Novel & Cerita Quiet Goodbyes, A Love Without Tomorrow

As the door shut behind me, their laughter echoed, a stark contrast to the silence of my own heart. The morning after the engagement party, I found myself staring at my phone screen. Chester sent over a plane ticket. Then, another message popped up. [Stay safe out there. I'm waiting for you to come home.] That extra bit of tenderness would have once had me replying in an instant, maybe even saving a screenshot to swoon over later, tucked away in my bed, eagerly anticipating his next caring check-in. However, things changed. I barely gave the message a second glance before I hit delete and walked away, suitcase in hand, without a backward glance.

I opened the messaging app and typed: [Don’t bother coming. I’m already home.] I hit send. The screen went dark. The house fell completely silent. I leaned back on my couch and closed my eyes. The small, stubborn hope I held onto finally faded.

Feeling exhausted and helpless, he returned to the empty home that now no longer held any traces of us. As he forlornly pushed open the door, he thought he saw a small figure darting toward him, an excited smile on the young boy's face. "Daddy!" Andrew instantly crouched and opened his arms wide, ready to hug the small figure to him. But in the next second, the figure vanished, immediately causing his smile to freeze. It dawned on him that Carl would no longer hold any expectations of love from him, nor did I need such a useless and irresponsible husband.

She flashed a smile at Sean, and said, "I heard you've been with Janelle for eight years. Why aren't you married yet? "Do you really still like her? I don't want to see you spend your life with someone you don't love, and I don't want you to waste her time either. Promise me you'll be honest. I won't tell anyone." I froze. Silence stretched on for a few seconds before Sean finally said, "No matter how good a dish is, you'll get tired of it after eating it for years. But if it suddenly disappears from the menu, I can't bear it. So I'll leave it as it is."

"If we're going to put on a show, we might as well go all the way. I'm a woman of my word. Just remember to make it up to me with a real proposal." I laughed and opened the box. A diamond ring lay nestled inside, gleaming quietly. "What—" "I've been in love with you for a long time. Too bad you only had eyes for that piece of trash. Flight's at 5:00 pm today. First, we'll register our marriage in Iliria. Then, we'll head to Gustonberg for surgery to repair your nerves. And finally, we'll honeymoon in Havena. Any objections?" A sudden thought crossed my mind. "Why do I get the feeling I've been playing right into your hands this whole time?"

Promises of staying together forever? "Isabella, we'll be together forever," he had said. "I would never betray you. If I do, may I lose my love in every lifetime and live out my days in loneliness." Henry and I had sat in that same cabin, leaning against each other and swearing to each other we would never part. Those memories hit me like a tidal wave, and the Ferris wheel's movements made me feel nauseous. I got off. My thoughts were so chaotic that I couldn't even see where I was going.

There will always be more chances later. "Let's go shall we? It's the perfect time to workout without disturbance so let's not be any more late." Iris said ushering the two out of the room after they took their necessary items with them. "What do you mean by perfect time to workout without disturbance Iris?" Elizabeth asked having caught that little detail, making the older woman sigh. "There is a senior who likes bothering the freshmen." Iris tried to be polite but Anya clicked her tongue in utter displeasure and looked at Iris. "No need to be polite Iris."

"You're already disabled. Without your grandfather's support, you're just a piece of trash! Do you really think Cassandra would still want someone like you?" After the call ended, Hades laughed bitterly, his voice trembling. "Cassandra, I'm disabled now. If I become penniless someday… would you still love me?" I smiled softly, meeting his eyes. "Hades, I just don't love you anymore. Your financial status has nothing to do with it. There's no going back for us. You should leave." After a long while, he finally said, "You're right. The Cassandra who used to love me was pure and kind. I was a fool to think she'd love me forever."

I had fought cancer for eight years. I had waited for Liam for eight years. My greatest wish had only been to see him one more time. Now I had. That was enough. Goodbye, Liam. I love you.

In the soft breathing of our daughters down the hall. In the memories we were still making, every messy, beautiful day. I closed my eyes, letting the peace settle over me. Letting the love wrap around me like a blanket. Tomorrow, there would be new adventures. New challenges. New memories. But tonight— Tonight was perfect. Whole. Complete. Ours. Forever. *