Clutching the broken pieces of the pendant in my hand, I laughed. Then, without warning, I began to cry.
All I wanted was to go home.
Mom... All I ever wanted was a home.
Later, I dragged my exhausted body back to my small rented apartment and collapsed into a restless sleep.
In my dreams, Jameson smiled at me.
He held me close and took me to an amusement park I’d never visited as a child. He showed me the beauty of our country, from majestic mountains to serene rivers. At every temple we visited, he wrote the same wish as mine. "Jameson will love Lauren for eternity."
The dream shifted to yesterday.
He held my hand, kneeling before Grandpa Carlos, making a solemn vow.
He promised to marry me, to cherish me for a lifetime. He slipped a proposal ring onto my finger, his face radiant with joy.
In the middle of the night, I woke up unexpectedly, my body burning with fever. I wiped the cold tears from the corners of my eyes with a shaky hand and dragged my exhausted body to see the last person in this city I couldn’t bear to leave behind.
Grandpa was still in a coma. I held his rough, calloused hand and couldn’t hold back my tears anymore.
"Grandpa, you’re such a bad old man, choosing a family member for me and picking the worst one."
"So wake up soon, Grandpa, and keep being my family."
The next day, I called my professor. "Professor, I’ve decided to go to New York as an exchange student."
"Good. Come back tomorrow, and we’ll finalize the process."
I quickly packed my luggage and paid the penalty for breaking the lease on my apartment. Then, I boarded a plane headed to my university.
Before leaving, I sent a final message to Jameson.
[Jameson, I don’t want the jade pendant anymore. I don’t want you either.]
