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..

to have you

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

came to mind. When she brought us to Maple Grove

"Which one?" I was already standing at the door on the left. Grace, holding the

"Yes, it's 302."

nine in the morning, and the

was a three-bedroom, two-bathroom place, and every room was bathed in warm "The

Ethan?"

wasn't sure, but a more perfect reason seemed to exist somewhere in

with shades of orange-orange curtains, an orange

walls, as if

strangely, no alcohol-just an assortment of herbal teas, at least a dozen

I have a surprise

neck. Strangely, the cat ran straight to me, circling my legs and rubbing against me desperately, meowing insistently. I finally bent down, and he jumped into my arms as if he had been waiting for me all

what a friendly kitty! Let me

to pick him up, but Buddy

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

was so affectionate

can of food from the bedside cabinet. The

the lid, as

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

If you

- Buddy had scratched her. I quickly pulled out the first-aid kit from under the TV cabinet and found some

you know there was

It

was eating contentedly. "I guess he doesn't

had planned to stay a few more days, but something came up at the restaurant, so Jessica

to see. I had

came down with a fever, my whole body burning

a boy being born in this apartment,

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

backpack...

academy. Everyone was so proud of him. At the celebration, he wrapped his arm around a girl and made an exaggerated promise, "The next time we all get together,

be for our wedding."

he took the promise

and kind to him. She even tied a red string around his wrist, wishing for his safety. He

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

reassuring her, "It's time." He knew she would marry him, so he

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

night of the rehearsal, even though he knew it was just a rehearsal, he was incredibly nervous, his movements 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 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 were

eased as I came to, and I saw the open photo album on the

of night, I rushed out of the house, heading

voice, "The sunlight feels

live here

daughter someday, we'll have a perfect,

then let's

was the

hurt your throat. Let me

you like

being stubborn -I

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

we had picked 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 too early.

slept on it for two nights after saying