Goodbye, Twilight

The next morning, Harry was not around by the time I woke up.

I touched his pillow. It was cold. It seemed like he had left long ago.

He left a note on the bedside table.

[Aurora, something came up at work. I’ve been assigned an overseas business trip. I’ve ordered milk for you. Remember to collect it at the entrance every morning. When I’m not around, you need to take good care of yourself.]

I giggled. But I felt slightly disappointed.

After getting ready, I instinctively went to the art studio.

My major subject was law. But I was more interested in art. As a result, art became my minor subject.

After I graduated, I opened my own studio and earned quite a decent income.

Harry was my favorite and exclusive model. He appeared in more than half of the paintings.

With a paintbrush, I wanted to paint mountains and rivers. But all I could picture in my mind was Harry.

It looked like I needed to find someone to talk to.

After putting down the paintbrush, I went to Yvonne’s workplace.

Yvonne was my high school friend. Later, we enrolled at the same university and naturally became best friends.

She was a psychologist.

I sat outside her consultation room and waited for her to finish her work.

After about ten minutes, an old lady in her fifties or sixties came out of the room.

The old lady had a kind face. But she looked a bit depressed and tired.

When the old lady saw me, she held my hands in excitement. “Ms. Twilight, it’s been a while!”

I was a little confused. I had never seen her before. “Madam, I think you mistook me for someone else?”

“Ms. Twilight, don’t you recognize me? You helped me settle a court case.”

I laughed and said, “Surely you’ve mistaken me for somebody else. I’ve never worked as a lawyer. I run an art studio.”

At that moment, Yvonne came out of her room. “Madam Lorde, you really have the wrong person. She isn’t the one who helped you with the court case.”

The old lady looked apologetic. “Oh dear! I’m getting old and forgetful. Miss, I’m so sorry.”

Yvonne then took me into a lounge area and gave me a cup of coffee.

“How have you been recently?”

“I’m good. Harry went on a business trip.”

Yvonne looked a bit puzzled. “Harry went on a business trip, huh? Did he mention when he’d be back?”

“No. But it’ll be quite some time.”

He had ordered milk for me for a long time in advance.

Yvonne relaxed. “You’re not used to him being gone, are you?”

“Yes. I’ve never been apart from him since we were young. I’m not used to this abrupt separation.”

“That’s perfectly normal. It takes time to adjust.” Then, Yvonne changed the topic. “I’ve been working on a study, but I haven’t found anyone to participate in it yet. Do you want to help me out?”

I nodded. Soft music filled the room. Yvonne asked me to focus on a beam of light on the ceiling.

I concentrated on the light. After a few minutes, she asked gently, “Who are you?”

“Aurora Twilight.”

“Do you know Harry Chalamet?”

“Yes, I do.”

“No, you don’t.”

“I do. I know him. No… I don’t know him.”

“You don’t know him.”

“I… don’t know him.”