with a flicker of clarity still in his eyes, Clifford instantly let go of her. He asked, “Tess, don’t you recognize me? It’s me, Clifford. The one you love most.
Tessa wrapped her arms around herself, clearly still not fully conscious, but marmured, “Clifford? I don’t know him Where’s my Edison?”
Clifford stood frozen. For the first time, he knew what it truly felt like to have his heart break beyond repair.
Before this, he could still be to himself that Tessa was just angry, that she was pretending, that she couldn’t possibly love someone else. But right now, the truth was clear as day.
In Tessa’s heart, he no longer mattered, she didn’t love him anymore.
“Tess.” His hand reached out, but all he did was gently pull the jacket tighter around her. “I’ve already hurt you so badly before. How could I ever hurt you again?” He gave a bitter smile and slid back into the driver’s seat. He looked at the woman he loved more than anything in the world through the rearview mirror, Imowing that this was the last goodbye. “Tess.. As long as you’re happy, y absence by your side won’t matter..!
He started the car and sped down the mad toward the hospital.
“Tess, the Clifford ten years from now doesn’t treat you well, just leave him. And never, ever forgive him.‘
For some reason, he found himself trcalling the woods 16–year–old Clifford had once written with such care and sincerity in a letter to his future self, if that boy had only known the man he would become one who would hurt Tessa for another, drag her, and try to control life.
He’d probably want to kill the man he became.
Tears filled his eyes. “Tess please promise me that you’ll never forgive me,
He carried her into the emergency mom himself, wrapping her tightly in his anus to protect her from the cold. Then, he pulled out his phone and called Edison When he saw dison come rumming toward them like mad, he finally tuned and walked away. But before he left, he looked back at her one last time, reluctant to go,
“Tessa Tumer, if ever betray you in this lifetime, may L
“Spend the rest of eternity never knowing happiness..
“Then I’ll spend the rest of forever watching over you from afar, just wish you’d look my way, even if it’s only once.
“Edison, I love this ocean so much!”
Tessa stood on the mountaintop, her hair damp with sweat.
Edison smiled at her and took the mountain bike from her hands.
“Edison, let’s go to Gramter” she said, curling into his chest as she pointed at a page in an art book
This ocean you painted feels lonely. And you said once that you hate lomeless. So, I want to go with you just one more time.”
Her eyes sparked. Edison looked at the painting, then backcat her, and couldn’t help issing her on the forehead. “Okay,” he said softly. “If you’re there, this ocean will surely come back to life.”
And that was exactly what happened. Tessa opened her arms to the sun, and the sea below the cliff seemed to come to life, glimmering with light.
“Edison from now on, let’s see every corn in the world together.” She leaned against his shoulder, hopeful for the future.
And he didn’t take it as a joke, not even for a second. He gave her a sincere and univering promije. “Clory. Then I’ll paint them all, Every ocean, and you, and me, and Munchie by the sea.
Η
Edisoned the comer of Tessa’s lips, like leaving a mark that time could never erase. They made a promise to see every ocean and to stay together forever
