25
Before I could close the door, Liam suddenly reached out and stopped it from shutting completely.
I turned back, startled, and found him standing there, his blue eyes filled with something unreadable.
“I heard you will be back to City A in ten days,” he said softly.
I met his gaze for a moment before giving a small nod.
Liam hesitated, as if carefully choosing his next words. Then, taking a deep breath, he asked, “Then… how about we spend the last weekend here camping with Theo? We passed several famous camping spots around here, and
Theo seemed to….”
Before he could even finish his sentence, I answered, “Sure, why not?”
Liam blinked, his fingers loosening on the doorframe, as if he had not expected me to agree so easily.
I saw the flicker of surprise in his expression, the way his lips parted slightly, almost as if he had braced himself for rejection.
But I had agreed, without hesitation. Not for him, but for Theodore.
And yet, as I finally pulled the door shut, I caught myself smiling.
A small, unintentional smile that I quickly forced away.
I should not have felt so lighthearted about it.
It was just a camping trip. That was all.
The day finally arrived, and we set off together toward the campsite.
Theodore was practically bouncing in his seat the entire drive, his excitement overflowing as he listed out all things he wanted to do–roasting marshmallows, catching fireflies, stargazing.
I found myself watching him with quiet amusement, feeling a warmth in my chest I had not felt in a long time. When we arrived, we set up the tent. But then, a memory stirred in my mind.
We had done that before, not with Theodore, but just the two of us.
I glanced at Liam, watching him as he secured the tent stakes with practiced ease.
Back then, we had made a promise.
“When we have kids, we’ll take them camping just like this,” he had said, grinning as he helped me roll out my sleeping bag. “A real family trip.”
But we had never done it. Life had gotten in the way.
Our work, our responsibilities, everything had piled up, and that simple promise had been forgotten.
It seemed it had taken five years to be true in the end.
We continued the activities like what Theodore had imagined.
Also, Liam had always been the better cook, while I preferred to help by washing the dishes after he was done. That had not changed.
So, while Liam was preparing dinner over the small camping stove, Theodore and I worked on setting up the dining area.
It was simple–just a blanket spread out on the ground with a few foldable chairs–but Theodore chattered away excitedly the entire time, his little hands eagerly helping me arrange the utensils.
I had always known that he was talkative.
At the hospital, my colleagues adored him. My patients often laughed at his endless curiosity
But then, watching him there, I realized something I had never noticed before. He was more talkative when he was with both of us.
The discovery made something tighten in my chest.
I glanced up, watching Liam as he cooked, his hands moving with familiarity as he tasted the broth and adjusted the seasoning.
It felt normal, like a glimpse into a life we could have had, if only things had turned out differently.
I swallowed hard as warmth pricked at my eyes.
‘No, I should not cry,‘ I muttered silently in my heart.
But for the first time in years, I felt something shift inside me. And I was not sure if I was ready to face it.
As the night deepened, Theodore had long since fallen asleep, curled up in his sleeping bag with a peaceful expression on his face.
Liam called out to me, his voice gentle in the quiet night. “Amelia.”
I turned, finding him standing by the portable stove, holding out a cup of hot chocolate.
G
“The sky here is beautiful,” he said, nodding toward the open stretch of stars above us. “Do you want to see it?”
I hesitated for only a moment before answering, “Sure.”
I was not tired yet–years of working in the ER had made me used to staying up late. And the offer was tempting.
I stepped out of the tent, inhaling the crisp night air as I waited for him to finish making my drink.
A few minutes later, he handed me the warm cup, and together, we walked a little further from the tent, where the
trees opened up to reveal a vast, starry sky.
7:45 AM ct c
Forget Me Once Farewell Forever
I took a sip, letting the warmth seep through me as Liam set up the telescope he had brought along.
I watched in silence as he adjusted the lenses, a small, almost nostalgic smile on his face.
“We built a special room in the house with a telescope to see the stars,” he murmured. “But it’s only been used a few times. I think we should use it more often after this.”
I snorted, my eyes still on the sky. “It’s not our house anymore, Liam.”
He stilled at my words, but I did not look at him.
Instead, I leaned forward, peering through the telescope.
But instead of the moon or stars, something else filled my vision.
A diamond ring.
Slowly, I pulled back from the telescope and turned–only to find Liam kneeling in front of me.
My breath caught in my throat.
“Can that house be our house again, Amelia?” he asked softly.
I stared at him, my fingers tightening around the warm cup in my hands.
I had no idea how to respond
Liam held my gaze, his blue eyes unwavering.
“My first fault,” he began, his voice quiet but firm, “was asking you to hide our marriage. I should have been proud to stand beside you, but instead, I made things difficult for you. We should let the world know our love now–that
we’re the happiest family of three.”
My heart clenched.
Liam took a steadying breath before continuing.
“My second fault was not realizing how much my actions could hurt people. I was blind, and because of that, I
fell into the deepest abyss of my own making. But I won’t make that mistake again. I refuse to.”
His hands trembled slightly, but his voice remained steady.
“And my worst fault.” He swallowed hard. “Was forgetting you.
