All Chapters of Letting You Go: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

When it was light, Shane and Astrid were not at home.I walked onto the balcony and looked down.Shane and Astrid were walking back, holding Astrid's favorite gardenias.They had gone to the morning market together again.Last year, I made a list of one hundred little things to do as a couple.The very first item was to visit the morning market together.I pestered Shane countless times, saying we should go just once.Waking up early on a Saturday, buying some fresh vegetables, and coming back to make breakfast together—just thinking about it felt quite romantic.He didn't even look up from reading his research paper."I have to collect data in the morning. You like waking up at nine. Why disrupt our routines to torture each other?"He was a person with strict principles.Yet, during the month Astrid stayed with us, he could accompany her to the morning market every single day and buy the freshest bouquet of gardenias.I used to think that it was because I had asked Shane t

I thought, since he was the father of the child, he still had the right to know.The next morning, Shane also woke up very early, but it wasn't because of my words.Astrid was throwing a tantrum and had been packing her things early this morning.The moment I got up, I heard Shane on the phone contacting a real estate agent."Is that place close to the subway? How is the neighborhood environment? Property management? Take a video so I can have a look."He questioned every detail, from the neighborhood security gate to the brand of the elevator and what kind of people the neighbors upstairs and downstairs were.He asked if there was any chemical smell in the rooms, which direction the windows opened, whether there was heating in the winter, and if the afternoon sun exposure was severe in the summer.It was completely unlike when we first decided to move in together.Back then, he was busy, so I was the one responsible for viewing apartments.Since it was our first time living t

That day, I worked overtime until nearly 9 p.m. Walking out of the company's main entrance, I spotted Astrid under the streetlight in a single glance.The streetlight stretched her shadow very long, and she just stood there, staring at me.My footsteps paused for a second before I continued walking forward."Mabel.""How did you find this place?"She let out a self-mocking laugh."It was Shane who wanted to find you. When he wants to track someone down, he always finds a way."She walked over to stand in front of me. Her face was pale, and a layer of dry skin had formed on her lips."So you flew all this way just to apologize to me?"Astrid lowered her head and lit a cigarette."I have some things I wanted to say to your face. After you hung up the phone, you never picked up again when I called."I didn't deny it.She took a deep drag, then lifted her head."Mabel, you won.""What?"The mocking smile at the corners of her lips grew wider and wider."Ever since we were k

I let out a light laugh."You were terrified something would happen to me?""Since when have you ever been terrified that something would happen to me? When I had a forty-degree fever, you were working overtime in the lab. "When I walked home alone at night, you wouldn't even place a single phone call. Yet now, you are terrified something would happen to me?""That's because you never told me you needed—""I did tell you!" I practically roared out loud."I told you countless times! You said I was annoying, that I wasted your time, and that I had low-class tastes! To you, I wasn't independent or sensible, and I lacked boundaries!"My mother walked over to pull at me. "Stop shouting. In front of the neighbors, what kind of behavior is this?"I flung her hand away."Mom, you have never once stood on my side. You made me give in to my younger brother, made me stop studying to earn money early. I listened to you on absolutely everything, and what did I get in the end?!"Sometimes

His pupils contracted violently."You saw that post.""I saw it, Shane. And the program you set up for me, your chat logs—I saw all of it."His lips were trembling.He wanted to say something, but nothing came out.He lowered his head, shoving both hands into his hair and tugging at it hard."I don't know why I treated her that way or why I treated you that way. I thought I liked her, but the moment you left, I realized I didn't want to be with her at all. I thought I didn't like you, but the moment you left, I felt off."I want an answer."I want to know what exactly happened to me."I did not offer him an answer.He stood there for a brief moment before turning around to walk toward the exit. When he reached the gate, he paused, refusing to look back."Mabel, you're right. Perhaps it really is just getting used to it."He walked away, and I went back upstairs.I had no idea what conclusion he had come to, but I knew that I didn't care anymore.I closed the door, shuttin