Chapter Twenty-One (The Return of My Soul)

My smile returned after I had lost it for days—days filled with sadness, moments I longed to pass quickly so that my memories wouldn't be bled dry in the arena of nostalgia. Now, I find myself cherishing every memory I shared with Jack, reliving each moment, for the true image of my beloved has returned as I once knew it.

While I was at work, engrossed in an important file my manager had requested, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen and saw Jack's name. Shocked, I nearly jumped. I steadied myself, determined to keep my tone cold. How much pain had he caused me? How much had I suffered because of him?

Me: "Hello? Yes, sir. How may I help you?"

Jack: "Snow White, I'm sure you recognize me. What happened to make you deny me like this?"

Me: "Please speak to me with respect and call me by my real name. Anyway, I won't take up much time—I have unfinished work."

I hung up on him before he could say another word, though my heart ached. But I had no other choice—I needed to take revenge for myself, for my dignity that he had trampled on, for the days I had spent suffering because of his betrayal.

I was on the verge of wavering, of forgiving him out of pity, not wanting him to endure what I had. But every time I recalled my torment, I stood firm in my decision. I would make him experience my suffering, and I would not forgive him until he came back, remorseful, kneeling at my feet.

After finishing work, I visited Livia. She immediately noticed the change in my expression and asked me about it. I didn't hide anything from her—she was my sister, my best friend, my everything. She wasn't surprised. She knew he would come looking for me, especially since he had returned the file to my brother. She told me so. I had a feeling as well. I was sure of his love for me—our love was impossible to forget, etched into our hearts like an eternal engraving.

Livia and I wandered through the shops, looking at the latest clothing collections. I wanted to reconnect with Maria, the version of myself that had become a stranger to me. The events I had lived through left me stranded halfway—I neither returned to my old self nor adopted a new one, lost somewhere in between. And there is nothing more painful than being lost, wandering through different paths without finding your true road.

Tired from strolling, I bought things I didn't even want, just to satisfy my yearning self. Livia did the same—she had picked up the habit from me without realizing it. When we got home, we found everyone gathered around the fireplace. The weather was rainy, the air cold, and the raindrops fell without pause. Each drop of water descending from the sky awakened in me a longing for Jack—his kisses, his scent, which still seemed to follow me.

I sat with my family, enjoying our evening together, sipping coffee. As usual, John moved closer to me. We talked about everything and nothing, laughing at the silliest things, until he suddenly asked me to go out with him the next day.

He had never acted so quickly before, even though he saw me all the time. But now, he wanted to get closer, to win my heart before the shadow of Jack reappeared and took me away.

How mistaken he was. He didn't know that my heart was no longer mine to give. If I agreed to go out with him, it would be nothing but a form of revenge—a means of escaping from a love that had tormented me.

We had a pleasant time, laughing and forgetting our worries. Then, I excused myself to go to bed. As always, I cherished my solitude, giving myself the right to be alone. I slipped under my covers after kissing the photo of my father, which I never forgot. Just as I was about to turn off the light, my phone rang again.

It was Jack. Oh God, what did he want at this hour?

Me: "Hello? Yes? What do you want? This isn't exactly an appropriate time to call."

Jack: "I want you to forgive me. I truly love you, and I can't live without you, my love."

Me: "Please, don't call me that. A lover does not do what you did. You turned my life into a nightmare."

Jack: "I know I wronged you. I made so many mistakes, but I tried to make amends. I returned the file to your brother, even though it cost me dearly. You don't understand everything between us—there were things between me and your brother. I wasn't the only one at fault."

Me: "I don't want to hear more. The truth is, it wasn't easy for me to endure that shock, so I won't forgive you easily. Now, I'm sorry, but sleep is overtaking me."

I ended the call, my heart aching, but I had to treat him this way to reclaim parts of myself. I had never wronged him. I had turned to him, to his heart, longing for a whisper of warmth, craving the tenderness only he could give. Every part of me had thirsted for him. But he hadn't valued those feelings when life suddenly blinded him.

He would learn. I would make sure of it. He would learn their worth, that they were more precious than all the treasures in the world.

That night, sleep evaded me. It seemed that insomnia would accompany and torment me. Damn him—he would haunt me with memories of the past and paint images of what was to come.

But despite everything, as long as love had returned to me, repentant, I would forgive him—after making him promise never to stray beyond our galaxy, unless fate conspired against us and forces beyond our control broke through.