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.

I can’t tell

Oxford. He’s incredibly young for his achievements.”

my forehead, leaning on the sofa, my stomach

see Alex, disheveled

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

breath.

took my face in his hands, examining it.

softened.

06:34

of Love.

20.5%

Chapter 4

my fingers and smiled. “Let me put some

was too brave, too quiet in that moment, for him to understand the

him carefully. He’d always been this composed, never losing his cool over

his impoverished youth that had forged this unflappable character, this ability to remain

considered that such composure might

my mom’s pressing me to

not quite

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

at him. I hadn’t meant to cry, but my tears wouldn’t obey.

have a child – your parents would love them. Boy or

the contract from my bag, head down. “Look, I put your

you ever repay these five passionate, foolish years of my youth?

peak, where every step down

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