Chapter 1: The Day He Left

After Caleb Jennings moved up in the world, he took only two people with him. The sun hadn’t even burned off the morning mist the day he left.

The first was our son, Mason. The other was his first love, Aubrey Monroe.

His son—his own flesh and blood—he would never allow to be just another face in the crowd.

His first love—the woman who once saved his life—he owed her a promise he couldn’t break.

As for me, he said—

"Lillian, we’ve been married. When I have time, I’ll bring Mason to visit you."

In my previous life, because of these words, I waited three years, then another three years.

In the end, I died alone, never seeing him again.

In this life, I won’t wait for his return.

I set out on my own path, leaving home behind. I took one last look at the faded blue mailbox with our last name stenciled in peeling paint, let the screen door slam behind me, and didn’t flinch at the sound. I wondered if anyone would notice I was gone, or if the world would just keep spinning, same as always.

From now on, he’ll chase his dreams, and I’ll live my own life.

The country’s wide and the roads are long—there’s no need for us to meet again. Somewhere out there, the highways wind through new towns, and my story isn’t written in his shadow anymore.