Chapter 7
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into seven long months, yet there were still no messages or calls from Jeremy. Jenny's worry consumed her. She reached out to Jeremy's mother, but her messages went unanswered. Even phone calls led to silence. Desperate, Jenny asked Alice, Jeremy's neighbor and her friend, for news. Alice informed her that Jeremy's mother had gone to Canada, resigning from her job and retiring early. The mystery only deepened—why had Jeremy's family cut off all communication?
The uncertainty was like a knife piercing Jenny's heart. Thoughts of Jeremy’s absence weighed heavily on her mind, affecting her health. She couldn’t sleep, her appetite disappeared, and she felt as if the world around her was crumbling. Even their mutual friends had lost contact with Jeremy. Determined to uncover the truth, Jenny decided to search for the address Jeremy had given her before leaving. Using Google Maps, she found the location, but what she discovered left her stunned—the house belonged to a well-known, affluent figure in Canada, a far cry from the simple man she thought she knew. Confusion clouded her mind. Could Jeremy’s father, once a struggling businessman, have found sudden success?
At work, Jenny's colleagues grew increasingly concerned. She spent her lunch breaks staring at the sky, lost in thought. Her once lively demeanor had vanished. Friends noticed how much weight she had lost and how withdrawn she had become, as if she was living in another world. Even Jeremy's family, though distant, worried about her.
One day, her best friend Cassie called, asking to meet at the airport. Though Jenny was hesitant to go far, stress and longing for a friendly face drove her to agree. At the airport, an unexpected voice called out to her. It was Dianne, an old classmate from Canada. Jenny almost didn’t recognize her—Dianne had transformed into a sophisticated, elegant woman. Overjoyed, Dianne hugged Jenny tightly and, in her excitement, asked, “Did Jeremy introduce you to his wife?”
Jenny’s world froze. Her heart skipped a beat, and she stammered, asking Dianne to repeat herself. Dianne, oblivious to the impact of her words, casually showed Jenny a wedding photo of Jeremy with his new wife. Shocked, even Cassie was rendered speechless. Dianne went on, explaining how she had received an invitation to the wedding—Jeremy had married the daughter of a highly influential man. Before Dianne could say more, her relatives arrived to pick her up. She waved goodbye, leaving Jenny with a tidal wave of emotions.
Jenny clung to a nearby chair, feeling like a candle about to melt away. Though Cassie worried for her, Jenny assured her best friend that she was fine and urged her not to miss her flight. Embracing Cassie tightly, Jenny said goodbye and quickly hailed a taxi. She asked the driver to take her to the nearest beach.
Inside the taxi, tears streamed down her face like an endless river. The driver asked if she was okay, and she replied weakly, blaming a headache. The driver, sensing her pain, didn’t press further. When they reached the beach, Jenny headed straight for a convenience store. She bought a bottle of strong liquor, her hands trembling. The cashier offered her medicine for her “migraine,” but Jenny declined, barely managing a smile as she left.
Walking along the deserted beach, Jenny let out a mix of laughter and sobs. Anger and anguish consumed her. She opened the bottle, taking desperate gulps. Liquor became her only solace. She shouted Jeremy’s name into the emptiness, crying until her voice cracked. The sky wept with her, the rain falling as though it understood her pain.
She sat on the sand, drenched, clutching the bottle as if it could mend her shattered dreams. The months of hoping for Jeremy’s return, of believing in his love, now felt like a cruel illusion. Overwhelmed, she laid down on the wet sand, still clutching the bottle. The alcohol dulled her senses, and she felt an urge to walk into the water. Unsteady, she stumbled toward the waves but collapsed before reaching them.
Unconscious and vulnerable, Jenny was carried to safety by strong arms. Doctor Adam, a man who had secretly cared for her for months, had found her just in time. Cradled in his arms, Jenny felt a fleeting sense of security before succumbing to exhaustion. For now, sleep was her only escape.
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