Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Every single moment spent with Bryan brought back memories from a few years ago.

Those were the years when Bryan loved me the most, and our relationship was at its best.

One year, on my birthday, he made a cake with his own hands.

He squeezed into a crowded, stuffy train for over ten hours to get to my school.

All to give me a surprise.

He stood for hours waiting for my experiment to end.

I still remember his hair covered in snow, his eyes shining under the starry sky.

His nose was red from the cold.

And that crooked, slightly damaged, yet incredibly sweet cake.

And my heart, both fluttering and tender.

I was once utterly convinced that Bryan and I would have a beautiful future together.

But fate was unwilling to give me that chance.

The following year, our city experienced a once-in-a-century torrential rain.

Bryan volunteered to go to the disaster area for rescue efforts.

Before he left, he gave me all the money and savings he had.

In the night breeze filled with the scent of flowers, he proposed to me.

"Joanna, wait for me. When I come back, we'll get married."

My eyes were red as I hugged his strong back tightly.

"Okay, Bryan, you must come back safely."

As he was about to leave, Bryan nestled against my shoulder, his voice choked with emotion.

"Joanna, you must wait for me. Don't run off with another man! Otherwise, I'll go crazy."

"Don't worry, I, Joanna, will marry no one but Bryan in this lifetime."

It was raining that day, but the drops felt warm on my skin.

Three months later, Bryan came back.

But he came back lying down, having been hit by falling rocks while rescuing people.

Fortunately, he reacted quickly and avoided the big rocks, but he couldn't dodge the smaller ones that fell with them.

I heard that the church on the neighboring hill was known for its miracles.

So I climbed thousands of steps, praying with each one, to get him a cross.

I prayed day and night, hoping Bryan would wake up.

Later, Bryan did wake up.

But I was no longer there; I had left him for a rich man.