Chapter 5

Liam found me when the osmanthus blossoms had already bloomed. He stood under the camphor tree in front of the teaching building, wearing a black trench coat, his figure noticeably thinner than half a year ago. The autumn sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on him. "Come back with me." He got straight to the point, his tone carrying that undeniable command, just like countless times in our past life. I hugged my painting tube and turned to leave without a word. Inside the tube was my work for the Young Artists Exhibition, an oil painting titled Rebirth. "Wendy Croft!" He grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it felt like he might crush the bones. "Do you really enjoy hiding from me this much?" "It's not hiding." I looked at him, my eyes calm like stagnant water. "It's not wanting to see you." His pupils constricted sharply, as if stung. "But you... liked me, didn't you?" I shook off his hand, red marks already blooming on my wrist. "Liam Sullivan, I did like you. Bu