Chapter 9

The party lasted until 4:00 am. When Saoirse returned to her apartment, she saw that the clock on the wall had already struck one. She took down another page from the calendar, marking the second-to-last day of her countdown. The next morning, Saoirse woke up early. She cleaned and tidied the entire apartment, then took all the extra items she had organized during this time and dragged them downstairs to throw them away. Next, she gathered all the diaries and photos she secretly took during their relationship and took them to the study. One by one, she fed them into the shredder and mixed them with kitchen waste. From then on, this apartment where she and Julian had lived for three years would no longer have any trace of her. On the last day of the countdown, Saoirse slept unusually well. The sleep was particularly long, and when she pulled open the curtains, she saw it was a bright, sunny day. It was the perfect day for her to leave. She got up, put the last bit of food she had bought into the microwave, and casually tore down the final page of the calendar. Just as the microwave dinged, she heard the sound of a key turning in the lock at the door. Julian, who hadn't been home for over half a month, immediately sensed something was different when he entered. Many things in the apartment were missing. The completely torn-off calendar, too, bothered him. He asked, "Why is there so much stuff missing?" "I threw away what's not needed." Saoirse's voice was extremely calm. "You can buy new things if you see something you like later." Julian nodded and didn't dwell on it. He carried the vegetables he had just bought into the kitchen. Seeing Saoirse's simple breakfast, he couldn't help but take away the plate. "It's your birthday today. Why are you only eating this? Stop; I'll cook." Saoirse was surprised to hear that he remembered her birthday. She sat on the couch, listening to the sounds coming from the kitchen while staring at the clock on the wall that ticked away every second. When several dishes were served on the table, Julian's phone rang again. He put down the dish he was holding and answered the call. "Julian? Where are you? Gina's refusing to take her medicine again. Hurry and come to the hospital to persuade her." The voice on the other end was a middle-aged woman's, sounding very much like Georgina's. Saoirse guessed it was probably Georgina's mother. Julian didn't immediately agree but instead looked at Saoirse as if seeking her opinion. "Go ahead and do what you have to," Saoirse uttered. Hearing her speak so calmly, Julian let out a sigh of relief. Yet, he still felt a pang of guilt. He quickly promised to make it up to her with a belated birthday celebration. Saoirse shook her head slightly, smiling as she declined. Julian felt a sudden sense of unease at the look on her face. He was about to ask her something when the doorbell rang. He hurried to the door and accepted the mango cake he had ordered earlier. When he returned, Saoirse's demeanor had already returned to normal. She took the cake from him and seemed eager to let him be on his way. Julian felt even guiltier. Glancing at the time, he noted there were only a few minutes left. He moved to the dining table and began opening the cake box. "I'll wait until you've made your wish before I leave," he said. Saoirse lit the candle, clasped her hands together, and whispered her wish. "I hope Julian gets what he wishes for and stays with the one he loves forever." At those words, Julian's usually cold eyes softened with a smile. He couldn't help but gently caress Saoirse's hair. "What kind of wish is that? We're already together, no?" Seeing the smile on his face, Saoirse also managed a small smile. She didn't explain further, only reminding him that time was running out. Julian glanced at the clock, then waved at her and headed toward the door. As he was about to close it, Saoirse instinctively called out to him. "Julian, actually…" Julian turned around, looking at her expectantly. "What is it?" he asked. Saoirse's remaining words were stuck in her throat at the sight of his face. "Never mind. Be careful on your way." Julian didn't think much of it. With a nod, he closed the door behind him. As the sound of his footsteps faded away, Saoirse's unspoken words echoed in the empty room. "Julian, I'm allergic to mangoes. "And today is the last day I will be with you." These words drifted away silently, like vapor, dissolving into the air. When the clock struck midnight, Saoirse stood up, discarded the food and cake from the table, and returned to her bedroom. She pulled out the suitcase she had prepared earlier and took out a marker to write a final note on the calendar with "0" printed on it. "Julian, let's break up." With that name signed and the decision made, Saoirse opened and closed the door behind her. Dragging her suitcase behind her, she left the apartment that she had once called home.