Demetrius Anderson was battling the final stages of cancer. To help him focus on his treatment, I started running a small food stall after work every evening.

After saving enough for his first round of treatment, I was eager to surprise him. Instead, I found him dining with a stunning woman at a fancy restaurant.

His close friend laughed, "How much longer can you keep up this act? Don't you think she'll leave you once she catches on?"

With a smug grin, Demetrius shrugged. "She's so naive, it's almost funny. I never expected her to fall for it so easily."

"But there's something to be said for being dumb. She handles the elders well and best of all, she doesn't cramp my style."

Dumb? So everything I cherished was just foolishness in someone else's eyes.

Once it clicked, I quit my job on the spot and devoted myself to teaching in a remote village.

But he wouldn't let go, clutching my hand and asking, "Why? Why are you walking away like this?"

——

Lately, Demetrius frequently lamented my late nights, saying, "How much can you make with that little food stall? Your health is what matters most."

I just laughed at his concern and replied, "Even the smallest mosquitoes have something to offer. You're the one who's sick; you need to focus on your medicine and rest. I'm tough; I can handle it!"

Whenever I said this, he would fall silent for what felt like an eternity, his eyes clouded with deep sadness. "You're not tough, you're just putting on a brave face."

"Can't you take a little better care of yourself? You're just a girl."

"Let me just—"

I panicked at the thought of him finishing that sentence and quickly covered his mouth.

Nestling into his embrace, I soaked up the warmth of his body, greedily savoring every moment.

I convinced myself that if I just pushed myself a little harder and saved every cent, I could draw him back from the shadows of death.

Upon returning from the hospital, I got my food truck rolling, serving up delicious dinners as usual.

Luck was on my side today; I sold out in just three hours.

The only dish left was set aside for a regular customer's late-night craving. Since he worked at a restaurant close by, I decided to drop it off as I made my way there.

Once I dropped off the order, I planned to make a quick stop at the supermarket to hunt for discounted vegetables to whip up a hearty cereal for Demetrius.

Just as I was about to leave, I caught sight of a familiar figure.

Demetrius, who should have been resting in the hospital, was delicately draping a necklace around a girl's neck.

Spread across their table was a dazzling selection of exquisite dishes that felt like a distant fantasy to me.

Blushing, the girl remarked, "This necklace is worth a fortune. Thank you, Demetrius."

She eagerly shared her excitement with her girlfriends, blissfully oblivious to the curious gazes around her.

Demetrius' close friend chuckled and playfully teased him, "How long do you plan to keep this charade going? Aren't you worried your girl will walk away the moment she discovers the truth?"

Demetrius grinned with a hint of arrogance, "I'm just stringing her along, who knew she'd take me so seriously?"

He smirked, saying, "But being a bit dim has its advantages. I can tie the knot with her to satisfy the elders and she won't mind if I seek my pleasures elsewhere."

Dumb? I let out a bitter laugh. I had always been the kind of person who stumbled through life, never quite hitting the mark.

After my parents passed away, my relatives took me in, but only to fill their empty spaces. I drifted from family to family, lingering a few days here and a few days there, never truly belonging anywhere.

Once they laid their hands on the compensation money, my life became irrelevant to them; I could have faded away and they wouldn't have batted an eye. I nearly starved, but the village chief took pity on me, stepped in and secured government assistance for me. It wasn't a fortune, but it was just enough to keep me afloat.

For the first ten years of my life, I drifted aimlessly, like a small weed growing unnoticed in the shadows.

Yet, against all odds, I managed to secure a spot at university, convinced that this would be the turning point of my life. But fate had other plans.

Just before my final exams in the third year, I found myself with a broken leg. With exams looming on the horizon, my world turned upside down.

I struggled to move with my broken leg, but the distance seemed too far. In my frantic rush, I stumbled and fell again.

Despair wrapped around me like a heavy blanket.

After all, the scholarship from these exams was my lifeline for the next semester.

As people hurried past, I felt like a discarded pest in a trash can, invisible and unwanted.

Just when I thought all hope was lost, one person stopped and crouched down in front of me.

"Get on. The exam is about to start," he said, his voice warm and reassuring.

It cut through the chill of my despair like a beacon of light, reminding me that not all was lost.

He said we were alike, both fighting to survive at the bottom of society.

Our lives slowly became intertwined and we grew inseparable.

He joined me at my part-time job and stood by me through life's challenges.

Classmates called us oddballs, but despite our material struggles, our spirits soared high.

After graduation, we moved in together and rented a cozy apartment.

We worked hard, always supporting each other when we got home.

I dreamed of saving up to build a small house, hoping we'd be ready for kids when the time came.

But life had other plans. Demetrius was suddenly diagnosed with cancer and my world shattered.

I poured all my savings into his treatment, but it wasn't nearly enough.

I cried in silence, breaking down more times than I could count, even thinking about ending it all.

But deep down, I feared that if it left first, he would be the one to suffer.

He began his hospital stay. I worked from dawn until dusk, worried he might feel scared alone.

Every morning before work, I cooked him some cereal and spent a little time with him at the hospital.

After work, I brought him dinner and then sold snacks, believing that the more I earned, the better his chances of survival.

Looking back then, it all felt like a cruel joke.

I was nothing more than a clown, entertaining Demetrius and his circle of wealthy friends.

After leaving the upscale restaurant, I rode my snack cart back to the empty rental apartment where I lived alone.

The medical examination results revealing Demetrius's cancer lay scattered across the table.

They looked so real. Like a fish out of water, I stared at them, desperately seeking evidence of their authenticity, trying to convince myself it was all a lie.

But there wasn't any.

The dates, the machines, the attending doctor and even the medications he had taken all felt fake.

So what was real?

I dozed off for a while, only to wake up again at five in the morning.

Usually, I would be in the kitchen preparing cereal for Demetrius.

Instead, I grabbed my phone and ordered the cheapest cereal I could find before heading to the hospital.

As expected, Demetrius lay in his hospital bed, just like before, looking as if he hadn't woken up yet.

I placed the cereal by his bedside and turned to leave, but instead of walking out of the hospital, I circled back to his room.

I watched as Demetrius's friends swaggered in, laughing and joking with him.

"You've really hit the jackpot, man. That girl of yours is more loyal than my maid. Once you're done playing around, why not let me have her? I could use some of that motherly care."

"I'll have a taste of Demetrius's girlfriend's lovingly made meal. You don't mind, right, Demetrius?"

"Demetrius..."

Unfortunately, he didn't get the chance. The cereal spilled before he could take a bite.

Demetrius's expression darkened. "You'd actually eat this? Some idiot made that cereal. Aren't you afraid of becoming an idiot yourself?"

His friends quickly chimed in agreement. "Yeah, yeah."

"Of course."

It felt as if a crack had formed in my heart, spreading in all directions, not too painful, but enough to hurt. Deep enough to wound my soul.

I submitted my resignation letter, sold my snack cart for a mere fraction of its worth and made my way to the education department.

Clutching the teaching certificate I had earned years ago, I signed up to volunteer as a teacher in the remote mountains.

I bought a long-distance bus ticket for the same day.

The bus ride lasted a full day and night. During that time, Demetrius called, his voice laced with panic. "Hera, where are you? Why didn't you come today? Did something happen to you?"

If I hadn't seen what he had done with my own eyes, I might have believed he was genuinely worried about me.

I chuckled softly, my eyes sweeping across the stark, empty landscape, a far cry from the bustling life of the city.

"Demetrius, I was tired," I said, cutting him off before he could respond. "I truly didn't mind facing tough times with you. You were sick and I was the one earning money, that was okay."

"If it meant spending all my savings, I wouldn't have cared. I would've borrowed money if needed. In the worst-case scenario, I'd stick by you until the end. It's just one life."

I could hear his breaths deepen on the other end of the line, each one heavy with unspoken emotions.

With a heavy sigh, I continued, "But why the deception? Demetrius, throwing around millions as if it were confetti; how could I have been so dumb?"

"Where are you? I'll come to you. Are you out selling snacks? Just stay put; don't go anywhere. I'll be there in a flash," he replied.

Paying no mind to his friends' amused glances, Demetrius tossed off his blankets. He hopped out of bed, a wave of panic washing over him before he even noticed.

His friends shouted after him, "Hey, Demetrius, aren't we hitting the town for drinks tonight? That girl of yours is likely to sit this one out."

Demetrius shot them a fierce glare, his voice low and sharp. "Enough already."

Then, realizing he was still on the line, he stumbled over his words. "No, no, I wasn't talking about you."

He added, "Hera, we need to talk. I promise I'll lay it all out for you, I swear."

Through the bus window, I observed the sun's gentle rise, illuminating the world as it dispelled the darkness. I inhaled deeply, a smile blossoming in response to the day's promise.

"The journey ends here, Demetrius," I answered, my tone firm.

I ended the call and blocked his number, feeling as if I had been reborn, finally freeing myself from the weight of the past.

Life in the mountains proved to be a tougher challenge than I had ever envisioned.

We settled into the staff dormitories, eager to start my first day of teaching. But instead of a warm welcome, I found myself confronted by a stranger.

"Hey there, city girl, got a boyfriend? How about taking on the title of my kid's stepmother?" the stranger inquired playfully.

Surrounding us, small groups of villagers stood by, their laughter ringing out like a chorus when they heard him.

Instead of disapproving, they joined in and the raucous sound twisted my stomach in knots.

The other teachers who had joined me took a cautious step back, their unease evident, as if they were reluctant to wade into the unfolding drama.

Seeing that no one was stepping in, the man's confidence swelled and he grew bolder.

"You wouldn't believe the number of women vying for my hand."

"Stick with me and you'll find life here is nothing but a rough patch."

His rough hand stretched out toward me and the spectators, anticipating the moment, tightened their circle, leaving me no avenue for escape.

With no escape in sight, I steeled myself for the worst, but just then, a strong hand clutched mine, pulling me free from the tightening circle.

"Hera, that's enough."

The moment he spoke, the group seemed to melt away, retreating under his command. He held onto my hand, leading me toward the school building as if we were stepping into a new world. "You're a fool. When something feels off, it's time to hit the road."

He added, "In the mountains, things aren't as they are in the city. The law sometimes fades into the background. If you plan to settle here, the first thing to grasp is this: trust no one but yourself."

I gave a stiff nod, sensing he found my 'near-death' expression hilarious as he chuckled. "You're just the same, so effortlessly fooled." He went on, "What I said earlier might have sounded too perfect. There's one exception: you can trust me."

I was momentarily taken aback but nodded awkwardly in response.