The Secret that Tortured My Life

Cynthia stood amidst a crowd of people, tears streaming down her face. She knew her end was near. In just a few minutes, she would be dead-and it would be by her own doing. Clutched in her trembling hand was a piece of paper, worn at the edges, bearing six names. Slowly, deliberately, she went through each one.

Richard-"I killed him horribly," she whispered to herself, "but I had to. The things he did to me were inhuman. He humiliated me beyond words. Even the two knives I drove into his chest weren't enough for the pain he caused."

Nickson-"The Thiodan poison I rubbed on his neck dried out his body from the inside, but even that felt too merciful. A beast like him deserved to be chopped into tiny pieces and cooked alive."

Robertson-"Burning him inside his own house wasn't nearly enough. I wanted to kill him with my own hands. What haunts me most is that I killed his innocent wife and child too. May God forgive me for that sin."

Avith-"His fatal car accident was no accident. I loosened the brakes on his Benz myself and watched him plunge off that bridge. He got what he deserved."

And now...

Larry. "That monster... walking around with his presidential pride, forgetting that my grandfather Damian once ruled this nation too. He has to die today. This ends with him-and with me. I'll finish my mission. I'll wipe out every name on this list, every person who scorched my soul. I never asked to be born with epilepsy, so why did they mock me, break me, crush me so cruelly?"

Cynthia looked down at her body-strapped tightly with five bombs, set to detonate in precisely forty-five minutes. According to the program schedule, at that exact moment, the President would be receiving a ceremonial flower garland from a young girl named Rita. Cynthia was determined to be that girl. She would walk up to Larry, embrace him with a smile, and in one devastating moment, blow them both to pieces.

She didn't want to kill anyone else-only Larry. Her rage was personal. The pain he had caused her back in the jungles of Vietnam, where he had abandoned her to suffer unspeakable horrors, haunted her every waking moment. If she were captured, she knew what awaited her-Dr. Ian and the torture chambers. Death by explosion was mercy in comparison.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Cynthia spotted the young girl designated to honor the President. She was walking toward the nearby restroom.

Cynthia followed.

Inside the small, dimly-lit restroom, she caught up to the girl. Pretending to be just another guest, she acted as if she needed to use the toilet. But then, without warning, she forced a chloroform-laced cloth-Ethyl, her sleeping agent-onto the girl's face. Within seconds, the girl collapsed.

Cynthia quickly locked the door and began undressing the unconscious girl, switching into her ceremonial attire. They looked nearly identical-same build, same height, same complexion. No one would know.

Moments later, the loudspeaker echoed through the stadium:

> "The young girl designated to present the flower garland to His Excellency, the President, may now step forward!"

She stepped out of the restroom and walked swiftly toward the stage. Her thoughts raced.

> "The time has come. The end of him... and the end of me."

No one suspected a thing as she gracefully approached the President and was handed the flower garland. It was 10:25 AM-just five minutes left until the bombs would detonate.

Cheers erupted from the crowd as she moved closer to Larry. With steady hands, she placed the garland around his neck. But instead of stepping back like she was supposed to, she embraced him tightly.

> "Larry, do you remember this face?" she whispered.

The President, surprised, looked down at her. His face paled in an instant.

> "Cynthia! My God... Cynthia!" he screamed in horror.

-

"Forward forever!! Backward never!"

It was the voice of President Bernard Coard speaking to the soldiers of the People's Revolutionary Army inside the hall at Fort Frederick, in the city of St. George's, the capital of Grenada, in the year 1983.

The fear of war had spread across the entire nation of Grenada. Everyone, especially the residents of Point Salines Airport, Pearls Airport, True Blue Campus, and St. George's County-which was the primary target of the Americans-was overwhelmed by fear. Many had already begun fleeing their regions to other areas and countries. Jamaica, Chile, and Haiti saw new arrivals as people tried to escape the threat of American missiles.

Among those who fled was a Grenadian woman, Jean Brathwaite, and her young son, Larry Arthur. He was a beautiful child, thanks to the mixed heritage he carried; the boy's father was an Englishman who had come to St. George's to research the nutmeg crop.

That Englishman had met Jean in 1978, and their romantic relationship led to the birth of the boy, whom they named Larry. He was a child more beautiful than his name! The blend of European blood gave his skin the color of a five-cent coin-a rare skin tone.

"This child is going to be a menace. Anyone with daughters better be very careful-this boy will get so many girls pregnant!" said an old man when Larry and his mother stepped off the boat in Portmore.

In the parish of St. George's, Jean and her partner had lived in Lance Aux Epines, where the Englishman Arthur had bought Jean a house before leaving the country and returning to his home in England when his contract ended. In Portmore, Jean hoped to live with her elder sister, Dr. Lana, who worked at Queen Margaret's Regional Hospital as a gynecologist.

Jean and her son were warmly welcomed by Dr. Lana, who lived in the Coral View Crescent area of Portmore, where she and her husband Malcolm Lana-a well-known businessman in the city-lived in a luxurious home they had built themselves. It was a very large house, and they chose to welcome Jean and her son to stay with them without any hesitation.

That evening, they spoke at length about home. Jean told Dr. Lana everything that had happened back in Lance Aux Epines. She also explained about Arthur's departure from the country and how he had left her with their child, though he had bought her a large, luxurious house.

"If he bought you a house, then that's enough. Add to that this beautiful child he left you with-you've got nothing to worry about. That's wealth right there! Your child is truly beautiful, Jean, believe me. I've never seen a child this good-looking here in Jamaica, maybe only on television. What you need to do now is make sure Larry gets the best education possible!"

"Thank you, I'll do everything I can to get him into a good school," Jean replied, and they went on talking about many things while Larry listened in.

Larry was quiet on the couch nearby, curled up with his lips pressed neatly inward. That gave him small dimples on his cheeks, which people often found adorable. The compliments he constantly heard about his looks made him feel good and believe that he was better than every other child in the world.

"I wonder if he knows just how good-looking he is? Look at that pose!" Dr. Lana teased Larry while gently touching his right cheek. Larry smiled, making his face appear even more charming. Jean felt proud to have a child like Larry. She was glad she had met Arthur, because he had given her exactly what she had always wanted-she had always dreamed of having a child with a white man.

Two years later, Larry was already enrolled at Portmore Missionary Preparatory & Kindergarten, in grade one! The day he was taken to be registered at the school, he drew attention. The students were stunned by the boy's striking appearance.

Even the teachers couldn't agree-each wanted Larry in their own class. After much back-and-forth, he was finally placed in Grade 1C.

"Your class has the two most beautiful students in the school!" one teacher told the Grade 1C teacher.

"Who's the other one?"

"Cynthia, of course!"

"Ah! I almost forgot. So that means I have Mr. and Miss Portmore School, right?"

"You're the winner, man!" the teachers joked, but that was the truth. Larry and Cynthia made Grade 1C a class like no other. Those two children were extraordinarily beautiful! To make her class even more delightful, the teacher seated Larry and Cynthia at the same desk.

Cynthia had started school much younger than Larry; they were four years apart in age. Her parents, Professor Achanakya and Dr. Regina, had decided she should begin early-at just four years old-and fortunately, she was gifted with a quick understanding of things.

Larry and Cynthia quickly became great friends, and their academic performance also stood out. Their partnership in class is what made them excel, and the other students envied them!

Their friendship eventually brought their parents together. Regina and Jean became close friends, bonded by the shared pride of having such beautiful children. They often visited each other's homes and had long discussions about their children's futures.

Cynthia's parents had moved to Portmore, Jamaica, from the People's Republic of Bentaz after her father, Professor Gulu Achanakya, was employed by an international organization, following the end of his term as a government minister.

His wife, Dr. Regina, had also decided to work at Portmore Hospital to be close to her husband. It wasn't a difficult move, as Jamaica and Bentaz had a very close relationship.

By the time she reached Grade 5, despite her remarkable beauty, Cynthia still suffered greatly from epilepsy, which took a serious toll on her mind. She wished she had any other illness-anything but epilepsy. She would have a seizure once every month, between the 26th and 28th.

Her parents tried everything to find a cure, but nothing worked. She took many medications, all in vain. Cynthia was too beautiful to be burdened with epilepsy, and her parents were determined to keep the condition a secret. Even their housekeeper knew nothing about it.

To make sure Cynthia never had a seizure in front of others and suffer public embarrassment, they locked her in her bedroom every month from the 26th to the 28th. Only her parents were allowed to enter during that time. They waited for her to have the seizure before letting her return to school. That room contained no metal or wood-anything that could cause injury was removed to protect her during her episodes.

By the time she completed Grade 6 and entered high school, Cynthia was still considered a beauty icon at her school. Her only flaw was the secret of her epilepsy-something she never wanted anyone to discover.

Many people, including Larry, often wondered why Cynthia never came to school between the 26th and 28th of every month. No one had the answer to that question except Cynthia herself-and she never allowed anyone to ask it.

Anyone who dared to inquire about her absence instantly became her greatest enemy. But that very question continued to trouble Larry deep in his heart.

Finally, one day, he gathered courage and decided to ask Cynthia after seeing her with a swollen face. He didn't know that the previous day, she had fallen and hit the wall.

"Cynthia, what's wrong? Why do you have bruises on your face?" Larry asked a question that deeply pained Cynthia's heart.

"I fell in the bathroom yesterday while I was showering."

"Oh no, I'm really sorry!"

"Thank you," Cynthia replied.

"But Cynthia, there's one thing I really want to know."

"What is it, Larry?"

"Why do you never come to school from the 26th to the 28th of each month?"

"Larry, it's women's stuff. I can't explain it to you," Cynthia answered, trying to lie that it was because of her menstrual cycle.

Larry believed her and ended up apologizing.

Even when they joined high school, they continued studying in the same class and shared the same desk. Their friendship kept growing stronger, and Cynthia's pattern of not attending school at the end of every month continued. Treatments also continued, but she didn't recover. The epilepsy kept disturbing her.

The disease stole the joy from Cynthia's life. She wasn't like other kids at school. Every day, she feared collapsing in front of people, and she couldn't imagine how it would be if it happened in front of her classmates who saw her as a queen of beauty. She knew it would be embarrassing, and that's why she was always careful about the dates.

Her beauty kept dazzling-not just among the students, but even the teachers. People were increasingly confused by her stunning looks. Cynthia's figure developed with a broader lower body and a slimmer upper body as time went on.

Many boys desired a romantic relationship with her, but she always refused. She didn't want to be romantically involved with any boy because she knew such closeness would expose her secret.

Her biggest fear was about her future. Despite her young age, she often thought about what might happen in the days ahead. She knew that as a woman, she was expected to marry and have children.

"What man would accept to marry a woman with epilepsy?"

That was the question she asked herself daily, and it deeply wounded her heart. She wasn't only afraid of marriage but also terrified of having children because she knew epilepsy could be inherited.

"I don't even want to give birth. I don't want my child to go through what I'm going through," she thought.

"Why me?" She once found herself uttering aloud while she and Larry were studying together in class.

"What did you say, Cynthia?"

"No, I was just thinking about some things," she replied.

Larry always sensed that something was troubling Cynthia, but he never knew what exactly. From time to time, he saw her eyes red, a sign she had been crying moments before, but whenever he asked, Cynthia never revealed the truth.

They remained close friends until they reached Form Three. Both of them, up to that point, had never experienced sexual intimacy. Larry was constantly pursued by girls, but he never gave in-he prioritized his life and dreams.

"He belongs to Cynthia, for real!"

That's what the girls used to say, thinking there was a romantic relationship between Larry and Cynthia-something that wasn't true at all.

When they got to Form Four, something strange began happening between them. Larry started to feel love for Cynthia, and Cynthia felt the same, but neither of them could express those feelings. Their hearts continued to suffer for several months without opening up to each other.

Eventually, Larry decided to speak his truth.

"Cynthia! I've lived with you as my sister and friend for a long time, but recently I've started feeling a little differently."

"Differently how?" Cynthia asked in surprise.

"I love you, Cynthia! I'm not lying. I want you to be my girlfriend, and if possible, I want us to get married someday!"

Cynthia was shocked by those words. She wanted to say yes, but when she thought about her illness, she hesitated to say 'yes' and remained silent for a while, trying to find the right words.

"Please answer me, Cynthia."

"Larry, I love you too, but I don't think you can handle me."

"Why? Why wouldn't I be able to?"

"I have issues."

"What kind of issues?"

"I can't tell you, but my parents won't be happy to see me in a romantic relationship with you," Cynthia lied, though she actually wanted to reveal her illness.

"I love you, Cynthia."

"Then give me some time, Larry, to think carefully."

After they parted, Cynthia kept reflecting on Larry's proposal. Her heart told her to accept, but her mind was afraid. Every time she imagined falling down and stiffening in front of Larry, her fear grew even stronger.

But two weeks later, she made her decision.

"Okay, I accept, Larry. But on certain days of the month, I can't be around you-from the 26th to the 28th-because I'll be on my period."

"Okay, but...!"

"But what?"

"Well, it's nothing... let's not let that be an obstacle."

Larry had wanted to say that his birthday was on the 26th of July every year.

Their love had blossomed and grown at an astonishing speed, reaching a level neither of them had expected.

Larry and Cynthia were completely swept away in love, though Larry seemed to be the one falling even harder. They walked everywhere hand in hand. They kissed openly, unbothered by the stares around them.

But Cynthia couldn't stop wondering what would happen if Larry ever found out she had epilepsy. She was convinced he would leave her-and she had no idea how she'd live without him.

"I'd rather die than lose Larry," she often thought.

By just a few months before their final secondary school exams, their love had reached a peak. Almost everyone at school knew about their relationship. Even Cynthia's parents knew-and that knowledge had sparked a serious conflict between her and her mother, Dr. Regina.

"You've forgotten your condition, haven't you? Go ahead-you'll shame yourself with your illness!" her mother said angrily.

"I know, Mom. But I love Larry so much, and I can't leave him. I'd rather die than lose him. I'll do my best to keep this a secret. He doesn't have to know."

Their Matric Dance(MD) was scheduled for the 27th of July-just one day after Larry's birthday. Larry had told Cynthia early so she could prepare, and insisted that she attend.

"That's the day we'll celebrate both finishing school and my birthday together!" he said.

Instead of replying, Cynthia sat in silence. Then she began to cry. She knew those particular dates were her worst days. Those were the exact days she had her seizures. She knew it was risky. She feared she'd ruin everything with Larry. She knew that if he ever saw her having a seizure, he would never want to be with her again. She even wished she could turn back time, but that was impossible.

"I won't attend your birthday, or our MD celebration," she told him.

"Why not, darling?" Larry asked.

"I gave you the reason when we started this relationship. I just can't be with you on the 26th to the 28th."

"Cynthia! If it's just your period, don't your friends use pads? Just come-I need you there."

"But-"

"But what, Cynthia? Don't you love me?"

"I do love you, Larry... but I can't!" she insisted.

"If you don't show up at my birthday party, then it's over between us!" Larry said, getting up from the classroom where they were studying together and storming out. He was clearly upset.

Cynthia followed him, crying. She couldn't bear the thought of losing Larry. She blamed God for allowing her to suffer from this illness.

"Larry! Larry, please stop! I love you, Larry!"

But Larry didn't stop. He kept walking. Cynthia ran to catch up with him, and when she reached him, she held his shoulder.

"Fine, I'll come-but I'll leave early to go back home," she said. She was willing to do anything not to lose him.

"Okay, as long as you show up. I love you, Cynthia." They laughed and hugged each other.

On July 27th, the party hall Moonlight was packed with people celebrating Larry Arthur's birthday. Cynthia was there, full of anxiety. She sat close to Larry, wearing a stunning dress that might have outshone all the other girls in the room. Her father had brought her the dress from the UK, and that night was the first time she wore it.

She had snuck out of the house that day without telling anyone. Her parents thought she was in her room. Later, when her mother checked and found her gone, she panicked and informed Cynthia's father.

By 10 p.m., the party was still going strong. Guests were enjoying themselves inside the Moonlight hall, but Cynthia couldn't relax. She felt like any moment, she might collapse.

"Larry, I want to leave now. My parents must be worried."

"Where are you going? Just stay a bit longer-I'll take you back later."

"No," Cynthia insisted. She was surprised she hadn't had a seizure yet.

"And now, it's time for our special couple to open the dance floor-Mr. and Mrs. to be, Larry and Cynthia!" the MC announced.

Larry stood up and reached for Cynthia's hand to lead her to the center.

"No! No! I don't want to," she said.

"Why not?" Larry asked, bending down to meet her eyes.

"I just don't want to dance. If it means you'll leave me, then go ahead. But I'm not doing this!" Cynthia snapped, already beginning to feel dizzy.

Larry grabbed her hand and pulled her up as the crowd cheered. Cynthia forced herself to walk with him to the middle of the room. The music started playing just for them.

As they danced, wrapped in each other's arms, Cynthia suddenly felt her legs weaken and collapsed Her eyes rolled back, foam started pouring from her mouth, her body stiffened-and she wet herself.

The whole room froze in shock.

Larry clutched his head in disbelief. He couldn't comprehend what he was witnessing. The girl he loved was lying on the floor, her limbs flailing uncontrollably.

"No way! So all that showing off-turns out our girl has epilepsy?" one girl whispered mockly behind Larry.

"Poor beautiful girl, she has epilepsy-my goodness!" another woman said.

"Was this a secret she has been hiding all along?" Larry thought to himself.

Jean, Larry's mother, pushed through the crowd and gently placed a white cloth-wrapped spoon into Cynthia's mouth to stop her from biting her tongue. Tears streamed down her face-she couldn't believe such a beautiful young girl could be suffering from epilepsy.

Thirty minutes later, Cynthia regained consciousness, blinking and looking around as though waking from a deep slumber. She was stunned to see everyone gathered around her. Her clothes were soaked in urine, and foam clung to the corners of her mouth. The embarrassment hit her like a wave.

"Larry, do you see now the outcome of your stubbornness?" she snapped, furious and humiliated.

"Why didn't you tell me you had epilepsy, Cynthia?" Larry asked softly.

"I was scared, Larry. I thought you'd leave me if you knew! I love you so much, Larry. I never wanted to be this way. Please, don't leave me."

But Larry didn't answer. Instead, tears welled in his eyes and rolled down his cheeks.

Seeing his silence, Cynthia stood abruptly, grabbed a rope that had tied one of the hall curtains, and bolted toward the nearby forest.

"I'd rather die!"

Five minutes later, Larry ran after her, panic tightening his chest. Deep down, he knew Cynthia had gone to take her own life. He couldn't see her anywhere in the dark woods. His heart screamed with the truth-he still loved her, epilepsy and all. He had to save her.

"Cynthia! Cynthia! Where are you? Please don't do this. I still love you-just the way you are!"

His voice echoed back at him, the empty forest returning his desperate cries. But Larry didn't stop. He pushed forward through thorny bushes and tall cashew trees, unbothered by the dark shadows surrounding him. He kept calling her name.

The silence was suffocating. He feared the worst-Cynthia was gone. Maybe she had already done it. He blamed himself.

"I should never have looked so shocked," Larry whispered bitterly. "That must've been what convinced her I'd leave."

Then, just as he stepped beneath a large cashew tree, he froze. Soft sobs-hiccuping cries-floated down from the branches above. His heart jumped. It was her.

He crept forward and peered up through the thick leaves, but the moonless sky gave him nothing. Still, the sobs continued, and in them, he heard his name.

"Oh God... why did you make me like this? Why did you take Larry away from me?"

"Cynthia," Larry called gently, his voice trembling, "please don't hurt yourself. I love you exactly as you are. Epilepsy doesn't change anything. Even if you had cancer, I wouldn't leave you. Please... give me another chance. Let me prove I won't leave."

Without hesitation, he began to climb the tree, whispering prayers that God would delay her decision just a little longer. But just two steps from reaching her, Cynthia jumped.

"No! Cynthia, don't do it!"

She dropped, and the rope tightened around her neck. Her body swung, and her tongue protruded from her mouth. Larry screamed and grabbed the rope, trying to pull it up, hoping it would loosen-but it only tightened. It was too late.

He stared at his watch. It was 11:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, Cynthia's parents were still searching frantically, guided by rumors that she might have gone to Moonlight Hotel, where Larry's birthday celebration was taking place.

"Why didn't she just say she was going to a party?" her father snapped in frustration.

"Have you forgotten what this date means for her?" Cynthia's mother, reminded him gently.

"Yes, I remember... but..." Professor Gulu Achanakya couldn't finish the sentence. He knew-those dates always triggered something dangerous in Cynthia.

When they arrived at Moonlight Hotel, they were stunned by the size of the crowd and the overwhelming silence. Everyone looked grief-stricken. Before they could ask questions, Jean, Larry's mother, stepped forward to meet them.

"Please, you are all very welcome!"

"Thank you!"

"Who informed you about the problems that occurred here?"

"Problems? What problems?" Dr. Regina asked in surprise.

Jean fell silent upon realizing they knew nothing. But later, she decided to gather her courage and tell the truth. She saw no reason to keep hiding it.

"We were here at the birthday celebration of my son, Larry. Everyone was happy! But suddenly, as the music started playing, Cynthia experienced a problem."

"What problem?!"

"She collapsed, something like a seizure-but I don't think it was epilepsy," Jean tried to downplay the seriousness of the situation so as not to hurt Regina, believing she didn't know what had happened.

"OH MY GOD! DO YOU SEE NOW HOW THIS GIRL HAS DISGRACED US?" Dr. Regina shouted in a loud voice. Everyone was shocked by her remark.

"Where is she now?" Cynthia's father asked.

"When she regained consciousness about ten minutes ago, she ran off toward the forest, and shortly after that, Larry followed her. Right now, we're preparing to go after them into the forest."

Without hesitation, Cynthia's parents, the police, and people who had been at Moonlight Hotel immediately joined forces to go into the forest to search for Larry and Cynthia. Everyone believed Cynthia had gone into the forest to commit suicide due to her shame. Her mother and father cried, as Cynthia was their only child.

A few minutes after entering the forest, they began to hear Larry's voice echoing, calling Cynthia's name. Everyone ran toward the direction of the echo, all believing they would find the two alive.

Suddenly, about five hundred meters deep into the woods, they walked along a narrow path, their bodies soaked with dew from the misty night air, when they heard whispers beneath a large cashew tree beside the path. It was the voice of someone pleading with another not to take their own life. It was already 11:28 p.m.

"They're here," one of the officers whispered, and everyone began to stealthily approach the base of the tree, turning off their flashlights to avoid startling the individuals beneath it.

Once they reached the base of the tree, they suddenly switched on their flashlights and were shocked to see a girl throwing herself from the tree, hanging, her legs kicking wildly.

When Larry looked down, he saw a large group of people and realized they had come to help. He didn't recognize a single person among them.

"Please help me save my girlfriend's life!" Larry shouted after seeing the people below.

One of the officers raised his rifle, and with the sharp bayonet, he began cutting the rope. Cynthia fell into the arms of another officer. She was completely silent, showing no signs of breathing. No one could confirm whether Cynthia was alive or dead.

They quickly ran back to Moonlight Hotel, where Cynthia was placed into a vehicle and rushed toward the hospital at full speed.

Cynthia's parents got into one of the police cars, while another vehicle, driven by an officer, carried Larry and his mother, Jean.

By the time they reached the hospital, Cynthia was still silent, with no signs of breathing or a heartbeat. Upon arrival, she was rushed into the intensive care unit, where she was placed on an oxygen machine, and doctors performed CPR in an attempt to restart her heartbeat. The doctor said there was a strong chance her life could still be saved.

IV drips were inserted into her veins and quickly began flowing into her system.

Her parents continued to cry, their hearts filled with hopelessness. They were devastated because Cynthia was their only child and the hope they had for the future. They no longer had the ability to have another child.

To the police, it was difficult to believe Cynthia had hanged herself. Finding Larry in the tree had made them suspect he was the one who had tried to hang her. They decided to begin their investigation with Larry. They arrested him and took him directly to the central police station in Portmore, where they took his statement and placed him in custody.

Tears fell from his eyes as he realized he was innocent. He tried his best to explain to the officers how much he loved Cynthia and how he would never harm her, but no one seemed to believe him.

He spent two consecutive nights in the police cell as the murder case was filed, and the investigation continued.

Cynthia's father knew that Larry could never have harmed his daughter, but he chose to remain silent, believing Larry had somehow contributed to his daughter's troubles.

Jean did everything she could to get her son released on bail, but it was impossible because the case was labeled as murder. Her heart broke, knowing her son had done nothing wrong.

Forty-eight hours after being admitted to the ward, Cynthia regained consciousness.

The first word she uttered after regaining her senses was:

"LARRY!"

She called his name twice, and as she opened her eyes, she turned her head, looking around and spotting her parents. Her mother was still crying.

When her mother saw Cynthia open her eyes, she rushed to her side and embraced her tightly.

"Why did you want to kill yourself, Cynthia, my daughter? Don't you know you're our only child, the one we depend on?"

"Mom, I was so ashamed. But more than that, I knew Larry would leave me. I can't live without him-it's better if I die! First, tell me, where is Larry?"

"The police took him."

"The police?! Why?"

"They believed he was trying to kill you."

"No! They misunderstood! Larry was helping me. I'm the one who tried to take my own life! Please, Dad, tell the police to release him immediately-otherwise, I'll end my life for real this time!" Cynthia cried, her voice trembling with pain and desperation.

Her father didn't take those words lightly. Without delay, he rushed out, got into his car, and drove straight to the office of the regional police commander, a longtime friend of his.

He explained the situation clearly, insisting that Larry was innocent and should be released. The commander summoned a female officer and instructed her to bring Larry's case file and also call in the officer in charge of the investigation.

Ten minutes later, the officer returned with the file and handed it to the commander, who began flipping through it carefully. Once he reached the end, he gave the order for Larry to be released from the holding cell and taken to the hospital. The police commander himself accompanied them.

When Larry entered the hospital room, Cynthia immediately got up from her bed and rushed to embrace him joyfully. As they held each other, tears streamed down both their faces.

"Larry, please don't leave me!" she whispered.

"I love you, Cynthia. I would never do that. Please believe me."

That heartfelt moment made Cynthia's parents realize how deep the love between their daughter and Larry truly was. There was no way they could stand in its way.

A short while later, Cynthia and Larry walked outside, where Larry needed to hear the full truth.

"I was born with complications," Cynthia began. "At birth, I was too big for my mother's birth canal, so the doctors had to use forceps to pull me out. That's what caused my epilepsy. I've had the condition since I was a child. Every month, between the 26th and 28th, I always have an episode. When you asked me about it, I lied and said I was on my period. But that's not true. During those days, I'm locked in a room until the seizure passes-then I go back to school."

She wept quietly, resting her head on Larry's shoulder.

"Why didn't you tell me the truth from the beginning, Cynthia?"

"I was afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"That you'd leave me."

"You were wrong not to tell me. If I had known, I wouldn't have insisted you come to the party. It would have remained our little secret. But now too many people know."

"I'm sorry, Larry. Just promise you won't leave me."

"Why do you keep talking about being left?"

"Larry, what man would want to be with a girl who has epilepsy?"

"I would."

"Really?"

"Yes, Cynthia."

"Okay. Then I just ask one thing-please, just stay with me until we finish school. After that, if you want to marry someone else, I won't stop you. But for now, my life is nothing without you."

With those words, she cried once more.

Larry's case was dismissed. There was no longer any investigation.

However, a new storm began brewing at Larry's home. His mother strongly opposed his relationship with Cynthia.

"I don't want to see you with that girl again!" she snapped. "Don't bring children with epilepsy into our family!"

Her harsh words left no doubt-she was determined to fight their relationship, no matter what it took.