Broken bond, burning desire의 모든 챕터: 챕터 181 - 챕터 185

"I think it is time."He said it quietly. We were sitting on the porch. The sun was setting. The sky was orange and pink. It was a beautiful evening.I looked at him. "Time for what?"He took my hand. "Time to slow down. Time to enjoy the life we have built."I felt the tears prick at my eyes. "We have been talking about this for years."He nodded. "I know. But I think we are finally ready. The Lighthouse is in good hands. Lily is running it now. The children are grown. It is our time."I leaned against him. "What do you want to do? Where do you want to go?"He smiled. "I want to travel. I want to see the world with you. I want to wake up in a new place every week. I want to make memories with you."I looked at him. "That sounds perfect. That sounds absolutely perfect."He kissed my forehead. "Then let us do it. Let us start living our golden years."The next few weeks were a blur of planning and preparation. We told the children. They were happy for us."You deserve this," Lily said.

"Fifty years. Can you believe it?"I was standing in front of the mirror. My hair was grey now. My face was lined. But my eyes were still the same. Still full of life. Still full of love.He came up behind me. His hands rested on my shoulders. His reflection smiled at me in the mirror."I can believe it," he said. "Every single day with you has been a gift."I turned to face him. "Fifty years. We have been married for fifty years."He took my hands. "And I would do it all over again. Every single moment."I felt the tears prick at my eyes. "Even the hard parts?"He nodded. "Even the hard parts. Because they made us who we are."We stood there in the quiet. The house was full of memories. The children were grown. The grandchildren were grown. It was just us now."The children are planning something," I said. "They have been whispering for weeks."He laughed. "I know. They think they are being sneaky."I shook my head. "They are terrible at keeping secrets."He kissed my forehead. "They

"I found something in his drawer."Lily's voice was shaking. She was standing in the doorway of our bedroom. Her face was pale. Her hands were holding a piece of paper.I looked up from the bed. I had been sitting there for hours. Just sitting. Just breathing. Just trying to figure out how to exist without him."What is it?" I asked.She walked over and handed me the letter. "It has your name on it. It is in his handwriting."I took the letter. My hands were trembling. I looked at the envelope. My name was written on the front. In his handwriting. The handwriting I had seen a thousand times."Where did you find this?" I asked."In his drawer. Under his shirts. I was looking for something else. And I found this."I held the letter. I did not open it. I could not open it."Are you going to read it?" Lily asked.I nodded. "I need to be alone. Can you give me a moment?"She hugged me. "Of course, Mom. I will be downstairs if you need me."She left. I was alone. The letter was in my hands.