hapter 15
I returned to the Meridia refugee camp and reunited with Joseph’s colleagues. Doctors
Without Borders had resumed operations, and his former partner, Adam, now coordinated
the entire Meridia project.
When we met, no words were needed–tears flowed freely. After crying together for half an
hour, I told him I had come to search for Joseph.
He led me to the warehouse where some of Joseph’s belongings remained. “We evacuated
in a hurry, leaving much unsorted,” Adam explained.
In a box, I found scattered items: a paper card, packet of flower seeds, set of keys, medical books, a stethoscope… These simple objects transported me back three years. I could almost hear his voice: “You’re here!” I remembered walking into his quarters one afternoon,
finding him lounging in a chair, casually twirling a pen while reading.
Adam’s expression turned wistful. “These should have been dealt with long ago, but I thought you might return to sort through them for him someday. I never expected that day would actually come.”
I accepted the items solemnly. “Adam, thank you. I’m the one,who came too late.”
Later, I mentioned wanting to locate the children from that time. He promised to keep watch, though he cautioned against high hopes after so many years.
Back in my quarters, I received messages from my colleagues. Jackson had come looking
for me.
I hadn’t shown up for the wedding. His parents were furious. He’d searched everywhere before learning from my colleagues that I’d gone to the Nyara Republic. He’d refused to believe it, causing such a scene at the hospital that security nearly intervened.
I sighed, confused. If he loved someone else, where did I fit into all this?
Not wanting to burden my colleagues further, I initiated a video call with Jackson.
The moment we connected, my breath caught. He looked disheveled on screen, the room
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behind him dim and smoke–filled, empty bottles littering the floor.
“Zoey?” He stared in disbelief, rubbing his eyes. “Is it really you?”
He scoffed, burying his face in his hands. “You’re something else. You fled to Azora over a
few words from Sara? Are you insane?”
Anger flared within me. I nearly hung up when I noticed large drops falling between his
fingers.
“You can’t… play with your life like this! How could you make me worry so much?!”
Suddenly, it all felt absurd.
“Worry about me? Our relationship began with you using me to appease your parents, and
me using you as a substitute to ease my loneliness. There was never real affection-”
He cut me off with a shout. “To hell with real affection! When I went to find Sara that day, I
couldn’t stop thinking about you! I worried how you’d get home after drinking! When your
camera broke, I searched every shop in the city. When they said it was too old, I asked
friends abroad, flew there myself to get it! You vanished without a word. They said you
went to East Meridian, and I couldn’t sleep, searching all night! You made me fall in love
with you, then just left! How could you?!”
His eyes were red, his expression like a stray dog at the doorstep.
“Please come back?” He pulled out the ring I’d thrown away, his voice humble. “We can set
a new wedding date. I’ll only marry you…‘
We stared at each other for a long moment.
Finally, I smiled. “Jackson, you never really understood me. How can you say you love me?
Who is Sara, and who are you to make me act out of spite? I came back because the person
I love is here.”
His pupils dilated as he swept everything off the table in anguish. “Who is he? Who is he, really?!”
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Lended the call coldly. “You don’t need to know.”
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Chapter 16
Chapter 16
