Boxes packed the emptied living room. Movers trudged in and out with heavy steps. Ethan stood in a corner, watching them shift the huge sofa where Emma loved to jump. Eyes hollow, soul-sucked. Emma clutched her teddy bear by my legs, whispering: "Mommy, is Daddy moving too?" I knelt, embracing her. "Daddy lives somewhere else. Emma stays with Mommy in the new place, okay?" She nodded vaguely, hugging the bear tighter.
Movers lifted the last box. Ethan approached, crouching before Emma. He reached to touch her hair but froze mid-air, hand dropping. "Emma..." his voice cracked, eyes red-rimmed. "Daddy... loves you. Will... visit often." Emma buried her face in the bear's fur, silent. He rose, meeting my gaze—pain, regret, plea churning into ashes. "Keys... on the table," he rasped. "Yes," I nodded. His eyes swept our former home, lingering on the wedding photo—us smiling, entwined, defying storms. He spun abruptly, stumbling after the movers. The door clicked shut softly.
The Empty Office
I visited NestIQ one last time to clear Ethan's things. The receptionist spotted me, eyes darting away. "Lily," she mumbled before busying herself. Ethan's office door gaped open, half-empty. File cabinets cleared. Only a wilting potted spider plant remained on the desk—one I'd brought from home to brighten it.
Sophia's office door stayed shut, shadows shifting behind frosted glass. I silently gathered drawer remnants: an old pen, a metal bookmark engraved with our initials... Fingertips numb. Closed the drawer. Turned to leave. Passing the break room, hushed whispers leaked out. "...Really divorced? So sudden?" "Tsk... heard it was Sophia..." "Shh! Quiet! Everyone knows now..." "Poor Lily..." I quickened my pace. Heels clicked hollowly on tile. Open workstations flanked the hall, myriad gazes pricking my back. The elevator mirror showed my stiff, pale reflection.
NEXT >>
Related Articles
Technological innovation and policy dividends: the golden age of the chip semico
Recently, the A-share market has seen an undeniable strong forceâthe chip semiconductor sector. This sector has not on...
The three secrets of stock market investment!
In the vast ocean of stock market investment, countless investors are trying to find the golden key that can unlock the ...
The US stock market has come to an end!
This year has seen a strong performance in U.S. technology stocks, with the six major tech stocks (Microsoft, Apple, Nvi...
The current A-share market has given ordinary people a good opportunity to chang
Recently, there has been a rumor circulating online: Nowadays, young people do not trade stocks, and those who trade sto...
The A-share market will inevitably lead the world in the future!
The State Council's executive meeting on June 7 emphasized that the development of the real estate industry is related t...
How to make a lot of money in life and the stock market?
Today is Children's Day, and my wife and I went grocery shopping at the supermarket at noon. There happened to be an eve...
The combination of AI and mobile phones: innovation led by Apple or market specu
On Tuesday, Apple Inc.'s stock soared by 7%, breaking through to a new historical high in share price. The reason was th...
How should investors systematically learn about stocks? Hand by hand to teach yo
1. Stock trading is a matter of seconds and minutes, so understanding the trading hours of the stock exchange is also ve...
A-shares: suspension is not just a suspension, it may also be permanent!
Today, the A-share market opened higher, which is clearly due to the positive stimulus of the news about the suspension ...
Can the A-share retail department store sector be bought now?
There was once a sector in the A-share market that was extremely impressive; it occupied the most prosperous and prime l...
Why are most people destined to be stock market losers?
The price of a good house in Beijing might be over 10 million yuan, while in our fourth-tier city, a good house only cos...
Why do we always let go of big bull stocks?
At the age of 26, I started trading stocks. From the age of 42 to 50, there was hardly any significant progress in my in...
Evergrande Automobile's good news stimulates a surge of 86%! Can it be bought?
The golden era of real estate has come to an end and will not return. It is unlikely that the real estate market will re...
How to easily judge whether a person is a stock master?
Yesterday, in the article I wrote, I pointed out that the European Union's imposition of additional tariffs on our count...
The domestic economy is in full swing, and foreign giants are "sweeping" A-share
In this era of transformation and rapid economic development, China's A-share market is becoming the new favorite of glo...
How to participate in concept stocks?
People who often watch the stock market in the A-share market will notice a phenomenon: stocks with poor performance in ...
Which is more important, the main force of stock trading or the fundamentals?
A friend asked: "Is it better to buy funds now or convertible bonds?"To analyze this question, at least three perspectiv...
Accurate prediction of the daily limit! How to do it exactly?
Recently, from Nanjing Chemical Fiber to Zhongtong Bus, and then to Jiaxin Silk and Baichuan Shares, the market trends o...
Once you understand the Tao, you will benefit for life. Without a complete buyin
Once you achieve enlightenment, you benefit for life. However, without going through trials and tribulations, how can on...
A-share moment is full of gold, but many people are afraid!
Many disputes between people are due to animalistic instincts. For example, a woman, driven by animal instinct, may say ...
How to avoid wrong cognition in life and investment?
With the development of the economy, people are increasingly fond of outdoor camping life. Decades ago, I often went cam...
