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.

isn’t even Alex. I can’t tell you what

then Oxford. He’s

my palm against my forehead, leaning on the sofa,

see Alex, disheveled

He leaned against the doorframe, slightly out of

breath.

he approached, took my face in his

softened.

06:34

of Love. Seven

20.5%

Chapter 4

him, he didn’t mind, just played with my fingers and smiled. “Let me put some medicine on

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

always been this composed, never

thought it was his impoverished youth that had forged this unflappable character, this

considered that such composure might

my hand away, looking ahead: “Alex, my mom’s pressing me to go home for

movements froze, the smile not quite

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

him. I hadn’t meant to cry,

small house, that we’d 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 a boy with

bag, head down. “Look, I put your name on

Alex, how could you ever repay these five passionate, foolish

born at the peak, where every step

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