(07
I listened to the old man’s complaints and let out a soft laugh.
Yes, Shane could love someone wholeheartedly for ten years without expecting anything in return. He really was a fool.
And now, this fool was climbing a mountain of rotting garbage.
Why go this far?
Was it for Harriet again?
But all I could think about was the way he looked when he once begged me not to leave him.
He searched and searched, digging through filth and broken scraps, sifting through the long night until the sky turned the faintest shade of blue.
8:58 AM
1Fought for His Love but Remained Second Beet
The first ray of sunlight hit his body squarely.
In his scarred hands, there was a piece of red cloth.
But his expression was hollow.
“Why is it torn? If it’s broken, it won’t work…”
Shane finally seemed to accept it.
That I was gone.
He made his way to the crematorium at last.
But my ashes were already gone.
Once again, he arrived too late.
Shane walked out, empty–handed, shoulders heavy with defeat.
And I followed.
Just like I did the day we first met–only this time, there would be no more stories between us.
After wandering aimlessly for a day, he finally went home.
He searched through my room, only to freeze in place.
There was so little of me left in this house.
The only thing I had ever truly treasured lay inside a drawer–an old business card, edges frayed, paper yellowed
with time.
He clutched it to his chest and fell to his knees, trembling.
And on the table, untouched, was the birthday gift I had prepared for him.
Nothing extravagant, just a simple videotape–clips of him, captured through my eyes.
Furrowed brows deep in thought. Chin resting on his hand. That slight smirk when he was proud of himself.
Every version of him shone brightly.
The camera had been unsteady, exposing the thrill and guilt I felt as if I filmed in secret.
“Happy birthday, Shane. I hope I can stay with you for a long, long time.”
If this were the past, he would have teased me about my poor cinematography.
But now, he sat alone in the dimly lit living room, watching the video over and over.
The birthday wish had expired. He never got the chance to make one.
Shane, it was all just a step too late.
Then he fell gravely ill.
I had no choice but to stay by his side, listening in on his restless dreams.
He kept begging someone not to leave.
Probably Harriet.
Even though she hadn’t visited him once.
She was too busy preparing for their engagement party, wasn’t she?
What was there to grieve over?
By the time the fourth monotonous day passed, Shane finally managed to get out of bed.
I thought he was going to pull himself together.
To return to filming, to move on.
There were plenty of stars in the industry.
If there was no substitute actress, he could always train another.
But instead of calling anyone to the set, Shane walked into the empty studio alone.
In the dark. he unlocked the editing room.
8.58 AM
fought for His Love but Remained Second Beut
And found it.
My first audition tape.
The unedited version.
I had never seen some of this footage before.
“Hello, everyone. My name is Joann, and I’m auditioning for the lead role of ‘Dream Back‘.”
On–screen, I was young. Nervous. My eyes kept darting toward the person behind the camera. “Does my smile look good like this?”
“Good.”
“Good.”
The sound from the speakers overlapped with a voice behind me.
I turned to Shane in disbelief.
Why?
I clearly remembered–back then, he had never answered me.
“I messed up again, Ruth… Am I really that stupid?”
