Once, when Claire was taking a bath, she felt like someone was trying to peep at her. When she glanced outside, she found no one except Alex pushing his wheelchair down the hallway, away from the bathroom.Throughout that day, she kept wondering whether Alex was trying to peep at her, or was it someone else? Because Alex seemed to respond to everything as usual. Or maybe she was just being too paranoid.On a night after dinner, a few months after the incident, Alex and Claire sat on a simple sofa while listening to classical music coming from the gramophone in Alex's study. The man appeared to be lost in thought and said, “I think, in this world, there will be things I can never obtain. No matter how hard I struggle.”Claire saw a look of sadness in Alex's eyes. “What is that?” Alex weakly looked at Claire, causing her heart to beat faster.“Women.” Alex continued with a smile, staring blankly at the books lined up on his shelf, “I spent my time working and pursuing my dreams, trying

"Who is it for?" Keaton asked."I'm planning to move. Please help me find a place.""Alright, I'll provide the information as soon as possible."Alex hung up the phone and sank into his thoughts. He wouldn't be able to give Claire complete freedom if he wasn't far from her. It would be better if he found a new place and let Claire stay here. Maybe over time, he could forget about Claire and accept if she's with someone else.For now, I still love her too much.That night, Claire went to a party, leaving Alex in his office. Alex secretly watched Claire leave through the window. Feeling helpless and resigned. He was the one who started this, distancing himself from Claire, and he had to accept the consequences.Several hours later as the night grew late, the sound of a car stopping in front of the house could be heard, followed shortly by the sound of the front door being slammed very loudly. The sound startled Alex, who had been staring at his work papers. The same papers that had been

About twenty-four years ago, Jean had just become a volunteer doctor in that town. One night, she was suddenly awakened by a nurse to go immediately to a red-light district. The area looked rundown with houses built of wood, tripleks, cardboard, and old corrugated iron scattered without order. Jean thought she would treat someone injured, sick, or anything until she saw a pregnant woman about to give birth. She was truly surprised because until that moment, she had never assisted in childbirth."I can't..."The nurse, named Margie, looked at the doctor with a slightly patronizing look and said, "Doctor, there's always a first time for everything."Jean reluctantly suppressed her reluctance and proceeded with the delivery process. She was completely at a loss when the pregnant woman started screaming hysterically and the baby's head was about to appear.Nevertheless, Margie continued to provide support in limited Indonesian, using only a few words. "Push, push, push..."Jean tried to h

Alex closed his eyes and sighed, "Go to France." The words that came out of his mouth ultimately pierced his own heart, causing immense pain.Claire looked at Alex with a hurt feeling, "But what about us? What about our marriage? What about my feelings?""You don't love me. You're just too afraid of losing a place to return to. Besides, going to France and working won't take this place away from you," Alex said. "Claire... This is your home and will always be your place to return. Nothing will change."Claire wiped her tears, "What about our wedding invitations that have been sent out?""I'll take care of it." Alex's hand took the wedding documents and crumpled them into a ball of paper before throwing them into the trash, "From the beginning, all of this was too fast and rushed. You haven't even seen the world when I forced you to marry me. I asked you to marry me because I was too afraid of losing you. I knew someday you would soon leave this place, especially after you graduate and

In the fourth year of Claire's departure, Alex's life felt increasingly burdensome and torturous. His weight had significantly decreased compared to four years ago. He smiled less often and was more engrossed in all his work. Some people said Alex had become more easily angered, and even Jackson and Michael couldn't persuade him to come out of his hiding place. In his spare time, Alex continuously reread Claire's letters multiple times. He always tried to convince himself that after Claire had satisfied her wanderlust, they would soon live together and have many children. Children who would run in their house's yard...Tears streamed down Alex's face. He truly wanted to see Claire return as soon as possible and be with her. Only one year remained from their agreement. After that, Claire would never leave him again. Alex often wanted to write a letter asking Claire to return immediately. However, he quickly abandoned the idea.That morning, two soldiers knocked on Alex's door in unifor