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 you

else in their eyes, something they weren't saying. It was as if they expected me to ask them something, as if I shouldn't be the way I

had another apartment, and suddenly, a place came to mind. When she brought us to Maple Grove Estates, it matched exactly

third floor. When Jessica asked, "Which one?" I was already standing at the door on the left. Grace, holding the key, looked at me in

"Yes, it's 302."

nine in the morning, and the sunlight flooded

and every room was bathed in warm "The sunlight is amazing here. Is that why you bought this place,

Ethan?"

sure, but a more perfect reason seemed

shades of orange-orange curtains, an orange sofa cover, orange bed sheets, giving the place a warm,

on the walls, as if picture frames had once

counter, but strangely, no alcohol-just an assortment of herbal teas, at

a surprise

she said that, an orange cat dashed out of the bedroom, his fur completely orange except for a white patch around his neck. Strangely, the cat ran straight to me, circling my legs and rubbing against me desperately, meowing insistently. I finally

a friendly kitty! Let me hold

up,

His name's Buddy. You adopted him, and he's been

was so

a can of

lid, as

laughed, "It has to be you. He won't eat when

I have to go now. If you need

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

know there was iodine

It just felt

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

few more days, but something came up at the restaurant, so

She asked me to stay behind and finish seeing the people I needed to see. I

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

being born in this

high school in the community. He rode his bike to school every day, always leaving

backpack...

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

be for our wedding."

but he took

him. She even tied a red string around his wrist, wishing for his safety. He gave her one

he meticulously planned his proposal. He was a bit of a troublemaker, so he devised an elaborate scheme, turning the 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,

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

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

awkward 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

pressure slowly eased as I came to, and I saw the open photo

of

a voice, "The sunlight feels so

Ethan, can we live here from

and a daughter someday,

then let's buy this

that was the

throat.

like rose

stubborn

herbal tea, I suddenly realized - it

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 end, I was the one

for two nights after saying something wrong and wrote a thousand-word apology, all