ANMELDENIlma suddenly spoke. Her voice was hoarse. “Gerath, I’m going abroad next week, and I might not come back. Here, take this.”With that, she took a small box out of her bag and held it out to me.“This is a birthday gift my parents prepared for you before they passed away. They said you liked exploring, so they had someone buy this compass from abroad especially for you, but they never got around to giving it to you.”I took the box and opened it. Inside was a silver compass engraved with my name.My eyes suddenly stung with tears. It turned out my in-laws had always remembered my passion, yet I had not been able to save them.I slipped the box into my pocket. I said with my voice a little hoarse, “Thank you.”Ilma stood up, looked at me, and forced out a smile. “Well, I’m going now. Take care of yourself.”I mumbled an affirmative and watched her walk away. Her figure grew smaller and smaller until she finally disappeared around the corner.After returning from the cemetery, I
With that, I opened the door and walked out without looking back.The wind outside carried the chill of late autumn. As it blew against my face, it finally cleared the fog that had clouded my mind for the past few days.My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a message from the rescue team.It said that, in accordance with my father-in-law’s final wishes, they had donated several of his treasured exploration tools to the Outdoor Rescue Association.I replied, [Thank you.]I looked up at the streetlight in the distance. In its dim, yellow glow, even my shadow seemed unusually lonely.The next morning, I arrived at the courthouse right on time.Ilma was already there too. She was wearing a black dress with her hair neatly combed. Her face was alarmingly pale, and the dark circles under her eyes were impossible to hide.She was holding a manila envelope. When she saw me arrive, she hesitated for a moment before handing it over.“Inside are the transfer documents for all the real e
Ilma lowered her head. Her voice was tinged with bitterness.“I know I was wrong. I’m sorry to you, and I’m sorry to my parents. Things might be better this way.”I looked at Ilma’s utterly regretful face, yet I did not feel a single ripple in my heart.Once upon a time, a single word or glance from her would have stirred my heart.But after what happened at Mounscour Hill, the last shred of affection between us had long been crushed by her own hand.My voice was calm as I said, “Divorce is fine, but not right now.“Your parents’ funeral arrangements aren’t settled yet. Let’s talk about divorce after we’ve laid them to rest properly.”Ilma jerked her head up, and her eyes shone with disbelief.She probably had not expected me to bring up her parents’ funeral arrangements.Her lips trembled as if she wanted to say something. But in the end, she merely nodded slightly, and tears slid down her cheeks once more.Over the next few days, Ilma and I worked together to handle the fun
Astel was taken aback by her question. His expression immediately darkened.“Ilma, how could you think that of me? How could I possibly do something like that? I’ve always had your best interests at heart!”Ilma let out a bitter laugh. “If you had my best interests at heart, why didn’t you stop me when I smashed the gas mask?“Astel, you’re only looking out for yourself! You just want to use this opportunity to drive a wedge between Gareth and me, so I’ll become completely dependent on you!”As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something, and her eyes filled with hatred.“My parents never liked you when they were alive. They opposed our relationship. Is that why you deliberately didn’t want them to return alive?”Astel had been caught. His face turned ashen.He could no longer keep up the act and shoved Ilma away.“What nonsense! You’ve clearly lost your mind!”Ilma stumbled backward from the force and fell to the ground. Her head slammed hard against a chair.She winced in
Ilma’s mouth hung open, but no sound came out.Her tears fell like beads on a broken string. They splashed onto the ground and spread into a wet patch.The murmurs around her suddenly became crystal clear.Some people sighed softly as they watched her retreating figure. Others pulled out their phones to film the chaotic scene. Some expressed sorrow for the elderly man who had passed away.These voices felt like countless fine needles piercing into Ilma’s heart and made her feel despair for the first time.Astel stood to the side. His face was even paler than before.He quietly took a half-step back. His eyes darted about as he began to plot how to extricate himself from the situation.I looked at Ilma, who was on the ground, and felt no pity.Her ruthlessness when she smashed the gas mask, her foolishness in believing Astel’s slander, and her ferocity when she beat me with fists and feet came to my mind.Those scenes flashed through my mind, having long since eroded the last r
I got up and walked toward the door, where I saw several police officers briefing Ilma.“We’re handing the victims’ bodies over to you. Please have the family sign here.”Ilma looked at the officer in disbelief, shaking her head the whole time.“No, it can’t be…”When she saw me come out, she snatched the death certificate from the officer’s hand and flung it to the ground.She pointed at me. “He’s the one who ordered you all to do this, isn’t he?”As she spoke, she began shoving the officer in front of her.“How much did he pay you to put on this show in front of me?!”The officer was enraged by her actions and grabbed Ilma’s arm.“Ma’am, we understand you’re grieving, but that’s no excuse for assaulting a police officer!“If you keep this up, we have the right to arrest you!”Seeing that her resistance was futile, Ilma broke free from the officer’s grip and lunged at me.“Gareth, you’re really something else!”She stepped forward and slapped me hard across the face.My







