Chapter 5
I walked home in a daze. The moment I saw the jar of stars, the memory of the child I’d lost hit me like a wave. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I just broke down sobbing.
I took out the yellowed letter. Flipping it over, I started writing whatever came to mind.
Casper was still hesitating when Barbara called Alyssa and told her I was gone.
“What? Lis left?”
The second Casper heard that, his composure snapped. He didn’t even glance back at Sasha, who was yelling after him. He just left, frantic to reach me. Sasha tried to follow, but Michael and Alyssa’s men blocked her. Then, a few more slaps landed across her face.
“Who the hell do you think you are, hitting me?” Sasha yelled.
“I’m Casper’s mother!” Alyssa shot back, jabbing a finger at her. “If anything happens to Lis, you’re dead.”
Sasha froze, fear trapping the words in her throat.
Meanwhile, Casper drove through the streets, blowing through every red light as he desperately searched for any trace of me. But Amethyst City was massive, and tracking me down wouldn’t be simple.
Defeated, he returned to our house and bolted into the bedroom. All my things were gone, as if I’d never existed.
A breeze lifted the curtains, almost like it was whispering that I wasn’t there anymore.
The wind kicked up suddenly, sending a paper star tumbling to Casper’s feet. He picked it up, then straightened up and noticed the 99 folded stars I’d left behind.
Beneath the glass jar that held most of them. Its weight kept a few unfolded strips flat against the surface. My writing was on those.
Casper picked up each one carefully.
“I’ve already taken care of everything at home. You don’t need to trouble Barbara.”
“My lawyer has the divorce agreement ready. You’ll receive them soon.”
“I left the ring in the drawer beside you.”
Casper’s hands shook faintly, as if all his strength had drained away. He eased the drawer open, finding the ring box inside. Underneath it was a yellowed letter.
“I’m sorry I never got to say goodbye to you in person. In a way, I’m almost glad because if we’d met, I probably would’ve just cried instead of saying anything.
“You gave me nothing but indifference when I lost our child. I’m done waiting for you. Go be with Sasha. I’m moving on. Goodbye, Casper. Let’s not see each other again.”
Casper’s hands shook as he lifted the lid of the ring box. There it was–the ring, with my initials and the date we first met engraved inside the band. He’d carved each letter himself, shaping this ring for me with his own hands.
“I’ll make you a ring unlike any other, something that’s yours alone. I’ll stay with you and love you forever.”
The memory of my happy smile burned in his heart as deeply as those engraved words.
“I trust you, Casper. I’ll stay with you and love you always, just like the stars never leave the moon.”
Casper squeezed the ring tight in his fist. The weight of what he’d done was too much to face.
Behind where the ring had been, he spotted a paper star. His fingers worked carefully to unfold it, revealing my handwriting. “Casper, don’t come looking for me anymore.”
That was when it hit him–he’d lost me for good, just like the moon losing its guiding star.
Clutching the jar of stars to his chest, Casper remembered his promise. “I swear, I’ll come back to you after I help Sasha with her 99 wishes.” “Then, you’d better mean it.”
Don’t worry. I’ll keep my promise.”
“Fine. For every wish she gets, I’ll fold another star. That way, you can’t back out.”
But when all was said and done, he broke his promise anyway.
