Emmett’s heart skipped a beat at the weight of her question. He forced a smile, the lie slipping off his tongue. “I’ll definitely come back. Wait for me, okay?”
Without another word, he rushed out of the room, his hurried steps echoing in the silence.
Athena sat on the edge of the bed, the minutes dragging on like hours. She waited from midnight until 3 a.m. with the same emptiness swelling in her chest.
But Emmett didn’t come home.
As the night wore on, Athena’s phone buzzed with more photos from Aliana, pictures that felt like daggers, flaunting her victory.
Unshaken, Athena stood, her movements steady as she collected every memento Emmett had ever given her: letters, jewelry, property deeds, car titles, and even her own identification documents. She carried them to the balcony, each piece heavy with memories she was ready to burn.
Staring at the pile, Athena’s lips trembled ever so slightly, her eyes clouded with confusion and helpless sorrow.
Her mind drifted back to that summer five years ago, to the moment Emmett confessed his love to her, making her a promise that now felt like a cruel joke.
“Born in early summer, die in early summer.”