breath. She tries to release emotional calm. She is anger but there is sadness hidden in the emotion. She held her chest as if she was short of breath. "I will not stop you from your decision. If that's what you want, to leave, then go. But remember this, once you turn your back from this house, you can't come back here!”

He gritted his teeth. He was holding back the tears that were forming. He couldn't show it to her this time when he wants to leave her alone.

Jon hoped he would stop him but he was wrong. After what she just said, she turned her back on him. And his tears fell down to his cheeks. The cry he was fighting collapsed. This wasn't the first time he cried but this was the most painful. His mother turned her back from him.

He tightened his grip on the handle of the suitcase. Take courage and wipe away the tears.

"I'm sorry, mom," he said again, his voice trembling. "I am really sorry..." He pulled the suitcase with sadness.

He locked himself in his car. He was shocked and couldn't sink in the entire things he'd been through. But what made him just think it for a minute was his mother's lonely living. Could time be flashback and stayed like it was just happiness for the both of them and couldn't be changed? He wished! But with his mother's anger in her eyes, it fell to his final decision.

He went to Christine Boulevard that was just near their subdivision. Christine Boulevard is his favorite place; he was only a child when he discovered it. It was a place where people could stay longer, take pictures for I*******m posts, and Christine Boulevard was mesmerizing and breath-taking. Whenever he felt sad, he just went there to relax and ease the sadness he felt. It was his medicine for a long time. And now, with the confusion and sadness he felt, he needed Christine—what he called that place.