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

was something else in their eyes, something they weren't saying. It was as if they expected me

to mind. When she brought us to Maple

floor. When Jessica asked, "Which one?" I was already standing at the door

"Yes, it's 302."

or nine in the morning, and

bathed in warm "The sunlight is amazing here. Is that why you bought this

Ethan?"

sure, but a more perfect reason seemed to exist somewhere in my

was filled with shades of orange-orange curtains, an orange sofa cover, orange bed sheets, giving

walls, as if

was a large bar counter, but strangely, no alcohol-just an assortment of herbal

have a surprise

white patch around his neck. Strangely, the cat ran straight to me,

friendly kitty! Let

up, but Buddy swatted at

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

was so affectionate

took a can of

could even open the lid, as

be you. He

go now. If

I quickly pulled out the first-aid kit from under the TV cabinet and

know there was iodine

didn't know. It

was eating contentedly. "I guess

few more days, but something came up at

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

down with a fever, my

dreamed of a boy being born in this apartment, attending the nearby

middle schools, eventually going to the best high school in the community. He rode his bike to school every day, always leaving the back seat empty for someone special, always carrying two bottles of milk in

backpack...

celebration, he wrapped his arm around a girl and made an exaggerated promise, "The next time we all

be for our wedding."

blushed, but he took

string around his wrist, wishing for his safety. He gave her one in return, hoping she'd stop teasing

burst through the setup, revealing his proposal. The girl cried, and he thought it was

her, "It's time." He knew she would marry him, so he dared to plan such an

tested the menu four times. He was only going to get married once, so he couldn't afford

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 his lungs, his organs felt like they were being crushed, his face turned red from lack of air, his lungs

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

rushed out of the house, heading back to Maple Grove

I heard a voice, "The sunlight feels so warm, and Buddy loves

Ethan, can we live here

Buddy, and a daughter someday,

then let's buy this

was the

drink soda, it'll hurt your throat.

like

being stubborn -I

herbal tea, I suddenly realized - it wasn't me who loved herbal

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 too early. But in the

couch -I once slept on it for two nights after saying something wrong and wrote a thousand-word apology, all