Where My Love Never Reached Chapter 04
Packing took less time than I had expected. I realized there was surprisingly little in the home I’d lived in for five years that actually belonged to me.
Most of it belonged to Jeremiah. His books. His suits. His collection of dictionaries in countless languages.
I packed my few clothes and toiletries into a suitcase.
When I reached the bookshelf, I stopped. On the top shelf sat a worn metal tin.
I opened it. Inside was a black leather notebook. The pages were frayed, their edges curled with age.
It was Jeremiah’s translation notebook from right after college. Back then, he was still struggling. He couldn’t even afford a ticket to attend job interviews in New York.
The notebook was packed with translation techniques he’d painstakingly compiled, along with lists of difficult vocabulary and common mistakes.
The day he received his offer from Geneva, he had handed it to me as if it were his most precious possession.
“Gigi, this is everything I have.” His eyes had sparkled with hope back then. “Only the person I love most deserves to keep my dream. When I come back, I’ll marry you.”
I had treasured that notebook like a priceless heirloom. I’d covered it and protected it from moisture. I hadn’t wanted a single speck of dust to touch it.
Now, looking at it, all I felt was irony.
His dream? That had long since become the patience he reserved for editing and formatting someone else’s diary.
I took out the notebook and tore away the protective cover I had wrapped around it myself. Then I found a waterproof courier envelope and slipped the notebook inside.
In the recipient field, I wrote Vanessa’s name along with the institute’s address.
I called a courier service. “Hi, do you offer same-day express delivery? Great. I need a pickup immediately. Rush service.”
Half an hour later, the courier collected the package.
Dragging my suitcase behind me, I stood in the entryway.
Then I slipped off my engagement ring. I placed it in the key tray by the door. The metal struck the dish with a clear, crisp sound. It felt like the final note at the end of a five-year relationship.
I left no letter, no note. I opened the door and walked out.
Once I was in a taxi headed for the airport, I texted Amelie.
“I’m leaving. Heading to Paris.”
Her reply came almost instantly.
“You’ve really decided? You’re not even going to confront Jeremiah first?”
“There’s no point.”
My phone suddenly began vibrating nonstop. Jeremiah’s name flashed across the screen. I stared at it for a few moments before answering. The line was noisy. I could hear other people nearby.
“Georgina, what the hell are you doing?” Jeremiah sounded exhausted, but there was anger beneath it. “I just finished a video conference. I’ve been awake all night. What exactly are you trying to pull?”
I remained silent.
“Jem…” Vanessa’s timid voice came from the background. “Did Gigi send this package to me?”
“What package?” Jeremiah asked.
“A same-day delivery envelope.” I heard plastic tearing open. “There’s an old black leather notebook inside.”
The line suddenly went dead silent. I could easily imagine the look on Jeremiah’s face.
“Why would Gigi send me this old notebook? It’s full of notes. The handwriting is kind of messy.” She paused. “Wait, what’s this sentence… Only the person I love most deserves…”
“Don’t touch it!” Jeremiah’s furious roar exploded through the phone. A loud crash followed.
“Jem! What are you doing?” Vanessa shrieked.
“Georgina! Georgina, are you still there?”
His voice had changed. The composure, the cold hardness, the impatience—everything vanished. What remained was raw panic.
“What does this mean? Why did you send that to her? Where are you?”
I spoke calmly. “Jeremiah, I don’t want your dream anymore. You should give it to someone who needs your language training more than I do.”
“Don’t hang up! Georgina, don’t you dare hang up. You’re at home, aren’t you? I’ll be back right…”
I ended the call before he could finish. Then I removed the SIM card from my phone and tossed it into the wind.