Locked in Autumn’s Memories

I was sent to prison by my wife for two years. After being released, I changed my name and left the country.

Seven years later, we met again in front of my sister’s grave.

When our eyes met, she stopped wiping the tombstone. In her eyes flashed a mix of emotions—shock, joy, guilt… all hard to describe.

“Dorian, I’ve been looking for you for so many years. I thought you… were gone too. Where have you been all these years? Why didn’t you contact me even once?”

Seeing that I didn’t respond, she quickly wiped the corner of her eyes.

“You’re avoiding me on purpose, aren’t you? You still hate what happened back then. I had my own difficulties.”

I didn’t know how she still had the face to say those things in front of my sister’s grave after killing her, stealing her husband and pushing me to the point where I almost couldn’t survive.

But love and hate were both luxuries. To me, she had already nothing.

——

Meeting again after so many years, my heart no longer stirred.

Vivienne turned around and left.

I bent down and gently placed the pure white chrysanthemum in my arms onto my sister’s tombstone.

In the photo, my sister’s smile was warm, her eyes clear, forever frozen at twenty-five.

If she were still alive, she’d definitely be at the airport picking me up today, just like when we were young, messing up my hair with a laugh.

“Little one, why are you frowning?”

No… If she were still alive, she would never have allowed me to be bullied to the point that I had to flee far away.

I crouched down and gently traced my fingers over my sister’s eyebrows and eyes on the tombstone.

“Selene, I have some good news to tell you…”

Before I could finish, Vivienne came back, holding a heavy bag and placing it in front of me.

“I once promised you that I’d make you a gift by hand every year on your birthday. I couldn’t find you these past years, so I saved them all up.”

A razor, the newest game console, an expensive watch… I could tell she really put effort into it.

But I felt nothing.

Her hand froze in mid-air and a hint of embarrassment and disappointment appeared on her face.

“You don’t like them? I can ask someone to prepare new ones. How about we have lunch together?”

“No, I still have something to do.”

She was about to continue pestering me, but her phone rang.

“Vivienne, when are you coming back? Today is our seventh wedding anniversary. I’ve already booked the restaurant…”

My fingers paused as I brushed away a yellow leaf that had fallen with the wind.

‘Selene, this is the person you risked your life to protect back then. You were wrong. And I trusted the wrong person too.’

My throat suddenly felt itchy and I couldn’t help coughing twice.

“Vivienne, where are you? Why is there a man’s voice next to you?”

Vivienne hung up without saying a word. She took a mask from her coat pocket and handed it to me.

“You’re allergic to cold air. Every autumn you start coughing. Remember to wear a mask.”

I turned my head away and avoided her hand.

“It’s already cured.”

After saying goodbye to my sister, I turned and walked out.

Vivienne quickly followed after me.

I didn’t understand—seven years ago, she warned me never to appear in front of her again. Why was she now clinging to me like glue?

At the cemetery gate, a row of shared bicycles was parked.

I scanned the QR code to unlock one.

Just as I was about to pedal away, Vivienne drove her Mercedes up beside me and stopped steadily.

“Dorian, all these years… have you still been alone?”

In the autumn sunlight, there was a careful, hopeful look in her eyes.

I nodded, giving no further explanation.

This time, I came back because I wanted to tell my sister in person—I was getting married.

I was selfish enough to want to share this kind of happiness… only with her.

“Dorian, don’t force yourself when you’re alone out there. If you have any difficulties, remember you can come to me.”