2
I walked into the house and heard laughter
bubbling from the kitchen.
Emily was prepping veggies, John was slicing
meat.
They were bantering, tossing around
Shakespeare quotes.
Then Emily sighed, looking up at my handsome
husband with those big, innocent eyes.
“I’ve been here four years, John. How much
longer are you going to pretend I’m just the
tutor?”
John’s knife froze. He didn’t answer.
Emily’s eyes started to water. “Sarah isn’t…
You two just got together. It wasn’t some great
love story. She already had a house and a car.
She’s not some desperate housewife you
rescued.”
John frowned. “Emily, stop.”
She wouldn’t. “But I am. I could run this
household, cater to your every whim, debate
philosophy until dawn. I’m your soulmate. The
only one who truly gets you…”
John’s face darkened. “Emily, don’t do this…”
Emily put down her knife, wrapped her arms
around him from behind.
“I gave up MIT for you! I swallowed my pride,
hid myself away in this house, became your
nanny, your daughter’s tutor. Four years under
the same roof, John! How can you not feel it?
We messed up once before, but that love… the
passion… it doesn’t just disappear.”
John wouldn’t forget.
That’s why he still whispered Emily’s name in
his sleep.
I lowered my gaze.
My heart, which I thought had turned to stone,
still felt a faint twinge.
<
After all, John was the man I had chased for
years.
Emily thought John and I had just gotten
married for the sake of it, but in reality, it was
my deliberate plan.
He minored in psychology, and I followed him to
sign up.
He liked a quiet library, so I stayed in the library
for four years.
But probably only my deceased teacher knew
that I was not a quiet person in my bones.
He likes spicy food. Every time I order food, I
choose the same food as him.
Even though my face was red and my nose was
running, I wanted to experience his life and
integrate into his life.
I studied John for ten years.
From freshman year to graduation.
He finally saw “me” who had extremely
consistent interests and hobbies with him!
So when facing his elderly grandmother’s urging
for marriage, he took the initiative to find me
and wanted to form a family with me.
く
He said: “Our living habits are similar, and our
personalities and hobbies are slightly the same.
If you are willing, I would like to marry you and
build a family together.”
I dare not respond too quickly.
I didn’t dare to be too reserved either.
I knew too well what kind of girl he liked,
intellectual, calm and intelligent.
The anxious wait of one night almost drove me
crazy.
I sent him those three words.
“I do!”
But no matter how much I disguised myself, I
couldn’t resist the passionate, soft and delicate
white moonlight after all.
Emily came to this house three months after I
gave birth.
At first, I didn’t know she was John’s first love.
I simply felt that such a warm and lovely girl
would not make John take a second look.
But.
I still miscalculated.
John’s love can be unconditional and unlimited.
He loves Emily.
No matter what Emily is like, he loves her.
In the diary Emily left in my daughter’s room, all
the blood and madness of the two people in
high school were recorded.
John, such a gentle person, would actually fight,
drink, and smoke for Emily.
Compared to my mediocre high school.
His and her youth, so wonderful and dazzling.
The brilliance stung my eyes… I cried night after
night, feeling like a clown.
In the kitchen, the water was boiling.
The kettle let out a piercing alarm.
Emily’s tears dripped onto John’s back, soaking
through his thin shirt and into his heart.
He grabbed her hand, his eyes tender.
Full of pity.
“Mom, you’re home?”
My daughter’s voice snapped them back to
reality.
Emily jumped back, wiping her face.
John turned around, his attention back on the
cutting board.
く
“Ms. Miller, I… I just…”
“It’s okay.”
I interrupted Emily before she could stammer an
excuse.
She stared, her eyes sparkling with disbelief.
I said calmly, “I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you I’d
be home.”
She mumbled, “N–no problem.”
John stood stiffly by the counter.
Even from behind, I could tell he was pissed.
I’d interrupted their moment.
But just a little longer.
You’ll be free soon, John.
