Having made up my mind, I grabbed the luggage that I had packed yesterday and fled.
As the car approached the airport, I looked out at the passing trees, trying not to think of anything.
Five years later, in a small restaurant, a child at my nearby table was crying loudly, drawing frequent glances from the surrounding patrons, while the mother seemed oblivious, engrossed in her phone.
Given the recent issues with my comic being plagiarized, I was already irritable but didn't dare say anything.
Suddenly, I heard a childish shout next to me that drowned out the crying. "Hey, stop crying!
"Ma'am, can you stop him?
"If you can't, just spank him!"
Startled, I quickly covered my daughter Rebecca's mouth. Her outburst made the nearby diners laugh.
The mother shot me a glare and left with her child.
I finally breathed a sigh of relief and said patiently, "Rebecca, eat your food."
But it wasn't long before I heard her strong voice again. "Sir, why are you smoking?"
"Sir, don't you have any manners?"
My heart raced, and I turned to see a burly man glaring at me with an unfriendly expression.
I quickly forced a smile, grabbed Rebecca, and hurried out, regardless of whether she had finished eating.