I drew a deep breath, lifted my head, and resolved to cremate Caleb without telling Flint.

Since Flint no longer wanted this family, I had no reason to cling to it either.

After the cremation, I would take Caleb's ashes back to my hometown, let him return to the roots where he belonged.

Before that, I had three days to put everything in order.

Today was the first.

…

Leaving the hospital, I carried two documents with me: one was Caleb's death certificate, the other, the cremation application.

I couldn't bear to let Caleb die alone in a foreign place. I had to take him home, back to the home that no longer had Flint in it.

At seven that evening, Flint came back. He was dressed in a sharp military uniform, but in his hand he carried a faded blue cloth bag.

When he saw me, he set the bag down casually and instructed, "Wash these clothes tomorrow.

Lucy has a hard time looking after her child on her own. You should help her when you can."

I almost laughed. Why should I, his wife, bear the burden of his childhood sweetheart's struggles? I was just about to refuse when he interrupted again.

"Where's our son? He's not home?"

His eyes swept the room, puzzled.

My chest tightened, and I scrambled for an excuse, but before I could speak, he ordered, "Since he's not here, pack a few of his clothes. I'll bring them over to Lucy's later. They've just come back from abroad and didn't bring enough. Jesse can wear our son's clothes for now."

When I didn't respond, he strode straight into our son's room, opened the wardrobe, and pulled out the neatly folded clothes. He sifted through them, frowning as he judged each piece.

"This one's too worn."

"This one has a patch."

"This one's ugly."

All the clothes he'd never once noticed before suddenly became riddled with flaws. They were not good enough for Lucy's son.

I turned my head quickly, wiping away the tears welling at the corners of my eyes.

When I looked back, the clothes were already scattered on the floor.

"What are you doing! Don't touch Caleb's things!"

I screamed, shoving him away with all my strength.

Flint staggered, his face darkening.

"Amanda, are you insane? They're just clothes. Nothing valuable. Once you've washed Lucy's laundry, I'll return them to Caleb. What's the big deal?"

He pushed past me, ready to leave. His boots crushed the fallen clothes beneath him, leaving dirt-streaked footprints one after another.

Too numb for anger, I called after him.

"Wait!"

He turned, his face tight with impatience.

"Will you ever stop?"

My fists clenched at my sides. From the drawer, I pulled out the papers I had prepared.

"I'm taking Caleb back to my hometown in a few days. Sign this."

Suspicion flickered across his face.

"Isn't he starting school soon? Why go back all of a sudden?"

I dug my nails into my fingers, feigning calm as I offered a casual excuse.

"A relative passed away. I want to take him back to pay respects."

He hesitated for a moment, then, without even reading, signed his name.

"Fine. Stay a few extra days then. No need to rush back."

I lowered my gaze, hiding the redness at the corners of my eyes.

"Mm."

Yes, I would stay longer—forever, if I could. That way, he could chase after his true love without ever looking back.

Blinking away the tears, I walked him to the door.

Just as he was about to leave, he paused, pulled two candies from his pocket, and handed them to me.

I froze, then accepted them. They were still warm from his touch, and for a brief moment, my heart softened. I wavered, wondering if I should tell him the truth.

But then he said, "I bought these for Jesse, but he doesn't like them. I left the rest at the hospital. These two were left in my pocket—give them to Caleb so they don't go to waste."

In an instant, the fragile warmth collapsed into a deeper chill.

I turned away and shut the door behind him.

Two days left.

…

The next day, I went alone to the crematorium and sent Caleb on his final journey.

The night after we registered for elementary school, Flint wasn't home. I sat in the courtyard with Caleb, enjoying the cool air.

He lay across my lap, watching me stitch while he chattered, "Mom, once I start school, I'll study hard. Someday I'll serve the country, just like Dad."

A few days later, because of Flint's indifference, Caleb never lived to see the start of school.

Caleb was only seven. He had just registered for first grade.

He never got to shoulder the schoolbag I had sewn for him. He never got to greet his new classmates and teachers. He never got to tell Flint that his dream was to protect the nation—just like his father.

I closed my eyes and let the tears stream down, soaking the schoolbag in my hands. On it was the name I had embroidered myself: Caleb Dumpsey. The sight tore something open inside me, and I broke down in sobs I could no longer hold back.

It wasn't until the staff placed the urn in my arms that I forced myself to stop crying and stagger out of the crematorium. My hands trembling, I slipped the urn into his schoolbag, then made my way to the school.

I wanted to fulfill his last wish—to collect the textbooks that belonged to him.

The principal listened quietly to my request, then nodded and handed me a fresh set of books. "My condolences."

I murmured my thanks, then drifted out of the office like a ghost.

On the playground, I ran into Flint. He was at Lucy's side, patiently explaining something to her.

When he noticed the books in my arms, he froze, as if only just remembering that Caleb was supposed to attend this school too.

"Isn't the term starting the day after tomorrow? Why are you here to pick up books now?"

Then his gaze sharpened. He tugged me toward the teacher.

"Mr. Henley, you just said all the slots are full. If a registered student doesn't want to attend, would that free up a spot?"

I stiffened—and then I understood.

He wanted Caleb's place withdrawn. He wanted to give the spot to Lucy's child.

My grip on the books tightened. I wrenched my hand free from his grasp and strode toward the school gates.

His face darkened, and he grabbed at me again. The books spilled across the ground.

"Flint, what are you trying to do?"

It was the first time I had ever raised my voice at him.

He froze, startled. Only then did he notice my swollen eyes.

"You… were crying?"

His gaze lingered on the wet streaks across my cheeks, as if at a loss.

I lowered my head, forced a laugh, and wiped my tears away. "No. The wind stung my eyes, that's all."

He frowned, still unconvinced, unease flickering across his face as if he sensed something happening just beyond his reach.

But before he could ask again, Lucy tugged at his arm.

"Flint, stop troubling Amanda. You promised to help me secure a spot for Jesse."

Interrupted, Flint turned away without another word, resuming his conversation with the teacher. Lucy glanced back at me with a smile, as if flaunting her victory.

This time, I didn't feel a thing.

When I got home, I smoothed the pages of each textbook, carefully wrote Caleb's name on them, and placed them inside his schoolbag. The weight of it matched the heaviness in my chest.

Resting my hand on the cold urn, I sniffed back tears and whispered hoarsely, "Caleb, Mommy brought your books home. Once we return, I'll read them to you every day. I'll teach you, alright?"

I tried to smile, but my tears fell one by one, cold against my palms. I was just about to fasten the bag shut when Flint's voice sounded behind me.

"What are you holding?"

…

Startled, I hastily wiped my tears and forced my tone to shift.

"You're back already? Weren't you with Lucy?"

Suspicion flickered in Flint's eyes, but he set the bundle in his hands down on the table and asked casually, "Where's Caleb? I bought him his favorite peach crisps."

As regiment commander, he often led missions that lasted half a month or more. Each time he returned, he would bring a bag of peach crisps home for our son.

Every time the scent of peach crisps drifted through the air, Caleb would come running with delight.

But Flint never knew—our son had asthma. He never liked those dry, crumbly pastries. What he truly loved… was Flint coming home safe.

A pang tugged at my chest, but I forced a faint smile.

"Thank you."

Flint exhaled in relief. After a brief hesitation, he said, "Amanda, there's something I want to discuss with you."

My heart skipped. "What is it?"

He sat beside me, pulling me into his arms.

"I know you want our son to go to school. I want that too. So I talked it over with Lucy. From now on, Jesse will take our son's school spot. After school, he'll come to our house and tutor Caleb. What do you think?"

I said nothing. Inside me, the last trace of light went out.

Perhaps realizing something was wrong, Flint avoided my gaze, though his lips kept moving.

"There's really no other way. After all, Lucy just divorced. She's vulnerable; she needs help."

Vulnerable.

And what about my son? He was only seven. Wasn't he vulnerable too? Yet for Lucy, he cast Caleb aside without a second thought.

I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, only coldness remained.

"Jesse can have the spot. But you must promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

"Tomorrow night, you come home. Celebrate Caleb's birthday with him."

Flint nodded immediately. "I'll be here."

On the third day, I prepared all of Caleb's favorite dishes. I set his photo in the chair and waited quietly for Flint to come home.

The elders say that on the third day after death, the soul returns to have one last look at their loved ones.

I hoped that when Caleb came back, he would see us—his parents—together, celebrating his final birthday.

The clock ticked, hour after hour. Eight o'clock came, but Flint still hadn't appeared.

I couldn't wait any longer. I ran straight to the base.

But as soon as I stepped outside the compound, I saw fireworks blooming by the roadside. In the bitter cold of winter, their crackle and bang split the dark street.

I was about to walk past when I heard Lucy's voice.

"Flint, careful! Don't let the sparks hit Jesse!"

She stood under a tree, her tone light and coy.

Flint chuckled, struck a match, and lit Jesse's firework.

"Jesse, congratulations. Tomorrow, you officially start school!"

Lucy clapped her hands over her ears and shouted cheerfully, "Jesse, happy first day of school!"

From the shadows, I stood frozen, my heart tearing apart again and again.

Yes. Tomorrow was the first day of school. But my poor Caleb… would never live to see it.

I thought bitterly, 'Flint, do you even realize your son's gone? You promised to celebrate his birthday. Yet here you are, celebrating another child instead. Do you still remember our Caleb? Tomorrow should have been his first day of school too…'

I didn't disturb them. I turned back, walking home alone.

The food on the table had long turned cold. I took a bite, then looked at Caleb's photo with a trembling smile. Tears blurred my vision.

"So salty. Even saltier than the food at the hospital that day. Caleb, today's your birthday. Happy birthday, sweetheart. And… Mommy misses you."

That night, Flint set off fireworks for Lucy's child, while I sat with Caleb's photo and finished Caleb's favorite foods.

By dawn, I packed my suitcase.

Just then, Flint returned.

"Caleb, Daddy's home! There was an urgent mission last night, so I couldn't tell you in time. I missed your birthday. But Daddy bought you a present—a brand-new schoolbag. Come try it—"

His words broke off.

His gaze froze on Caleb's photo sitting on the chair.