The Day Our Promise Breaks

The night was deep and quiet.

Evelyn couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned, then finally slipped out of bed, drove off into the darkness, and made her way to Charlie's grave.

As she drew near, she spotted a familiar silhouette, half-kneeling in front of the headstone.

It was Charles.

Maybe he felt her there, because he turned and their eyes met, holding for a beat.

When he realized it was really her, his face changed. He tried to stand, but he'd been kneeling too long-his legs gave out, and he stumbled back down, his knees hitting the ground hard.

He didn't even pause to catch his breath. Pushing himself up with the help of the headstone, Charles walked over and slipped his coat off, draping it over Evelyn's shoulders.

She flinched away on instinct.

A flicker of pain crossed his face. In a soft voice, he said, "Eve, that's all it is. I'm not here to make things harder for you. It's freezing up here, and after everything you've been through, you shouldn't be out in this wind. Just wear it until we get down the hill. You can give it back after, okay?"

Evelyn didn't protest. That was answer enough.noveldrama

Charles quickly settled the coat around her, shielding her from the mountain's chill. His touch was gentle. As he adjusted the coat, his hand brushed against the back of hers. His fingers were icy cold-he must've been here a long time.

Evelyn said nothing. She walked to the grave and arranged the things she'd brought: a bunch of fresh lilies, a small teddy bear, and a slice of apple pie.

She stared at the photo on the headstone-a five-year-old boy's face, smiling forever in that single moment.

Her heart finally stilled.

She knew she hadn't made a mistake.

Charles stood quietly at her left, shielding her from the wind, maybe for the last time.

They'd never spent this much time together with Charlie-not while he was alive.

Now, it didn't matter anymore.

Evelyn was still weak.

She managed the steps down, but it was a struggle. Charles crouched in front of her, looking up. "Eve, let me carry you. Please, just this once. When we leave here, I won't bother you again."

She looked at his face, pale and drawn, the bandage still on his forehead.

She'd seen him earlier at the hospital. He looked terrible.

His eyes were rimmed red, and the way he looked at her was full of sorrow.

This time, Charles really was letting go.

Just as she'd wanted.

She'd never told him the truth about the baby that it was gone before she could choose. She needed him to believe she'd ended it herself, that she was done forgiving, done holding on.

And now, she'd finally gotten her wish.

Charles was here tonight because he'd finally understood-Charlie wasn't coming back.

Standing so close, she noticed the strands of white in his hair. When had he started going gray, just like her?

Evelyn couldn't say what she felt.

In the end, she didn't refuse. She leaned forward and climbed onto his back, letting him carry her down the steps.

As she settled on his back, Charles held her steady.

He moved slowly, one step at a time, careful and sure.

For a moment, she was fourteen again.

Back when she lived in the group home, her health had always been fragile. Her first period came late, and when it finally did, she stained her school uniform. Mortified, she tried to hide it.

After school, when everyone else had gone, she slumped over her desk, pale and sweating from the pain.

Just as she was about to faint, Charles found her.

She was already starting to have feelings for him, and facing him now just made her more embarrassed.

She kept her head down, mumbling that she was fine and he should leave.

They stayed like that for a long time, until she finally managed to stammer out that she'd gotten her period.

Charles hadn't looked happy, but he took off his jacket, tied it around her waist, and crouched down so she could climb on.

That was the first time he carried her.

On his back, she felt safe. Her heart pounded.

Evelyn's mind drifted.

Charles was remembering, too—the first girl he'd ever carried, and the only one.

That day, she'd stained not only his jacket, but his shirt as well.

Normally, he hated messes, but seeing her so panicked, he couldn't help but soften.

He used to think he was just doing what his grandmother asked, looking after Evelyn out of duty. But if he hadn't truly wanted to, nothing would have made him care so much.

He'd realized so much, far too late.

That's how it was-they were always going to miss each other.

No matter how slowly they walked, the path down the mountain still came to an

end.

Just like them.