“Honey, something urgent came up. I need to step out for a bit.”
I nodded, and he leaned down to plant a tender kiss on my forehead.
“What’s this?” he asked, noticing the gift box on the table.
I smiled faintly. “You gave me such an expensive gift. This is my return gift to you.”
"I'll open it later. See you at the hotel tonight," Leon said hurriedly before rushing out the door.
What he didn’t know was that tonight marked the end for us.
I called for a courier, instructing them to deliver the gift box to Leon at the hotel later that evening.
Then I began clearing out everything in the house that belonged to me—or that I had once given to him. Piece by piece, I discarded it all. There was nothing here worth taking.
Even my wedding ring found its way into the gift box for Leon.
I hoped he would enjoy the present.
As I walked out of the house, I hailed a cab to the address my mom had sent me.
Because of the confidentiality of my research project, I had been erased from public records. Returning home had required special arrangements.
Years ago, I left the work I was passionate about to stay with Leon. Now, it was time to return to where I truly belonged.