جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 8

I rarely saw that kind of panic cross Shawn's face.I couldn't help but sneer. "Shawn, I never thought that cold, detached face of yours could look this much like it just got caught red-handed."His face darkened instantly."This isn't a work hour. What do you want? If you need to see me, book an appointment in advance."Book.An appointment.In advance.He seemed to have forgotten he'd once told me I could come find him anytime, day or night, whenever something was wrong.A body could be treated. What about a heart?I laughed coldly. "So what's this patient's condition? Looks to me like the treatment is about to end in a kiss.""You must be Shawn's girlfriend." Cynthia put on an expression of practiced apology. "I nearly fainted at the hospital, and I asked him to take a look at me.""What a coincidence." I turned to look at Shawn. "Isn't that right, Shawn?"His brow furrowed, clearly displeased with how I was reacting."I forgot to introduce myself. I'm one of Shawn's ol

I sat alone in my room for a long time.How long did it take to destroy six years of a relationship?Two days?I couldn't wrap my head around it, couldn't accept that a man who'd shared my bed for four years, who wouldn't so much as touch me, who needed a stuffed toy in his arms just to fall asleep, had spent every single night thinking about another woman.Even the one thing he was ever willing to hold was a gift from Cynthia.He'd said, holding it felt like holding her.I stared at the stuffing scattered across the floor and gagged a few times, but nothing came up.My phone rang. I glanced at it without thinking.Cynthia had somehow gotten hold of my number.Cynthia: [Ashley, Shawn says he's heartbroken that you ruined the toy I gave him.]Cynthia: [Being away from me made him sick with grief. All these years together, do you two even kiss? Do you hug? Do you have any idea what he's like with me?]Cynthia: [Want me to show you?]A ringing filled my head, like something ha

I swapped my phone for a local SIM card at my destination and stayed for fifteen days.Those fifteen days were the freest I'd ever felt in my life.No worrying about Shawn's condition. No caring about so-called "touch."When I landed back home and switched back to my old SIM card, the signal took over ten seconds to catch up, and then hundreds of messages nearly buried me at once.Shawn: [I'm sorry. I can explain if you'll let me.]Shawn: [Ashley, where did you go? Why aren't you home?]Shawn: [I'm sorry, it was all my fault. Weren't we supposed to leave for our trip today? I'm heading to the airport now. If you don't hurry, we'll miss the flight.]Shawn: [Ashley! I took time off work just to be with you! How could you not show up?]Shawn: [Please don't do anything drastic. Please, don't scare me like this.]Shawn: [I called your mother. She says you're not there either. Where are you?]Shawn: [Why isn't your phone going through? Just see this message and text me back. I'm be

In just half a year, Shawn had grown noticeably thinner, his cheeks hollowed out, a graying stubble making him look years older.His shirt, once crisp and immaculate, hung loose and rumpled on his frame, all its old shine and color gone.He looked down at my cat."That's right, Ashley, didn't you always want a cat? I had someone order you an orange-and-white kitten, only two months old. Didn't you say kittens were the cutest? It can keep your cat company too."I did love kittens. But because he'd never liked being touched, not even by an animal, I'd never gotten one while we were together."Didn't you always want to go to Bosta Tica? I already bought the tickets. It'll be just the two of us. We can hold hands and go wherever shops you want to visit."In six years together, I'd never once gone shopping with him.All because he said the streets were too crowded, and he didn't like it."There's really nothing left between Cynthia and me. My phone password is still your birthday. Y