Chapter 11
On my birthday, Arthur said early in the morning that he had a surprise for me.
He wanted me to go out with him, but my mind was full of various stories I had been weaving, causing me a lot of pain.
He didn’t want to force me, so he left me at home and said he would come to pick me up in the evening.
But in the evening, he was still not back. When he finally made a video call, he said:
“Cary, I’m sorry… the car broke down halfway, I’m taking a cab home, I’ll be there soon. I’m
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really sorry…
For some reason, he had started saying “sorry” more and more often.
“It’s okay, don’t rush. As long as you’re with me, I’ll be happy no matter how late it is,” I said, lying on the bed, feeling a bit listless.
“By the way, Cary, have you spent the whole day in the bedroom?” he asked mysteriously. “Have you not been to the backyard?”
“No.”
“Hmm…”
He was becoming more like a child, unable to hide anything, every little thought visible on
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his face.
“Pfft… I saw it earlier,’ I said with a smile. “It’s decorated like a princess castle, with lots of fireworks. What’s it for?”
“I’m not telling you.” His voice was filled with pride. “And there’s another surprise you definitely don’t know about. Wait for me to get home!”
“Alright, I’ll wait for you.”
I hung up.
I was feeling a bit tired these days.
When Arthur returned home with a bouquet of flowers, he was met with a sea of flames.
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His eyes reflected the blood–red glow, and
time seemed to freeze for a second before
he frantically pulled out his phone and began dialing my number with desperate urgency.
In just moments, the flowers were crushed under his feet, ground into the dirt.
“Artie…”
“Cary!!! Where are you!”
The instant he heard my voice, he seemed to
descend into a frantic madness.
“I don’t know… cough cough… wake up, it’s all fire and smoke… it seems like fireworks…”
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Without a moment’s hesitation, Arthur plunged into the inferno.
“Cary! Are you in the bedroom? Don’t be afraid, cough cough… I’m coming to find you!”
“Don’t worry about me, you…
The call was cut off.
Arthur barreled through the burning building, desperately searching for me but finding no
trace.
“Cary! Cary! Where are you!”
Arthur’s heart–wrenching cries were drowned out by the smoke that seared his throat, his
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voice a ghostly wail.
“You can’t die! You can’t die! I won’t let you die! Cary…”
“You promised me… you wouldn’t leave me…
“Don’t leave me…”
”
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