Many times, Leland felt like a stray dog caught in the rain in a garbage dump. Winifred casually tossed him a broken umbrella to shield him from the rain, her fleeting tenderness too short-lived. He once thought this tenderness was his only refuge, but later realized that having such a broken umbrella was better than being soaked in rain.
…
That night, Winifred said she released him, set him free, but she didn’t know he had already built walls for her.
She released him, but he didn’t want to let go.
Winifred made him learn to love her, insisted that he must fall in love with her. He learned, but upon realizing that love was futile, he learned to possess!
On the second of October, Winifred and Leland both disappeared. Leland reappeared a month later.
On the twentieth of December, Peachshire Town was dusted with light snow. Gregory had been hospitalized for a month, unable to withstand the harsh winter, and passed away in the hospital.
At that time, a company called Burns Group quickly rose in Peachshire Town, successfully acquiring Dawson Group in just five months. A year later, Burns Group became the new ruler of Peachshire Town, unshakeable in the eyes of the townspeople.
…
Midlands.
Twenty-fifth of September.
“Winifred, your birthday is next week. How do you want to celebrate?”
Winifred hesitated for a moment, at the mention of “birthday,” she involuntarily clenched her hand, feeling a chill running through her left wrist. She lowered her head to look at the watch on her wrist.
How time flies. A year has passed, and she is about to turn 19.
Winifred used to enjoy celebrating her birthday, but since last year, she developed a strong aversion to birthdays. She disliked celebrating her birthday, and if Garrison hadn’t reminded her, she would have forgotten about it.
“Come home with me then. My parents want to meet you.”
Winifred touched her left wrist, noticing a dark red scar beneath the watch band. She had tried various methods to remove the watch, but the band had rubbed against her skin, embedding itself into the wound. She had tried starving herself, hoping to slim down enough to remove it. However, her wrist was so slender; there was no flesh to lose.
“I don’t want to celebrate my birthday.”
Garrison looked at Winifred across from him. She had changed so much in the past year. The once loud and proud Miss Dawson family had become somewhat introverted.
Garrison remembered how Winifred used to enjoy wearing dresses. The weather in Midlands was similar to back home, with consistent temperatures throughout the year. Even in the heat of summer, Winifred refrained from wearing dresses.
Just like now, she wore a white button-down shirt, with the top button fastened, and blue jeans. This ordinary attire exuded a hint of restraint when worn by her.
Winifred had seen a psychologist for five months with intermittent sessions, and had also spent three months in an institution.
At that time, the doctor diagnosed her with bipolar disorder, experiencing both manic episodes and depression, along with a tendency towards self-harm.
No one knew what had happened to her, but it seemed like Winifred changed after her last birthday. She started to avoid physical contact with men and lost over forty pounds within a month.
Winifred, who had a great figure, became skeletal during that period, eating only to vomit, and having to rely on intravenous nutrients while lying in bed.
Garrison stayed by her side through those agonizing days. He didn’t know what was happening to Winifred, but seeing her suffer from mental illness, he felt helpless and unable to do anything.
During that time, Winifred was afraid of any male touch, including his.
When Winifred’s condition slightly improved, tragic news arrived from back home; Gregory had passed away in the hospital.
Winifred remained unresponsive to her father’s death, surprising Garrison who had feared the news would trigger an emotional breakdown and worsen her condition.
To his astonishment, Winifred simply responded with a nonchalant “Hmm”, unexpectedly calm.
Garrison reached out and gently grabbed Winifred’s hand.
Winifred trembled and instinctively tried to pull away. She looked up at Garrison in confusion and stopped when she met his worried gaze.
Throughout that year, Winifred had suffered breakdowns, discomfort, agony, and self-harm. She was like a turtle retreating into its shell, avoiding external interactions, living in her own world, full of self-pity and blame. If Garrison hadn’t been there to encourage her, she might have succumbed to that dark abyss long ago.
“Winifred, do you know that I care for you? I want to be your partner, introduce you to my parents, let you feel loved and happy again. I don’t want you to be alone and reject all goodness.”
How could she not feel Garrison’s affection for her? He had already expressed his love for her a year ago.
She had originally planned to reject him, but now she couldn’t bring herself to say the words. She couldn’t refuse a man who had only her best interests at heart.
“Are your parents really willing to accept me?”
“You are wonderful. They have watched you grow up. Of course, they will accept you. Don’t worry, my parents are your parents. I really want to be open with everyone about my feelings for you.”
Seeing Garrison’s resolute gaze, Winifred’s anxious emotions suddenly calmed down, and she nodded.
Garrison’s smile widened, highlighting the beauty mark above his eyebrow, making Winifred involuntarily glance at it. Her pupils slightly contracted, and she withdrew her hand.
Unaware of Winifred’s current state, Garrison thought she was just shy. He continued, “Then it’s settled. On the thirtieth of September, we will celebrate your birthday together. My mom has already chosen a place, at the Azure Hotel.”
“I’ll be there.”
After parting ways with Garrison, Winifred returned home. As her birthday approached, her condition worsened. She experienced severe palpitations, needing medication to calm down. At night, she often had frequent nightmares, and she now had to consume three sleeping pills or more, with sometimes even that not being effective. She required specialized treatment at the hospital to achieve sleep.
During her year in Midlands, Winifred spent most of her time in treatment at the hospital and didn’t continue her studies. Her education level was still at high school graduation, but fortunately, she had an inheritance from her mother. The funds were enough for her to live abroad comfortably. She bought an apartment near the hospital where she sought treatment.
Previously accustomed to carefree spending, Winifred hadn’t bought any clothes or jewelry since arriving in this foreign land. Her wardrobe consisted solely of conservative tops and long pants, all concealing her collarbones, chest, waist, and legs.
At night, Winifred poured two sleeping pills into a glass of water and swallowed them before lying down. All the lights in the apartment were turned on. Her mental illness had brought about many fears, such as fear of darkness and drafts. She made sure to lock all windows tightly and keep every room in the house illuminated.
After lying in bed for almost half an hour after taking the pills, she suddenly felt restless, threw off the covers, got up barefoot, and rushed into the bathroom. Soon, the sound of retching could be heard from inside.