Page 9
Story: The Last Move Is Mine
In an instant, Charlotte’s rosy cheeks turned pale, a clear sign of panic and fear. She attempted to explain herself, but I cut her off and told her Wesley’s side of the story.
I made a minor change to the story, claiming that she purposefully got Wesley drunk and slept with him. The truth did not matter. All I wanted was for her to understand how Wesley saw her.
I also told her about Wesley kneeling to beg forgiveness, and how her face contorted with anger and helplessness. I wanted to laugh aloud at her.
“What exactly are you getting at?” she demanded.
I sighed deeply, turned to face the window, and gave a bitter smile. “If I had more time, I wouldn’t have let this slide. But unfortunately… I don’t have time left.”
“No time left?” Charlotte muttered.
She responded: “What do you mean? Weren’t you here to hold me responsible?”
I shook my head, letting her know she was wrong. I removed a piece of paper from my bag and placed it on the table. “I don’t have time. I’m dying of cancer. I probably have about one year to live.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened with shock. “You… you’re dying?”
“Yes. It’s liver cancer. I think I might have gotten it because I worked too hard and drank too much,” I admitted.
I then asked, “You like Wesley, don’t you?”
Charlotte frowned. After a long pause, she replied, “Yes!”
“Good,” I smiled, my eyes full of helplessness, “I hope you can wait a little longer. You can get with him once I’m gone. Is that okay with you?”
Charlotte appeared frightened after hearing this. “Aren’t you… angry?”
“I’m mad, but what good does that do? I can’t just kill you both because of one drunken mistake. Besides, given my current state of health, I’d better not get worked up. Anger will only speed up my demise,” I said, grabbing Charlotte’s hand with a pleading expression.
“I love him, even though I know he made a mistake. But I don’t have much time left. I hope you can wait a little longer. You’re still young. After I’m gone, you can be together and have his child. Alright?”
Charlotte gave me an unreadable expression. She was probably wondering how such a foolish woman existed in the world.
But it was my intention to make them believe I was foolish and easily manipulated so that they would let down their guard.
“You might not have known, but I’m infertile. Still, I love kids. When I’m gone, and when you’re with Wesley, do you think you could give him a child? Remember to visit my grave with your baby.”
Charlotte lowered her head and stared at the diagnosis document on the table for an extended period. Finally, she looked up and told me, “But… I’m already pregnant with Wesley’s child.”
I perked up and looked at Charlotte with excitement. “Really? How far along are you? Will I be able to see the baby before I die?” “Yes, I’m two months pregnant now. If you have a year left to live, you should be able to wait until the baby’s born.”
I made a minor change to the story, claiming that she purposefully got Wesley drunk and slept with him. The truth did not matter. All I wanted was for her to understand how Wesley saw her.
I also told her about Wesley kneeling to beg forgiveness, and how her face contorted with anger and helplessness. I wanted to laugh aloud at her.
“What exactly are you getting at?” she demanded.
I sighed deeply, turned to face the window, and gave a bitter smile. “If I had more time, I wouldn’t have let this slide. But unfortunately… I don’t have time left.”
“No time left?” Charlotte muttered.
She responded: “What do you mean? Weren’t you here to hold me responsible?”
I shook my head, letting her know she was wrong. I removed a piece of paper from my bag and placed it on the table. “I don’t have time. I’m dying of cancer. I probably have about one year to live.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened with shock. “You… you’re dying?”
“Yes. It’s liver cancer. I think I might have gotten it because I worked too hard and drank too much,” I admitted.
I then asked, “You like Wesley, don’t you?”
Charlotte frowned. After a long pause, she replied, “Yes!”
“Good,” I smiled, my eyes full of helplessness, “I hope you can wait a little longer. You can get with him once I’m gone. Is that okay with you?”
Charlotte appeared frightened after hearing this. “Aren’t you… angry?”
“I’m mad, but what good does that do? I can’t just kill you both because of one drunken mistake. Besides, given my current state of health, I’d better not get worked up. Anger will only speed up my demise,” I said, grabbing Charlotte’s hand with a pleading expression.
“I love him, even though I know he made a mistake. But I don’t have much time left. I hope you can wait a little longer. You’re still young. After I’m gone, you can be together and have his child. Alright?”
Charlotte gave me an unreadable expression. She was probably wondering how such a foolish woman existed in the world.
But it was my intention to make them believe I was foolish and easily manipulated so that they would let down their guard.
“You might not have known, but I’m infertile. Still, I love kids. When I’m gone, and when you’re with Wesley, do you think you could give him a child? Remember to visit my grave with your baby.”
Charlotte lowered her head and stared at the diagnosis document on the table for an extended period. Finally, she looked up and told me, “But… I’m already pregnant with Wesley’s child.”
I perked up and looked at Charlotte with excitement. “Really? How far along are you? Will I be able to see the baby before I die?” “Yes, I’m two months pregnant now. If you have a year left to live, you should be able to wait until the baby’s born.”