02
Elias had told Mira not to pay attention to the online jokes–after all, he was a firefighter, and it was his duty and responsibility to put out fires and save lives. Mira, of course, hadn’t let those comments bother her. That was, until she discovered that Elias and Vera had added each other on Facebook
Over the past three months, Vera had frequently threatened to commit suicide. Whenever she became overwhelmed with despair, she would call Elias, saying she no longer wanted to live. Without fail, he would rush to her side, even in the dead of night, offering his support and counseling her endlessly
Now, Elias, a married man, was planning to give Vera a wedding in an effort to make her cherish her life. The realization struck Mira like a slap to the face.
Her jaw tightened, and she glared at the scenery flashing by outside the car window, her eyes burning with the weight of the emotion she struggled to suppress. It felt as though her heart was being squeezed, crushed under the weight of betrayal.
That evening, she ordered takeout and ate mechanically, each bite tasteless as her mind raced. She sent her various medical reports to her high school friend, who studied medicine, hoping for some clarity.
Not long after, the door opened, and Elias entered, his presence as cold as the winter air surrounding him. He walked over, setting a bag down on the coffee table.
“After thinking it over, I couldn’t let my Mira spend the anniversary alone,” he said, his voice softening as he leaned in and kissed her forehead. “I rushed back as soon as I finished my mission. It’s not too late, is it?”
Mira’s pupils flickered, her heart fluttering for a brief moment before it sank. Before she could process the emotion, Elias pulled out a transparent lunch box from the bag.
“I packed this before I started my shift,” he explained, opening the lid. “After you eat, we can figure out how to make up for the anniversary tomorrow. I swapped shifts with someone for the day.”
Mira gazed at the three dishes inside the lunch box, recognizing them immediately. They were identical to the ones Vera had posted earlier. Her voice trembled as she asked. “Where did the food come from?”
Elias hesitated for a moment. “Oh, it’s from Simon. He insisted on treating us after we finished our shift. His daughter passed her piano exam, so we celebrated.”
Mira’s heart sank as she looked at him. He lied without a second thought. She had known him for thirteen years, yet at this moment, he seemed like a stranger. Her eyes were cold as she glanced at the dishes, her stomach twisting painfully.
“I’ve already eaten,” she replied flatly, her voice betraying nothing of the turmoil raging inside her.
“It’s such a waste to throw it away…” Elias muttered as he placed the lunch box in the refrigerator. “I’ll heat it up
tomorrow.”
Mira said nothing, silently watching his back as he turned away. The tension in the air was palpable, but she kept her thoughts to herself.
After they finished washing up, the two of them climbed into bed, agreeing to visit their high school alma mater
together the next day
ajar
But at two o’clock in the morning, Mira woke to find the space beside her empty. The bathroom door was slightly
She quietly lifted the quilt and stepped out of bed, her footsteps soft as she approached the bathroom. Inside, Elias‘ voice carried through the door
“Be good, go to bed early, alright? Don’t dwell on unhappy things. And… I’ll treat today’s kiss as a moment of confusion, impulsiveness. There won’t be another time.”
The soft, feminine voice that responded sent a chill through Mira. “I’m just rehearsing for the wedding kiss. Elias, I know you only feel sympathy and pity for me. If that’s the case, why can’t you accept my kiss for what it is? After all, the wedding is just a formality.”
“You girl.
Elias laughed, but there was a trace of helplessness in his tone. “Are you going to sleep or not? Aren’t you worried about getting acne with all this stress?
The girl’s voice became more playful. “Just five more minutes, let’s talk a little longer?”
“Okay. You’re so difficult,” he chuckled
His voice was laced with infinite tolerance, with a hint of pampering that twisted the knife deeper into Mira’s heart. The words felt like sharp thorns, each one more suffocating than the last. Her chest tightened as if a dark net had coiled around her, choking her breath.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window, but the warmth of the day couldn’t reach her heart. Elias went downstairs with the car keys, carrying two boxes of fruit and nuts in his hands, prepared to give them to their high school class teacher.
Half an hour into the drive, his phone rang.
Mira glanced at the caller ID.
– Vera
