Chapter 3 No Longer the Man I Know

Henry didn't even notice I was gone. He finished washing up and went straight to bed without so much as a phone call or a message asking where I had been.

'I guess it's true. Once you have seen how much someone loves you, it's painfully obvious when they stop. You can sense it in a heartbeat,' I thought.

Back then, if I didn't respond to his messages right away because I was swamped at work, he would blow up my phone with call after call. If I didn't answer, he would even drop everything to come to my office just to make sure I was safe.

…

"Isabella, no matter how busy you are, remember to text back."

"I just need to know you're okay. You don't think I'm being annoying, right?"

"Next time, just send me a smiley face so I know you're safe. That's all I need."

…

But now? He couldn't even be bothered to send a message.

The way we met was strange, too. It was because of my mother, a woman who had endured decades of domestic abuse before finally jumping off a high building, leaving nothing behind but scattered remains. Henry was the mortician tasked with preparing her body.

I watched him, hands gloved, carefully piecing her body back together. The deference and sadness in his eyes struck me.

At that moment, I thought to myself, 'Well, at least the money is well spent. Consider it a final repayment of the debt I owe her for giving birth to me.'

"There are tissues over there. Clean ones for you to wipe your tears," he said softly. "She wouldn't want you to cry."

I thought my heart had turned to stone long ago, but the tears kept falling until his quiet words snapped me back to reality. Embarrassed, I quickly wiped my face and sneaked a glance at him.

He was handsome, striking even, with sharp, refined features. I couldn't understand why someone like him would choose this line of work.

"Why did you become a mortician?" I was usually so reserved, but I couldn't help asking.

He answered, "Because of my dad. He died in an accident, and no one could restore his face. My mom was devastated that he left this world in pieces. That's when I swore I'd become the best mortician I could, to make sure every person I prepare leaves this world whole."

I thought I wouldn't get an answer, but unexpectedly, he opened up. He even shared some touching stories about his parents and how much they loved each other.

Alas, the same Henry, who was so warm and possessed such professional ethics, broke all his own rules for Sophie.