A Stab to the Heart novel

---- Chapter 10 "To be honest , I wasn't even sure if you'd show up today. I made a bet with Harvey that you would-and you really came," Gideon said. I chuckled and replied, "You're still the same- bullying me like always. Do you know why I came today?" Gideon looked at me expectantly , unwilling to miss out anything from my expression. Under his expectant gaze, I replied, "Because I'm kind." A new internet meme made us laugh.

But it wasn't enough to wash away the love and hatred that had built up between us over the past three years. Gideon asked, ''You must've despised me, right?" "T couldn't bring myself not to. You should know. We shared eight years together after all," I replied. Gideon's forehead was covered in beads of sweat. He looked so deathly pale that I almost couldn't recognize him as the person in my memories. Mrs. Miller was right -he was ill.

But that didn't mean I had to forgive him just because of that. Gideon closed his eyes and swallowed slightly as if ---- trying to digest my hatred. He opened his eyes after some time, pulled me into his arms, and leaned against my head. With the gentlest voice, he said the cruelest things. " You must have found out that I'm gravely ill. 1 don't have much longer left, but I'm selfish enough to want you to remember me forever.

"T know there will be someone better for you in the future , but I just can't accept it. Why can't it be me? The thought of you completely forgetting me one day breaks my heart." Gideon continued , "So I thought about it for a long time, flipping through our photos over and over again, until I came up with this idea. From now on, you'll think about me whenever you see roses and fireworks , even when you're standing on a bridge or under the blooming cherry blossoms in spring.

"T'm just a selfish person-so much so that even if I can't stay by your side forever, I still want you to remember me. But so what? It's better than being forgotten for good." I glanced at the time. It just hit midnight, signalling the start of a new day. I pulled away from his arms, yet he stubbornly refused to let go of my hand. I pried his fingers off and sighed deeply. "It's time, Gideon. Let's just end things here." ---- Gideon's eyes were red and swollen.

His voice was almost inaudible when he asked, "Is there really no future for us?" I tilted my head up, keeping my tears at bay before slowly replying , "Let's just end it here, Gideon. It'll only hurt us both if we keep dragging this on. Right now, all I want to do is to watch Juno grow up." Gideon was a persistent person, but even he knew that there was truly no future for us. Just like the fireworks -no matter how beautiful, they'd eventually fade away.

Even though I once loved him dearly , some things , once they happened, could never be undone. Later on, I moved to a small city in the south with Juno. Gideon also went abroad for treatment. A developer came to the city when Juno was in third grade. In just a few months, the green belts along the roads were blooming with roses. Agrand fireworks display would suddenly light up the sky on one of the nights every mid-spring. The media often captured Gideon's presence in the city.

But every time, he only stood on a bridge at the highest vantage point, staring in one direction. I knew that during the middle of every spring, ---- someone would be standing on the bridge on the opposite side. He would watch my house for several days. But he and I were destined to only find peace in our lives through a farewell.