Different Kind of Forever

A week ago, after my hearing was cured, I went home, ready to share the news with her and Hughie.

Before I even reached the bedroom, I heard Penelope's wild voice coming from the room next door.

My whole body turned ice cold. I even wondered if I was imagining it.

Before I could step any closer, Hughie, who had always disliked me, used checking his homework as an excuse to stop me.

He pushed me away while muttering, "I don't want you going in there and messing up Daddy Darren's good time."

That was when I realized how badly he wanted to replace me as his dad.

They thought I was still deaf. They thought they had covered everything perfectly.

They had no idea I could hear every single thing clearly.

That same day, I applied for the teaching volunteer program in Lumora and booked my ticket there.

Just like we once promised each other, I would disappear completely from her world. I didn't want Penelope or Hughie anymore.

In that moment, the frantic sounds of her and Darren in the next room kept echoing in my ears.

I suddenly sat up and shoved her away, only to hear her scream as she fell to the floor. I froze for a second, instinctively wanting to help her up, but in the end, I didn't move.

Penelope wasn't angry. Instead, worry filled her eyes as she looked at me.

"Milton, what's wrong?"

I was about to answer when it hit me that I was supposed to be deaf.

After a moment, she seemed to realize it too and started signing to me.

"It's nothing. I'm just not feeling very well," I replied.

Penelope suddenly remembered something and panicked, rushing over while signing and explaining nonstop.

"Darren is really just a friend. Please don't misunderstand."

She was always calm, but today, she had lost control again and again because of Darren.

I didn't want to deal with her. I just said flatly, "I'm tired. I'm going to sleep."

Then, I turned over and lay down.

She froze. After a long moment, I heard her murmur, "Milton, I love you so much. I really, really love you. Please don't leave me. If you do, I'll die."

Tears kept slipping from the corners of my eyes.

If she loved me, then why did she betray me?

We promised each other we would never separate in this lifetime.

But if there was even the slightest betrayal, we would disappear completely from each other's world.

All the beautiful memories from before were shattered by the cruel reality, turning into nothing but an illusion.

-

Early the next morning, perhaps because she sensed how different I was, or maybe it was guilt buried deep inside her, Penelope said she wanted to take Hughie and me out to clear our heads.

"We've wanted to go to an amusement park for so long. We just never had the time. Milton, do you want to come with Hughie and me?"

She rubbed her hands together and put on a pitiful look, trying to get a response from me.

For once, Hughie didn't show impatience. His eyes were full of anticipation about going to the amusement park.

But Penelope didn't notice that her loosely fastened collar revealed her pale skin, covered in marks Darren had left behind.

Right now, all I felt toward her was disgust.

Hughie moved fast. Before I could even react, he had already packed everything he wanted to bring and headed out on his own.

After we arrived at the amusement park, Hughie kept holding my hand, and Penelope took care of us every step of the way.

If I pressed my lips together, she would immediately bring water to my mouth.

If I looked at something for more than a second, she would call out that she wanted to buy it.

They even went on all the rides I liked, but they had never dared to try before.

Penelope was clearly exhausted, yet she held my hand tightly and refused to let go. Meanwhile, Hughie leaned against me, looking genuinely happy.

In the end, Penelope bought three charm bracelets and fastened them around our wrists.