Love is Like Dust Drifting Away

After my mom suffered a sudden heart attack, Kendrick Alcott finally agreed to come with me to visit her.

But on the way, he got a call and left me stranded on the highway.

"I have an urgent matter to attend to. You'll have to visit your mom by yourself this time."

As the rain poured down, I looked around for help, but there wasn't a single car in sight.

I ran through the storm for two hours. When I finally reached the hospital, all I saw was my mother's body covered with a white sheet.

Just as I broke down in the morgue, sobbing uncontrollably, Kendrick's call came in.

"Kendrick, where are you?" I asked, still crying.

However, instead of the concern I expected, I heard a woman's flirtatious voice in the background.

"Kendrick, we're almost at the room. Don't be in such a hurry."

Then the line went dead. Suddenly, it all became clear.

I realized that at the moment I needed Kendrick most, he was busy with someone else.

"So this is your urgent matter?" I thought bitterly.

It wasn't until my mom's body was cremated that Kendrick finally replied with a message.

[Can you stop being so unreasonable? She really needs me right now!]

——

From the time I was in middle school, I'd been infatuated with Kendrick.

He had it all: stellar grades, a gentle personality, and striking good looks. He was practically perfect. I had secretly loved him for six years and only mustered the courage to confess when I got accepted into the university where he studied.

After ninety-nine attempts, it seemed my persistence moved him, and we finally got together.

I cherished our relationship deeply. Kendrick was outstanding and always busy during college, so I never dared disturb him.

Whether I fell off my bike or was sick alone in the dorm, I kept my problems to myself. Even with a fever, I would stay up late, helping him with his presentations. I feared being too dependent on him, afraid to be a burden, so I tried to handle everything alone.

This was how things continued until today.

I suddenly realized my self-reliance became his excuse for neglecting me and abandoning me to be with another woman.

Upon seeing his reply, my heart sank.

At that moment, I felt my heart shatter into pieces.

After blocking him, I began searching for a suitable cemetery in the city.

Finally, I found a fitting place.

My mom used to joke. "Ally, when I'm gone, bury me somewhere high up so even when I'm lying down, I can still watch over you."

I'd always roll my eyes at her, but she would just smile and look at me quietly.

Looking back now, I felt that maybe my mom had already foreseen this day, yet back then, I was only concerned with being with Kendrick.

My tears fell onto the urn, making soft splashing sounds.

I wiped away my tears and hurried to the cemetery I picked for my mom. However, I saw the last person I wanted to meet there.

I was surprised to see Kendrick and the girl he had always liked, Rebecca Vance.

Seeing me, Kendrick looked shocked, and a sly glint flashed in Rebecca's eyes.

I ignored him and kept walking to the spot I had picked for my mom.

Kendrick grabbed me, asking, "Ally, what do you mean? Why didn't you respond to my messages?"

He scrutinized me, and after seeing what I was holding, a scornful smile appeared on his face.

"So you went through all this trouble just to spy on me?"

I looked down. My mom had always said she didn't want to look so serious in death, so she'd prepared a small, handmade cloth bag for herself long ago.

"Ally, who would have thought that such a cute little bag would not contain a lunch box, but ashes."

Thinking of her words, I could almost see Mom's playful smile again.

The thought made me smile through my tears.

Wiping them away, I turned back, coldly staring at Kendrick and Rebecca. I let out a derisive laugh and was about to continue on when Rebecca called out to me.

"Alisson, I only found out later that you had an urgent matter and need to come back. I had no other choice that day. My dog, who I've had for six years, suddenly fell ill, and the rain was pouring so hard. I could only call Kendrick to ask for his help."

She looked down at the box in her arms, appearing on the verge of tears.

"However, my dog didn't make it in the end. I wanted to take him back to where he was born, so Kendrick came with me. Don't misunderstand him, please."

I looked at them blankly, thinking, "What a convenient excuse. Your dog didn't make it, so you were so sad that you got drunk, so sad that you needed Kendrick to stay with you at night?"

"Oh, what a convenient death."

"Alisson! How could you say that? Rebecca's already heartbroken enough. How could you be so cruel!"