chapter6


    Afterthreeagonizingdays,mytransferapprovalfinallycamethrough.


    Icouldnowchooseadatetoleavemycurrentpostandreporttotheprovincialofficewithinthestiptedtime.WhenYoung,myinstructor,handedmethenotification,Icouldn’thelpbutshedtears.


    Hewasdelighted andasked,“Whendoyountoleave?”


    “Tomorrow,”Ireplied.


    Ianwasreturningfromthecitytomorrow,andsincewewerein thesameunit,hehadofferedtotravelbackwithme.“Sosoon?”Youngfrowned.“Aren’tyougoingtosaygoodbyetoeveryone?”


    “Nexttime,”Isaid.


    “IsitbecauseofYannis?”heasked.


    Ishookmyheadwithabittersmile.


    Itwasn’treallyaboutYannis;Ijustdidn’tlikefarewells.


    WhetherIsaidgoodbyeornotdidn’tmattertome.


    Youngknewmypersonalitywenddidn’tpressfurther.Hejustwishedmewendsawmeoffatthegate.


    Beforeleaving,Iaskedhimtoremovemypromotionalmaterialsassoonaspossible.


    Heunderstoodandassuredmeitwouldbedone.


    IsalutedhimonsttimeandleftthecewhereIhadworkedforfive


    What<i>I</i>didn’ttellhimwasthatIhadlied.


    Iwasleavingtonight.


    WhenIsteppedoutside,Ianwasalreadywaiting.


    Seeinghim,tearsstreameddownmyface.


    “Areyouready?Let’sgo.”


    Iansaid,pattingmyshoulder andgivingmeabighug.


    Clutchingmyappointmentlettertightly,Igotintohiscar.


    years.


    Iansatinthepassengerseat,silentlywatchingmecryandhandingmetissues.


    Itookthem,sobbingevenharder.


    Afterawhile,Ifinallycalmeddown.


    “Done crying?”heasked.


    Inoddednkly.


    Helookedattheroad,asifhehadsomethingtosaybutheldback.


    Ilookedathimandsmiled,“Imustlookpathetic,right?”


    Heshookhishead.“Doyoustillwanttolive?”


    Heasked,echoingthequestionhehadaskedwhenhesavedme.Thistime,Icouldfinallyanswerhim.


    “Yes,Iwanttolive.”


    Hiseyesflickeredwithanunreadableemotion.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    “Thenlivewell,”hesaid.