Chapter 3

And now, he was using a crystal sculpture to remind me.

You can finally go to California.

He had no idea that sculpture wasn't a gift. It was a blade.

I didn't respond. I just kept packing.

The trash bin overflowed with discarded things.

Our wedding photos. Samples of our wedding invitations. Pictures from our honeymoon in Hawaii.

"You're throwing these away?"

He looked confused.

I used to treasure them.

My voice came out flat as I kept packing.

"Too much stuff. Have to let some things go. Can't keep everything."

His brow creased. He caught the edge in my words.

But he didn't move. Didn't pull anything back out of the bin.

I pointed to a storage box in the corner. It held things that belonged to him and Lilith.

Old photos of them. A scarf she gave him. Letters she wrote him.

"What about those? Should they go?"

He panicked instantly. He rushed over and clutched the box to his chest.

"These stay!"

Realizing his reaction was too sharp, he forced an awkward laugh.

"These are Lilith's things. I'll take them to her when I go."

After he said it, he watched me. Waiting for my reaction.

Like he expected me to ask, "Go where?"

I didn't ask. Just said, "Okay."

A long pause. Unease flickered across his face. He tested the water.

"Audrey, did you follow up on our onboarding applications?"

"Yes."

"And... your personal documents? All submitted?"

"Submitted."

He exhaled. A small smile.

"Good."

I still didn't react.

I just threw more things into the bin.

We started handling the Massachusetts property.

And Sebastian started posting photos of apartments in Palo Alto on Instagram.

Friends commented. "Already picked a place? We'll come visit you two in California sometime."

I didn't like. Didn't comment.

We'd lived in this apartment for ten years. Every corner held memories.

On the living room wall hung a huge map of the United States. We'd put it up right after moving in.

Back then, he wrapped his arm around me and said, "Once we join Avalon, we'll explore all these places."

He'd marked locations with red pushpins.

"Kendall Square. Longwood Medical Area. Brigham and Women's Hospital... This is our turf. We'll walk every street here someday."

The map was still there. The red pins were still there.

The person who said those words had forgotten.

"Audrey, what do you think of this apartment? It's in the Palo Alto hills. You can see the Pacific from the balcony."

He studied my face.

I gave a soft "Mm."

"Boston's should be fine too."

He froze. Confusion flickered in his eyes.

"Audrey, you don't like California?"

"I do."

His expression relaxed.

"Go for a vacation there. Get some sun. Should be nice."

He froze again.

Before he could speak, his phone rang.

Lilith's video call.

"Sebastian, my foot hurts so much. I can't move..."

She cried softly. Tears streaked her face. The picture of delicate distress.

"What happened?"

Sebastian shot to his feet. His voice tightened.

"I missed a step going downstairs. Fell..."

"I'm all alone. I'm so scared. No one to take me to the hospital..."

Lilith's tears fell harder.

"Don't move. Don't move at all. I'm booking a flight right now."

Sebastian was frantic. He looked at me.