Summer Love’s Return Journey
Chapter 1
That summer when I was nineteen, I threw
everything away and ran off with Jake.
Young Jake, with tears in his eyes, promised
me he’d never let me down.
Then, last winter, at twenty–six, I got
diagnosed with cancer.
And Jake? He was busy celebrating his
childhood sweetheart’s birthday.
:
I walked out of the hospital, the first snow of
winter falling all around me.
く
Clutched in my hand was the paper, the one
that said “stomach cancer.” I pulled out my
phone, wanting to call Jake.
Our last text exchange? It was over a week
ago.
Ever since his childhood friend, Summer,
came back from overseas, we’d been fighting.
We were basically in a cold war.
He barely came home anymore.
Staring at my empty contacts list, I realized I
didn’t have anyone else to talk to.
Remembering the doctor saying I only had
months to live…
く
After a long hesitation, I dialed Jake’s
number.
It rang and rang, but no surprise, no answer.
The wind, thick with snowflakes, whipped at
my face. I was freezing, so I pulled out my
scarf and wrapped it around my neck.
Maybe it was just in my head, but since
getting sick, I was always cold.
The scarf was a simple white one, with a cute
little teddy bear knitted onto the end.
Jake had made it for me, my one–of–a–kind
eighteenth birthday present.
That year, all the girls in our class were
I was all thumbs, couldn’t get it right, kept
stabbing myself with the needles.
Jake got so worried, he refused to let me
keep trying.
Then, on my birthday, he gave me the scarf
he’d made himself, wrapping it around my
neck.
Feeling that familiar warmth against my skin, I
suddenly needed to see Jake.
His office wasn’t far from the private hospital
where I’d had my tests.
It was mid–afternoon when I got there, but
the office was eerily quiet. The receptionist
was nowhere to be found.
Г
I rode the elevator to the top floor, to the
CEO’s office.
The normally sleek, industrial–chic space was
covered in pink balloons and rose petals.
Fairy lights twinkled everywhere.
Employees were gathered in a circle,
cheering. In the center stood Jake, smiling,
and Summer.
Summer was wearing a frilly pink dress and a
birthday cake hat, looking super cute.
They looked perfect together, like a prince
and princess.
Summer looked up and saw me, then gave
Jake a surprised look.
I walked in, like a gatecrasher ruining the
party.
“Happy birthday, Summer.”
Then I turned to Jake. “Summer’s birthday?
You didn’t say a word. I totally spaced on
getting her a gift.”
Before Jake could answer, Summer chirped
- up.
