6
John stormed out of his parents‘ house.
He drove straight to Sarah’s workplace.
The first time he’d gone to visit her at work in
<
He was surprised to find that Sarah worked at
the top–secret research institute in the country.
The same one that Emily wanted to get into
when she came back to the country.
Two rows of armed soldiers stood guard
outside the building.
Solemn and silent.
He asked to see Sarah.
The guard said there was no one by that name.
John insisted, but the answer was always the
same: No one named Sarah Miller worked there.
He called her phone.
A recorded message: This number has been
disconnected.
A terrible feeling washed over him.
He might never see Sarah again.
He tried to see the director.
The guards stopped him.
There was a commotion, and John got roughed
- up. He had to call his boss.
“Find Sarah! I’ll take those projects you
mentioned! All of them! Anything you want, I’ll
do it!”
く
John had a strong background.
He was a rare talent in engineering. He always
got international awards for his work.
But he was too stubborn, and didn’t follow his
boss’s arrangements.
He never did overtime and made sure to go
home to take care of his wife and children.
Now, John needed his boss‘ help.
Immediately, the boss used his connections and
made his way to the research institute.
But the results were the same: No Sarah Miller!
“How is that possible? She’s a real person!”
John couldn’t believe it.
The boss explained, “The research institute is a
place for training people for secret research.
Your wife has disappeared without a trace. That
should tell you everything. It’s beyond us.”
John froze.
His boss added, “You’re always rushing home
to be with your wife and kids. Did she ever tell
you what she was working on?”
John didn’t answer, feeling empty.
His boss tried to comfort him, “It must be top
<
secret, that’s why she couldn’t tell you. Don’t be
sad.”
John wasn’t comforted.
He went home.
Emily was playing with Lily in the playground.
John lay on the bed in the master bedroom, the
house quiet, his heart empty.
He didn’t understand how things had gotten this
way.
He had kept Emily around out of pity.
But it was with Sarah’s agreement.
But it later evolved into constant quarrels,
leaving both of them exhausted.
When had they stopped fighting?
John thought back… It seemed to be when
Emily had gotten gastritis.
He and Emily had a long time friendship and he
couldn’t ignore her.
But Sarah had misunderstood.
She rarely came home after that.
She’d only return to see their daughter, never
saying more than a few words to him.
He felt angry.
L
<
And unbalanced.
She had “pursued” him relentlessly.
Drew his attention, pulled him in.
How could she be so cold after only a few
years of marriage? Treat him like a stranger.
She could smile at Emily, but she couldn’t even
look at him, her husband.
He was getting promoted, trying to take care of
the family, researching recipes, waiting for her
to come home… But the woman had a hard
heart, never thinking about him.
The food was cold, then hot, then cold again.
The other side of the bed was empty.
She had finally decided to leave him.
John clenched his fist, filled with resentment.
He saw the divorce papers on the bedside
table.
Her signature was there.
Sarah’s handwriting, elegant, hard to fake.
His fingers traced her name, feeling like he was
being stabbed with a thousand needles.
