The pain in his heart twisted and churned relentlessly. Murphy clutched his chest, his breath hitching as he slowly squatted down.
“Sir, are you okay?” a kind passerby asked. Murphy managed a bitter smile and shook his head without saying a word.
He was not okay. On December 12th, he lost the person he loved most.
Lost in a fog of despair, Murphy wandered into a park. He sat down on a bench, staring aimlessly at the white doves circling around a stone monument nearby. He remembered bringing Gemma here when she was little to feed the pigeons.
She had been so timid back then, hiding behind his legs as she peeked at the birds. She had not dared to approach them until he took her hand and guided her to touch a gentle white dove.
Only then had she mustered up the courage to grab some feed and chase the birds around the park, giggling with pure joy.
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Gemma’s laughter had been so bright, so full of life…
Murphy was consumed by the memory, unable to pull himself free. Just then, a clear male voice interrupted.
“Sir, may I bother you for a minute?”
Murphy blinked as he was pulled back to the present. His cold gaze shifted to the young man standing before him.
The man looked to be in his early 20s. His appearance was unremarkable, but he was fresh–faced and full of energy. He wore a black tracksuit and carried a large notebook that was reminiscent of a yearbook, along with a simple ballpoint pen.
The young man said, his face flushing red, “Sir, here’s the thing. I’m trying to win over my sister.”
Murphy’s brows furrowed slightly in confusion.
“Not my actual sister!” the man clarified quickly in embarrassment. “She’s my neighbor. I come from a single–parent family. My mom passed away when I was very young, and my dad was always busy working, so he never had time for me.
“My neighbor’s daughter saw how pitiful I was and often invited me over for meals. She helped me with my homework, celebrated my birthdays, and even bought me new clothes.
“She’s so kind, and she’s beautiful too. I really, really like her. When I was a kid, my biggest dream was to grow up as fast as possible so that I could confess my feelings to her, start dating her, and one day… marry her.”
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Florence is a passionate reader who finds joy in long drives on rainy days. She’s also a fan of Italian makeup tutorials, blending beauty and elegance into her everyday life.
