Crawling Back To Her Series Redemption and Refuse

Book3 Chapter9.

Ethan Harris - Epilogue We returned to Maplewood at sunset. The first thing we did was visit my parents' graves. As I looked at their pictures, I finally understood where I got my features from— the gentle eyes from my mother, the stern expression from my father.

After lighting incense, I asked everyone else to leave, wanting some time alone with my parents. I spoke to them about the past five years.

By the time I descended the hill, the traces of tears had long dried on my face, leaving only the smell of incense smoke on my clothes.

But as I took in the increasingly familiar surroundings, my heart still felt empty, as if something was missing. It felt like I had forgotten something really important.

Detective Parker drove us to my parents' house, an old-fashioned neighborhood with all the amenities. The moment we opened the door, a cloud of dust rose into the air.

"Wow, it's really dusty in here," I said, coughing.

I made my way to the living room wall, where a large family portrait hung. Something inside me struggled as I looked at it. In the photo, I was in my police uniform, arms around my parents, all of us smiling contentedly. It was a picture of a happy family.

But something felt off, like I was missing a crucial detail.

Jessica and I spent some time cleaning up the house. When I saw the old mountain bike on the balcony, a memory flashed in my mind - blue skies, a boy riding a bike with a girl fast asleep on the backseat, her softness making my heart ache.

The image was fleeting, but it lingered.

We found many old photos from my childhood. Jessica was fascinated by them, but I felt nothing. When we were nearly done cleaning, Jessica asked me to go buy some essentials at the store. I had no idea where the store was, but as soon as I stepped outside, I instinctively turned right and lifted my right hand as if I were supposed to be holding onto something.

As if on autopilot, I walked to the end of the alley and found a small grocery store.

The store owner's wife looked surprised to see me. "Ethan, you're finally back. You have no idea how long Sienna waited for you."

She kept talking, saying how, after I left, she often saw Sienna sitting alone outside her little store. Whenever she asked why I wasn't with her, Sienna would just smile and say, "Next time."

But each time, she was alone.

Sometimes, as she spoke, her eyes would well up with tears.

The store owner's wife told me she had never seen such a heart-wrenching girl and urged me not to fight with her anymore, to take good care of her.

I listened to her, but I didn't know how to respond.

Images of Sienna kept flashing through my mind -her holding my hand, chatting endlessly about what our future life together should be like, the way she looked at me, love shining in her eyes.

But I had Jessica now, and Sienna had moved on. Whatever we had... it should be in the past by now.

Almost in a panic, I quickly bought some essentials and left the store.

I couldn't understand why, but the thought of Sienna disappearing from my life for good made my chest ache.

I lit a cigarette, standing on the street corner, looking at this familiar yet strange town. An indescribable feeling washed over me —I just wanted to leave, to go back to the island.

When the cigarette was done, a bus pulled up in front of me. The doors opened, and I inexplicably got on. The bus was filled with students in blue and white uniforms, and in the hazy fragments of my memory, I saw someone dressed like that, sitting by the window.

It was as if I could see eighteen-year-old Sienna waving at me, asking me to sit down and explain a problem to her.

The bus had thirteen stops, but I got off at a crossroads. Just ahead was a new community, Maple Grove Estates. It felt strangely familiar.

Just as I was about to walk in, Jessica called me. I hailed a cab to head back home, watching the community fade away in the rearview mirror. But as I drove away, it didn't feel like I was getting closer to home. Instead, it felt like I was moving farther away.

Jessica and I had been in town for three days, meeting old friends and colleagues.

Their faces were unfamiliar, but their enthusiasm was overwhelming. I felt guilty.

They patted my shoulder, often crying, "It's just good to have you back.

It's just..

have

alive, but there was something else in their eyes, something they weren't saying. It was

day, Grace found me. She said I had another apartment, and suddenly, a place came to mind. When she brought us to

"Which one?" I was already standing at the

"Yes, it's 302."

nine in the

and every room was bathed in warm "The sunlight is amazing

Ethan?"

reason seemed to exist somewhere in

orange-orange curtains, an orange sofa cover, orange bed sheets,

as if picture frames had once hung

of herbal teas, at least a dozen varieties. Jessica laughed, "Now I

a surprise

straight to me, circling my legs and rubbing

a friendly kitty! Let me hold

to pick him up, but Buddy swatted at

cat, Ethan. His name's Buddy. You adopted him, and he's been keeping me busy these

was so affectionate toward

carried him into the bedroom and took a can of food from the bedside cabinet. The

the lid,

to be you. He won't eat when

have to go now. If you need anything, just call

Jessica suddenly let out a yelp - Buddy had scratched her. I quickly pulled out the first-aid kit from under the TV

how did you know there was

know. It

who was eating contentedly. "I guess he doesn't like me

to stay a few more days, but something came up

handle it. She asked me to stay behind and finish seeing the people I needed to see. I had met a lot of people, but it still felt like I hadn't seen

night, I came down with a fever, my whole body burning up,

being born in this apartment, attending

his bike to school every day,

backpack...

so proud of him. At the celebration, he wrapped his arm around a girl and made

be for our wedding."

but he took

tied a red string around his wrist, wishing for his safety. He gave her one in return, hoping she'd stop teasing him about the mole

proposal into a car crash scene. The car burst through the setup, revealing his proposal. The girl cried, and he thought it was because she was moved. After all, the whole scene was filled with her favorite flowers, an

knew she would marry him, so he dared to plan

booking the hotel. They even tested the menu four times. He was only going to get married once, so he

and stiff. When it finally ended, he received orders from the police department. The girl reassured him that it was okay to go, and he promised her he'd be back in a week to marry her. But the mission was tough, and they were ambushed. Gravely injured, he was thrown into the ocean. The saltwater flooded

as I came to, and I saw the open photo album on the table. The boy in my dream and the young man

night, I rushed out of the house, heading back

opened the door, I heard a voice, "The sunlight feels

Ethan, can we live here from now

someday, we'll have a

let's buy this

that was

your throat.

like

being stubborn

suddenly realized -

out together. The large wooden bed -I scheduled the wedding for the late afternoon because I was afraid she'd throw a fit and refuse to marry me if she woke up

on it for two nights after saying something wrong and wrote a thousand-word