Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 11 - Chapitre 15

Lena left for Westbridge at the end of August. She went alone. She wouldn't let Mom and Dad take her because she said it was a waste of money. With a huge backpack on her shoulders and a rolling suitcase behind her, she wandered through the train station like a lost soul.I floated beside her. I wanted to carry her suitcase, but I couldn't lift it. All I could do was follow her and watch as she squeezed onto the train, found her seat, stowed her luggage, and sat down.A guy sat down next to her. He looked like the quiet, bookish type, with glasses. He started the conversation. "Heading off to college too?""Westbridge," she said."No way, me too." His eyes lit up. "What's your major?""Physics.""Same here." He smiled. "Guess that makes us classmates. I'm Daniel.""Lena.""Lena," Daniel repeated. "That's a pretty name."She managed something close to a smile. Then she put in her earbuds and closed her eyes to sleep.Daniel took the hint, stopped talking, and pulled out a bo

Lena went straight into the PhD program in physics at Westbridge, working under one of the biggest names in the field.She got busier and busier, but she also opened up more and more. She started making friends and going to parties, and she and Daniel got together.Daniel was good to her. He knew she loved warm oatmeal, so he got up early every day to wait in line at the dining hall. He knew she forgot to eat when she was running experiments, so he brought her lunch. He knew she was scared of thunder, so on stormy nights, he'd stay on the phone with her.She smiled a lot more with him.I followed her everywhere, floating by her side. I saw her on graduation day in her doctoral gown, taking photos on the Westbridge campus. She held her diploma in her left hand. On the ring finger of her right hand was the silver ring I'd given her.Daniel stood beside her with his arm around her shoulders and straightened her cap."Lena," he said, "marry me."She froze. Everyone froze.Danie

Five years later, I earned my college degree through a self-study program and got a job as a programmer at a tech company. The pay wasn't great, but it was steady.Lena finished her PhD and joined the National Research Institute, where she researched quantum physics. She was always rushing around, busy as ever, but she still called me every week to ask if I was eating right, if I was getting enough sleep, and if I'd found a girlfriend yet.I told her I hadn't found a girlfriend, but I had adopted a cat. I named her Lena Two.She laughed and scolded me over the phone, saying I was nuts.Daniel became my brother-in-law. They had a simple wedding with only close friends. I was the best man. I wore a suit and felt stiff and awkward the whole time.When she walked toward me in her wedding dress, my eyes welled up. She shoved her bouquet straight into my hands. "Find yourself a good girl. Don't make me worry about you."I hugged her and said, "Lena, you have to be happy.""I am happ