His Heart Stayed Flat for Me, Raced for Her, I Stayed for Neither Chapter 11

His Heart Stayed Flat for Me, Raced for Her, I Stayed for Neither Chapter 11

Before the semester started, I went back home with my parents to visit relatives.

Four years later, I was back at the Whitmores’ house.

Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore were just as welcoming as ever.

Mrs. Whitmore gently chided me for leaving so suddenly without saying goodbye. She said she was worried about me.

She said that if she had known Caleb and me were together back then, she never would have said those things about Olivia.

She also said Caleb had never let go of me.

He didn’t date anyone in college, and after graduation, he took over the family business. There was never another girl.

We talked for a long time that afternoon.

I could finally look back at all those people and memories and feel nothing.

As I was leaving the Whitmores’ house, it started to rain.

I was about to cover my head with my bag when I looked up and saw an umbrella held over me.

It was Caleb.

Four years had passed. He was still handsome, but there was a new seriousness in his expression.

He looked like he had rushed home, his tie was crooked.

Caleb offered to walk me home.

Our houses were barely a minute apart. I could have walked there in thirty seconds. But he insisted on walking me.

We had walked this same path a thousand times.

But today, it felt unfamiliar.

Caleb chose his words carefully. “Emily… congratulations on getting into graduate school.”

I said flatly, “Thanks.”

What should have been a one-minute walk took us ten. Neither of us said anything.

Just as I was about to go inside, Caleb said my name. “Emily.” I turned around.

Caleb looked at me. His eyes held too many emotions for me to read.

“I’m sorry. And… I’m still going to wait for you.”

I looked at his stubborn face and sighed. “Don’t wait for me, Caleb.”

“I’ve already moved on. You should too.”

After I said that, I closed the door.

From outside, I heard the sound of Caleb crying. His sobs mixed with the falling rain and grew louder.

But my life would never be stuck in a rainy season again.