Suddenly, An episode’s replayed in Amanda’s mind.That was an early morning when she spontaneously decided to watch the sunrise. She drove Kara and Grace to the coast.Dawn’s light cast a shimmering path across the calm ocean, stretching from the shore to the horizon. The amber-like sunlight warmed every inch of her skin, making Amanda look like a goddess.Grace smiled like a cat in cream and said to Amanda, “Do you know when I first saw you?”“The first time I saw you was when I randomly attended a debate. You were the third speaker on the affirmative side, and I became totally hooked on you.” Grace lost herself in her own thoughts.“You spoke with such confidence and conviction; your arguments were sharp and precise. I always thought you looked your most beautiful when you were doing something you loved. Even though we were indoors back then, it felt like sunlight was shining down on you.”Grace and Kara both gazed at Amanda, making her turn away. She seemed bashful and awkward.Gr
Riley is in the golf course, together with Rex and Shawn.“These days are so busy. We finally get a chance to go out, and you’re not even saying a word.”“I did say something.”“You don’t seem to be in a good mood.”“I’m fine.”“Take a look in the mirror. You’ve been wearing that same expression all day. You call it a good mood?”“……”Riley grips his golf club with both hands, bending slightly forward, eyes focused on the ball. He raises the club to shoulder height, twists his torso, and swings forward.Eagle!Rex draws a long sigh. “Riley! Can’t you go easy on us? We’re friends here, you don’t have to be so ruthless.”Riley surveys him coldly, clearly irritated. “I don’t waste time on pointless things, and I have no interest in losing to you.”Rex sha
As Riley broods, Rex speaks up again. “Riley, seriously, just call Amanda over. Give her a raise or something. Or I’ll pay; I won’t let her come for free.”Rex doesn’t notice that Riley’s been a bit depressed and keeps speaking, “By the way, I never understood why you made her your secretary. She’s beautiful, capable, and it’s obvious to anyone that she likes you. You’re married now. Can’t you put her out of her misery? There are plenty of guys at the company who want to date her, and she turns them all down, saying she’s already married. How could she really be married? If she was, would she still show her feelings for you so openly?”Rex shakes his head dramatically.“You broke their hearts! Amanda falls in love with you, Faye is enchanted by you, but you’re already married. They must be devastated!”Riley freezes, for once at a loss for words. He’s usu
Meanwhile, Amanda is out having lunch.That day at the cemetery, it struck her that it had been ages since she’d had a dining get-together with Kara and Grace.Ever since she got married, it was like she’d become a puppet, her every move revolving around Riley. Thinking back, the past three years feel shrouded in a fog—heavy and cold.She called her friends right away, asking if they had time to meet up for shopping and dinner. They’d set a date immediately.Now, she’s finally sitting in that restaurant she’d been wanting to try, laughing with her friends.The old Amanda would have thought of Riley right away, and she’d know he’d have no time to join. His time was always wrapped up in work and his friends.But now, it’s been days since Riley even crossed Amanda’s mind. She’s been decorating her cozy apartment, reading, writing, making crafts. Sometimes she cooks just for herse
After spending the day with Kara and Grace, Amanda heads over to the home of another friend she’d known since college. Lily Edwards—a friend just a year younger and someone Amanda stays in close touch with—insists Amanda join her for dinner after hearing about her intention of divorce.Amanda rings the doorbell and then glances down, adjusting the bouquet of flowers in her arms.Lily loves flowers, so Amanda had taken the time to pick out a delicate arrangement.Yellow alstroemeria and violets—a fresh, gentle combination.When she hears some movements, Amanda raises her head, only to be greeted by an unfamiliar man standing in the doorway, one hand resting on the door handle, still holding it open.The man is dressed in formal suits, as if he’s just returned from an evening out, with a pair of glasses perched on his nose. The lenses are thin, clearly only slightly corrective. He is a handsome devil. But he looks
Amanda remembers, back in college, being asked to help with a school publicity event with Riley.Riley had left after his photo shoot, but Amanda stayed behind to handle some editing. Since the organizers knew she and Riley were acquainted, they asked her to bring him a small gift—some flowers, sweets, and a drink.She went back to the dormitory first to put her gift away. At that time, she caught a glimpse of the pin on the table, which she had made only the day before.Without thinking, she carried that gem pin, secretly hoping he might notice it. But she worried he’d guess it was from her, and it made her nervous.Sitting on the campus lawn, she hugged the gift bag, rehearsing in her mind how she’d explain it.Shortly afterward, no sooner had Amanda gone to Riley than he showed up in front of her.Back then, he was in graduate school, and Amanda would occasionally ask him questions as an excuse to get c
“No wonder you used won’t be."Amanda suddenly breaks into a smile. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re savage?”She changes her opinion of him in a short period of time. By his appearance, Amanda had assumed he’d be the type to speak gently, maybe even in a roundabout way. But to her surprise, his words are straightforward, without a hint of pretense.“It’s better this way, isn’t it? Misunderstandings happen because people hold back instead of just saying things clearly.”Amanda nods in agreement. If Riley had been this direct from the start, she wouldn’t have waited three years to divorce.Originally, she refused to get close to anyone connected with Riley. But maybe Lily is right; she’s starting to like Shawn. Maybe they really could become friends.“By the way, I’m not one to spread gossip. You don’t have to worry about that,&
Amanda gets into her car, drives slowly, and finally pulls up in front of a shop. She rolls down the window to let in some fresh air.Spring is almost here, but the night breeze is still chilly. It isn’t strong, yet it slips through the gaps in Amanda’s clothes, seeping into her skin and leaving her bones aching from the cold.In the shop window, children’s clothes are on display—outfits for boys, girls, different styles.Amanda quickly looks away, as if burned, and closes the window.She turns on the heater, but no warmth seems to reach her frozen heart.Endings happen in an instant, but letting go of a goal she’s chased for eleven years? That’s like carving into flesh with a dull blade—agonizingly slow and painful.How many eleven-year spans does a person get in a lifetime?Even now, thinking of Riley brings her a familiar, reflexive ache.Amanda is an adamant person, but some things
From the beginning, there were signs their relationship wouldn’t last. Riley was distant, even cold at times. Amanda gave everything to make it work, hoping her love would be enough.She prepared his favorite meals, listened patiently to his complaints, and stayed up late to help him prepare for meetings. Riley never acknowledged her efforts.He never remembered her birthday unless she reminded him. When she brought him coffee, he didn’t look up from his laptop. And when she smiled at him across the dinner table, he barely glanced her way.Amanda told herself this was just who Riley was. He wasn’t expressive, but that didn’t mean he didn’t care.She clung to the tiny moments of happiness they shared. The time he brushed a strand of hair from her face without saying a word. The rare evenings they spent watching TV together, his arm loosely draped over her shoulder.But those moments were like drops of water in a vast desert.One night, Amanda sat at her desk, staring at a sticky not
Amanda was left standing in the wreckage of a life she no longer recognized. She wasn’t even an adult yet.While other kids her age were worrying about exams or crushes, Amanda was learning how to survive.She remembered how everything felt hollow during those days. Her life turned into something flat and lifeless, like a piece of paper too thin to hold any weight. Most of the time, it felt like she was floating in a gray fog, detached from the world around her.There were days when she doubted everything—herself, her purpose, her reason for existing. She questioned why she was alive, why she had been given so much only to have it ripped away. She cried until there were no tears left, screamed at the universe in her empty room, and then cried again.But through it all, she survived.Amanda’s gaze drops to her drink as she swirls the ice again, her grip tightening slightly. She remembers how, even in the darkest moments, there were small lights. Friends who stayed by her side, eve
Fiona looks down at her drink, swirling the remaining liquid. Her lips press into a thin line.She decides to stop thinking about Amanda. Maybe they just don’t get along—it happens sometimes, she tells herself. Not everyone has to like everyone.Amanda, on the other hand, barely notices Fiona’s mood. Her thoughts are elsewhere.That familiar figure she thought she saw earlier still lingers in her mind. She glances around the bar again, scanning the crowd, but there’s no sign of anyone who looks like Riley.She shakes her head and lets out a quiet breath, trying to dismiss the idea. Riley couldn’t possibly be here. It must have been a trick of the light, or maybe just her imagination playing with her.There’s no way it was him. She’s sure of it.The crowd around the pool table finally starts to break up, their excitement fading into quieter conversations and laughter.Amanda doesn&r
Grace is the first to react.She lets out a cheer and rushes over to Amanda, throwing her arms around her. “You were amazing!” she exclaims, her voice loud and full of pride.Amanda laughs, hugging her back. Her cheeks are flushed, but it’s not from embarrassment—it’s from exhilaration.Around Amanda, the crowd gathers, clapping and congratulating her.For a moment, Amanda allows herself to bask in the attention, her smile wide and unrestrained.Henry walks over, cue stick in hand. He’s smiling, though it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. He extends a hand to Amanda.“Great game,” he says, his tone easygoing. “You’re really good. Where’d you learn to play like that?”Amanda shakes his hand, her grip firm. “Just practice,” she replies simply. “Guess it paid off.”Henry nods, though he can’t shake the strange feelin
Amanda shakes the thought away, forcing herself to refocus on the game.But the memory lingers. It takes her back to when Riley first taught her how to play pool.It was early in their marriage, during one of his rare evenings off. He had laughed as he guided her hands on the cue stick, explaining the basic rules.“It’s all about precision,” he’d said, his tone light but firm. “Think like you’re playing chess, but faster.”Back then, Amanda had thrown herself into learning, desperate to connect with him in any way she could. Riley loved pool, and Amanda had wanted to love it too—just like how she’d taken golf lessons to keep up with his hobbies.But their lives grew busier, and Riley grew more distant. Pool became just another forgotten thing, one more piece of him she could never quite reach.Yet, Amanda never gave up.She hired a coach, practicing un
Grace stands frozen for a moment.Amanda’s expression and tone take her back to their university days. It feels like she’s seeing the old Amanda again—the one who stood confidently in front of large crowds, fearless and full of energy.She remembers how Amanda led their debate team, always believing she could bring victory to her side.Grace breaks into a big smile.Suddenly, she doesn’t care anymore—winning or losing, none of it matters. Henry, Fiona—all of that feels unimportant now.What truly matters is this: Amanda has found her way back.Grace had invited Amanda to the bar to help her relax, meet new people, and maybe forget her troubles for a while.She just wanted Amanda to have a break, even if it meant using alcohol to dull her pain.She knew how much Amanda had loved Riley, and even though Amanda had decided to divorce him, Grace was scared that
Fiona shifts slightly in her seat, her fingers lightly drumming on the stem of her wine glass. She takes a slow sip, her gaze lingering on Amanda, though she pretends to focus on Henry instead.The conversation flows easily around her, Amanda’s voice carrying the kind of warmth and confidence that seems to draw everyone in.“Well,” Fiona says suddenly, cutting into the conversation. Her tone is light, but there’s a faint edge to it.“It’s great that you get to be so creative, Amanda. I really envy you for having that kind of freedom.” She pauses, tilting her head slightly and giving a practiced smile. “I hope one day I can earn that for myself—doing something I truly love.”It seems that Fiona doesn’t know Amanda at all. Amanda can see it from Fiona’s expression and words.So Amanda decides to pretend it’s the first time that she meets Fiona.Amanda tur
Amanda notices that Fiona’s gaze darts between Henry and her. Then Fiona's eyes linger on her for a long timeAmanda can feel Fiona’s gaze on her, even though she doesn’t look directly at her. The dim lighting of the bar can’t hide that kind of intensity.It’s the kind of look that burns—not in admiration, but in jealousy.Amanda knows it well.She doesn’t react.She’s learned not to.Attention, whether kind or cruel, has been a constant in her life.Back in school, she was one of those girls people naturally gravitated toward. Friends liked her wit and warmth, and boys—well, they liked her for other reasons.Almost all she felt at that time was kindness, and it seemed that the little bit of unkindness was drowned in the warm atmosphere around her.But what truly steeled her were her parents’ death and the five years she spent as Ri
Amanda moves through her day with quiet focus, the kind that comes from a well-worn routine. After finishing her breakfast, she spends the morning packaging orders for her online shop, carefully wrapping intense and candles in tissue paper before sliding them into sturdy boxes. She puts small thank-you notes in the box for each customer, her handwriting looping neatly across the cards.By noon, her workspace smells faintly of bitter orange and bergamot. She’s used to use different scent every day, which lets her creative juice flow.She tidies up and grabs her sketchpad, settling into the sunny corner of her living room. The hours slip by as she draws, her pencil tracing the contours of imagined landscapes and whimsical florals.Occasionally, she breaks away from her work. Some days, she packs a small bag and heads out on a solo trip. She’s visited nearby towns, strolled through markets, and even spent a quiet weekend hiking in the hills. These short getaways recharge her, filli