Harry’s gaze was too intense, making it hard for Hattie to ignore. When she turned her head, she saw Harry’s car parked outside the gate.
There was a distance between them, and with someone sitting in the car, Hattie couldn’t see inside. But her intuition told her that Harry was inside.
Hattie spoke, “Wait.”
“What’s wrong?” Micah followed Hattie’s voice and noticed something was amiss. Before he could turn around to face the car, the door opened, and Harry stepped out.
His steps were unsteady, slow, and even a short distance took him nearly a minute to walk.
Hattie didn’t flinch or evade as she faced Harry, and Micah didn’t rush to take her away.
“Hattie.” Harry’s face was also covered with a mask, revealing only a pair of bloodshot eyes and disheveled hair.
During her time in the hospital, Harry had stayed there and not gone back, still wearing the same clothes from a few days ago.
“Don’t go, please?” his voice carried a hint of pleading.
Hattie’s gaze was calm. In theory, she should hate this man, and seeing him in this miserable state, she should laugh and mock him, but she didn’t. She felt nothing. After extreme hatred comes silence, just as after great joy or sorrow.
“Harry, do you deserve me?”
Harry’s heart trembled fiercely, his eyes dizzy.
He wanted to walk towards Hattie, but his feet felt like they were shackled with heavy chains, making it impossible for him to move. The distance between him and Hattie was only two meters, but he couldn’t cross it. Hattie seemed surrounded by walls, and no matter how much he tore and shouted from the outside, he couldn’t break through.
“What do you have to make me stay? Is it your hesitant heart, your despicable methods, or threats and coercion? I never once wanted to stay by your side sincerely, you know? The pregnancy and childbearing were all lies to get back at you. Just like you used to deceive me, now it’s my turn to deceive you. Why can’t you handle it?”
A sharp pain erupted from her chest, almost suffocating her. It’s strange how we don’t feel the pain when we hurt others, only when we bleed ourselves.
Some things are like a game of chess. One wrong move and you lose everything.
The happiness that was once within reach now plummeted into an endless abyss. Harry couldn’t even try to keep Hattie, let alone approach her. And behind her stood Micah, watching him like a hawk.
The two bodies drifted unconsciously closer, hands almost touching on the wheelchair handle. Harry stared at those two hands, his eyes burning more intensely.
He was like a bereaved dog, pleading for his master’s comfort.
“Hattie, I have something to tell you privately.”
“I’m not interested.”
“If you listen and then leave, I won’t let go. You know my methods.”
Hattie was used to Harry’s limitless behavior and was about to speak when suddenly everything darkened. Micah, who was standing next to her moments ago, now stood in front of her, blocking Harry completely.
“You heard her, right? She’s not interested.”
“Step aside. This is between Hattie and me,” Harry tried to assert himself, but Micah wasn’t having it.
“Have some dignity, Harry. Do you think you’re the sun that the whole world revolves around you? At your age, you’re still so self-absorbed. No one is obliged to indulge your selfish desires. Hattie is not an object you can pick up and discard at will. By clinging to her and begging for her to stay by your side, you have destroyed everything about her.”
Micah’s harsh words pierced through Harry’s ears like needles. Harry’s nails dug into his flesh, sending sharp pain through his body.
“I know I was wrong, I want to make amends, I want to apologize, but I don’t have the chance.”
He was like a vulture, waiting for other beasts to finish eating before he could take the remaining flesh. He didn’t want to make amends, but Hattie didn’t give him the chance.
Micah’s words seemed to strike a nerve with Harry, who burst out, “Do you know why there are death row inmates? Because some people don’t deserve forgiveness. Put away your grievances. If you want to atone, go turn yourself in and face the consequences. Instead of sitting here, begging for forgiveness from the victim, you should be seeking redemption in the eyes of the law.”
Micah rarely confronted Harry like this, and it was the first time Hattie had seen him so forceful.
Was he wrong?
No.
Indeed, if Harry wanted redemption, he should turn himself in and face the consequences, not wait for her forgiveness.
Micah turned and, his previously cloudy expression now cleared, said, “Let’s go. We won’t bother with him. If you don’t want to see him, you don’t have to. There’s no one here to threaten you.”
With that, Micah headed towards Hattie’s wheelchair, always wary of Harry nearby, ready to strike if Harry made a move.
But this time, it was Hattie who stopped him, “Wait, I want to hear what he has to say.”
Hattie had known Harry for too long, and just by looking at his face, she could tell something was off. Even though Harry was wearing a mask and she couldn’t see his face, she could sense his difference in demeanor. He seemed lifeless.
Hattie wanted to know what he had to say in this state.
As Hattie decided to stay, a glimmer of light flashed in Harry’s dim eyes.
Hattie’s trust in Harry didn’t mean Micah trusted him, but he respected Hattie’s decision, “Are you sure?”
Hattie nodded.
As Harry needed to talk to Hattie privately, Micah moved aside, “Call me if you need me. I’ll be over there.”
He couldn’t move too far away, afraid that if Harry tried to harm Hattie, he wouldn’t even have a chance to retaliate.
“Go on.” Hattie looked up at him. They were in a hospital, surrounded by people and cameras. Harry had to be cautious.
Harry opened his mouth, but then fell silent. He had rehearsed the words countless times, but now, he couldn’t bring himself to speak.
Hattie grew impatient, “Are you going to speak or not? If not, I’m leaving.”
“Hattie, I’m dying.” Harry spoke, his voice filled with bitterness, “I was diagnosed with brain cancer today.”
His gaze had been following Hattie all along, but at that crucial moment, he lowered his head, unable to meet her eyes.
Hattie froze, a song playing in her ears, “Good luck, may good luck come to you…”
The timing of the song was too perfect, and Hattie almost thought she was hallucinating. An elderly man passing by quickly took out his old cell phone.