9
Nora threw away my jade pendant this morning, so it probably hasn’t been processed yet.
Declan drove me to the landfill, speeding all the way.
He rummaged through the trash with me, not caring about dirt or smell, getting mud all over his hands.
From nightfall until dawn, I found nothing.
When the sun rose, I suddenly felt utterly helpless.
The golden light pierced my eyes. I bit my lip to hold back tears, forcing myself not to cry.
An elderly couple at the landfill took pity on me and helped me search.
Finally, when I was about to give up hope, the grandma called out, “Dear, come see if this is it?”
I stood up abruptly, the world spinning, but I didn’t care. I ran over, pulling on my shoes from the trash pile.
Grandma held a sandalwood box, inside were scattered pieces of jade.
It was my jade pendant, but it was truly broken.
I should be happy, I suppose. At least I found it.
I tried to smile, but as soon as my mouth moved, tears fell in large drops.
Mom, you said as long as the jade pendant is here, you are too, right?
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But now it’s broken. Will you still be here?
Please don’t leave me. Don’t abandon me.
Declan pulled me close, attempting to comfort me, “Don’t worry, I’ll find someone to fix it.”
I shook my head, telling him it was fine, unnecessary.
A moment later, Declan’s voice hardened, almost gritting his teeth, “Nora, every time you say it’s fine, I swear I want to shake some sense into you. Can you rely on me just once? Is that too much to ask?”
I watched him quietly. His phone rang–Nora was calling.
He hesitated briefly before answering.
On the other end, Nora was sobbing, “Declan, I wanted to come and apologize to Nora properly, but I got lost, and now some guy is following me. I’m terrified…”
Declan rushed off, leaving me behind.
Just then, I received a message from the hospital, reminding me of my scheduled abortion later that day.
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On Nora’s birthday, I lost both my mother and a child I never got to meet.
