Chapter 15
No matter what Xavier tried, he couldn’t find a single trace of Loretta. It was as if she’d vanished from the face of the earth, leaving not so much as a shadow behind.
A month passed. Then six. Then three long years.}
But Xavier never stopped looking for her. Not once.
Over time, Loretta became just like Fidelia–a fixation he simply couldn’t let go. She was a ghost haunting the corners of his mind.
He still lived in the same apartment. Every morning, he’d wake up in that all–too–familiar room, now stripped of everything that made it home. He’d sit there, staring into space for minutes that felt like hours, lost in memories.}
All physical traces of her were gone. The only thing left to remind him of what they once had were a handful of photos on his phone–pathetically few, just seven in all, despite three years together.
He’d scroll through them again and again, as if repetition could fill the emptiness.}
And as the ache of missing her grew, so did Xavier’s age. His family started to pressure him to settle down, setting him up on blind dates, introducing him to every eligible woman they could find.}
But he refused to meet any of them.”
Everyone assumed he was still heartbroken over Fidelia, that he’d given up on love altogether. But only Xavier knew the truth. After finally confronting Fidelia and laying everything bare, he’d let her go for good.
Can you really let go of a ten–year obsession in a single moment?}
Xavier thought, perhaps you can.”
After all, there’d been a seven–year stretch when he and Fidelia were apart–over 2,500 days and nights, far more than the time they actually spent together. The passion once burning bright between them had been dulled by years of disappointment and longing. Eventually, what was left wasn’t love, but habit.
And when that habit was finally broken, he realized he could have walked away long ago.”
But Fidelia never understood. She kept clinging to him, refusing to let go.
Their messy back–and–forth carried on, right up to Xavier’s twenty–seventh birthday.
Just like every other year, he went home for dinner with his family, only to be bombarded with questions about marriage.
Genevieve, his sister, hadn’t come home. When he asked, he was told she was “busy.” Whether that was true or not, he couldn’t say. But ever since Loretta left, things between him and Genevieve had been distant.
He drank more than usual that night, trying to drown out his frustration.
When he finally headed home, Genevieve happened to walk in the door. Xavier called out to her.
“I’ve had a bit to drink. Can you drive me home?“}
Genevieve shot him an annoyed look, clearly ready to refuse, but one sharp glance from their parents had her grabbing the car keys.N She sat behind the wheel, silent and stone–faced the entire ride.}
The heavy mood settled between them. After a long pause, Xavier finally broke the silence.
“Are you planning to keep avoiding me forever?“@
“Avoiding you? Please. We just have nothing in common. Isn’t it better to keep our distance?”
She wasn’t about to let him off easy. Her tone was sharp, unyielding.})
Xavier rubbed his forehead in frustration, trying to keep his patience.M
“What happened before–that was my fault. I’m sorry for what I did to Loretta. Can’t you let it go? Mom and Dad are watching. Do you think they’re happy seeing us like this?”
Genevieve rolled her eyes. “Oh, now you care about Mom and Dad’s feelings? Where was that concern when you were losing your mind over Fidelia, acting like nothing else mattered? Spare me the big brother routine. I told you a long time ago–I don’t consider you my brother.“%
With that, she vented all her pent–up anger, then tapped her phone and started blasting heavy metal music through the car. She clearly had no interest in continuing the conversation.
In the cramped car, the only thing left was the relentless, pounding music. K
Xavier had lost his chance to speak, He rolled down the window, watching the neon lights flicker past in silence
1999
Chapter 15
Time slipped by. The playlist ended, then started over from the beginning.
This time, the opening notes were from a sweet, sentimental ballad–a cheerful piano melody drifting through the car.
Xavier felt his heavy mood begin to lift. He leaned back, about to close his eyes for a moment’s rest.
And then a gentle voice filled the car, quietly singing along to the music.\
He opened his eyes, glancing at the screen out of habit.
Genevieve, quick as lightning, skipped to the next song. Even though he didn’t catch the artist’s name, her reaction told him everything he needed to know.
That voice–it was Loretta.}
He whipped around to look at Genevieve, catching the flash of panic on her face before she forced herself to calm down and change the subject.}
“We’re here. Get out.”
16.09
