Chapter 4

I didn’t go to the hospital. Instead, I took a cab home.

The apartment Alex and I rented was a small one–bedroom. By the entrance stood a bookshelf with

several textbooks.

They were remnants from when I’d pushed him to complete his bachelor’s degree through online cour at a state university.

My mother was right – his education was limited. When we met, he said he only had a community college degree.

We were both young then. I just thought he was smart, with his whole life ahead of him. He shouldn’t

stay stuck at that level.

Even entry–level positions required bachelor’s degrees these days, with higher starting salaries.

I would work during the day, then stay up late helping him study.

While brushing our teeth side by side in the morning, I’d play French lessons on my phone, helping him review yesterday’s vocabulary. He said learning French would help his career prospects.

For months of practice GRE tests, I reviewed every question he worked through.

With time against us, we managed to complete his online degree in just eighteen months.

To celebrate, we scoured every platform for restaurant coupons just to afford a nice steakhouse dinner.

But now, reading Victoria Bennett’s messages, it all seemed absurd.

even Alex. I can’t tell you what

from Stanford, then Oxford. He’s incredibly young

against my forehead, leaning on

to see Alex,

countless missed calls from him. He leaned against the doorframe,

breath.

in his hands, examining it.

softened.

06:34

Years of Love. Seven Minutes

20.5%

Chapter 4

my fingers and smiled. “Let

was too brave, too quiet in that moment, for him

composed, never losing

had forged this unflappable character, this ability

considered that such composure might instead

looking ahead: “Alex, my mom’s

froze, the smile not quite faded from

with my usual loving gaze, “I told her I’d only marry Alex. I’m waiting for him

I hadn’t meant

move in after marriage. Then we’d have a child – your parents would love them. Boy or girl, doesn’t matter. A girl with your big eyes, or

from my bag, head down. “Look, I put your name on the deed.”

could you ever repay these five passionate, foolish

born at the peak, where every

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