She Went Mad

I had been on a business trip abroad for two months. When I received Rose Lewis' message, I was packing my bags to return home.

Rose: [Are you still angry?]

She sent another message.

Rose: [Which flight? I'll pick you up.]

After a moment of hesitation, I replied to her anyway.

I stared at these two messages for a long time. This was unlike the Rose I knew. At least she never admitted her mistake when it involved her dream man, Eden Carter.

She was not wrong to accompany him to drink late at night or to leave me sick and go shopping and watch movies with him, or even to spend Valentine's Day with Eden.

In a fit of anger, I applied for the overseas project. We were still giving each other the cold shoulder when I left.

For once, she was willing to give in, and I sensibly accepted her olive branch just as she had hoped.

After the plane landed, I looked around. After waiting for nearly an hour, there was no familiar figure at the exit. I called her several times but got no answer.

When the call got through, she answered absent-mindedly, "Hello? "

"I'm at the airport. Where are you?"

She suddenly started mumbling, "Ah, well... Eden accidentally scraped his hand earlier, so I brought him to the hospital to get it treated."

Eden's voice, tinged with amusement, drifted through the line. "Rose, it's our turn."

"Got it!" she replied hurriedly before saying to me. "Take a cab back yourself. I can't leave right now."

"You promised you'd come pick me up."

"Can you stop being so petty?" Her impatience came through over the phone. "I told you I'm busy. You calling so many times is really annoying. Can't you just take a taxi?"

In the past, knowing Rose was with Eden again would have sent me into a hysterical rage.

Now, thinking of the deadline the system had given me—only seven days left until I could leave this world and Rose behind forever to return to my true home, all my anger and grievances suddenly seemed trivial.

I felt a sense of calm wash over me and replied gently, "Alright. Take good care of Eden then."

There was a distinct pause on the other end; Rose seemed to have not expected that response.

"You..." she said hesitantly.

Without waiting for her to finish, I simply hung up and walked toward the taxi stand.

The early spring breeze carried a hint of chill, yet I felt a sense of relief unlike anything I had ever known.