The phone rang.
Olivia answered.
“Ms. Bell, Yale alumni have started defending
Mr. Bell, causing a lot of hype. Also, there’s a
streamer with millions of followers, Brooke,
who started a campaign to find Ethan.”
“Find Ethan? Are they looking for my
brother?”
“Yes.”
“Because of a photo.”
“Wait, I think I know who you’re talking about.
What is she trying to do?”
“She’s a paranormal streamer who went to a
mental hospital.”
“Cut to the point.”
“She said that Mr. Bell’s first love died ten
years ago.”
“What?”
“Ten years ago, Ashley Parker was sent to
Blackwood Mental Hospital. She was killed in
the fire.”
“Say that again. What was her name?”
“Ashley Parker.”
Olivia dropped her phone.
Ethan, who was looking at his phone nearby,
looked up.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just angry about all the trash
online.”
<
“It’s okay, don’t worry about it.”
“Okay, Bro…”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Fortunately, Olivia didn’t tell Ethan the truth.
I had trapped him for ten years, and I didn’t
want to trap him with my death forever.
Love was selfish, exclusive, giving, and letting
- go.
I always wanted Ethan to visit me, because I
missed him.
Later, I waited too long.
I thought Ethan had forgotten me.
But I still wanted to see him.
Now, my attachment was about to disappear.
I watched my body become transparent.
Thank you to everyone who helped find Ethan,
and everyone who helped clear his name.
In my tenth year after death, I finally saw my
first love.
く
Thirty–year–old Ethan, please don’t doubt the
love that eighteen–year–old Ashley felt for
you.
Bonus
Before getting on the plane, Olivia grabbed
Ethan’s arm.
“I thought it would be better to tell you after
you’d moved on, but I’m scared you’ll hate
me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Bro, Ashley Parker died ten years ago.”
Olivia bit her lip. “She didn’t speak for you,
she wasn’t able to. She was being treated at
a mental hospital, then it caught fire. The
photo was saved from the hospital during the
fire by her. You know she would want to be
with you.”
“Bro, she loves you, you know she always will,
and she will never let you down. It’s just
<
sometimes it’s hard to be who people want.”
Olivia burst into tears.
Ethan was silent.
“Don’t say that.”
Then his smile disappeared.
He didn’t get on the plane and went home. His steps were shaky, as if he would fall at
any moment.
The photo on the floor showed Ashley Parker,
smiling at him.
Ethan fell to his knees, picked up the photo,
and cried.
He thought her not loving him was the worst
thing.
He remembered the rainy day ten years ago
when he went to see her.
Her father pointed at him and cursed, “I know
what you’re planning! My daughter isn’t
normal! She doesn’t know what love is! You’re
nothing to her!”
nummar who ww vital love
nothing to her!”
“If she contacts you, I’ll let you be together!”
Later, Ethan sent her many messages.
She never contacted him.
He considered changing his number when he
decided to go overseas, but he couldn’t bring
himself to do it.
Ashley Parker was a monster.
A monster who got love, but didn’t care.
But he loved the monster.
At twenty, his first love ended.
Ten years later, he went back.
During the past ten years, he’d called her
number, but it was disconnected.
His courage disappeared.
He didn’t dare try again, or look for her.
He just waited.
But he couldn’t wait.
She had died ten years ago.
In an age when love was chean her love was
དཕང
In an age when love was cheap, her love was
abnormal.
He wasn’t normal either.
Ethan died alone in a nursing home when he
was forty.
He never married.
Before dying, he clutched the half–photo.
He saw eighteen–year–old Ashley.
He didn’t know what to say.
She was the same.
But he was old.
Ashley Parker’s eyes were shocked and sad.
“Ethan, why are you here so soon?”
“Because, I miss you so much.”
Like how he couldn’t help but stand outside
her door a half hour early when he was
tutoring her.
Like how he couldn’t help but wait an hour
early when they went on dates.
He knew that Ashley had her own world and
She was the same.
But he was old.
Ashley Parker’s eyes were shocked and sad.
“Ethan, why are you here so soon?”
“Because, I miss you so much.”
Like how he couldn’t help but stand outside
her door a half hour early when he was
tutoring her.
Like how he couldn’t help but wait an hour
early when they went on dates.
He knew that Ashley had her own world, and
she was never lonely.
But he was too lonely.
Every second in the world without her was
long and unbearable.
