In My Mind In His World

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Chapter 5

Old Perkins’s eyes grew misty as he reminisced.

“Back then… sigh…”

“You all should have had bright futures.”

I understood what Old Perkins meant.

That year, as the college entrance exam reform approached, we students who had relied on rote practice were overwhelmed by the new types of questions.

I comforted Old Perkins, reminding him that everyone has their own fate.

After all, no one can predict what tomorrow will

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bring.

Just like eighteen–year–old Archer could not foresee that at twenty–eight he would fall in love with someone else.

The once young and vibrant Old Perkins had now become a cheerful old man.

He no longer taught but had become the school’s head of discipline, patrolling the school daily.

I remembered how, back in the day, Old Perkins had shared our grievances.

Now, after more than a decade, he had become the very figure he once criticized.

After bidding farewell to Old Perkins, I returned

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to the hotel with Paige.

Once Paige was asleep, I finally had time to check my phone messages.

Missed calls and numerous messages.

All from Archer.

Opening them, they were mostly inquiries about why no one was home and where Paige and I had gone.

I decided to inform him that Paige and I had returned to my hometown.

After all, he was Paige’s biological father and had the right to know her whereabouts.

As soon as I sent the message, Archer’s call

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came through.

I was somewhat surprised.

After all, his responses to my messages usually took hours.

“Why have you brought Paige back to the old home?”

“Don’t you know how busy I am? Can’t you avoid causing more trouble?”

“Can’t you stay at home with Paige?”

The moment the call connected, Archer’s reprimands came through the phone.

Not wanting to disturb Paige, I turned the volume to the lowest and stepped into the

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bathroom to take the call.

“I’m bringing Paige back to pay respects to my parents; their memorial day is approaching.”

There was an immediate silence on the other

end.

I wasn’t sure if Archer remembered his promise

to me.

Even if he did, so what?

He wouldn’t come back.

After a prolonged silence, so long that I thought the call had ended, Archer spoke.

“It’s inconvenient for you to bring Paige; come back as soon as the memorial is over.”

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“I’ll transfer some money to you.”

I agreed promptly and ended the call.

It’s strange.

When people first meet, they could talk endlessly as if the universe were ending.

Now, we barely wish to speak at all.

Indeed, people change.

Not just Archer.

I have changed as well.

I stayed with Paige for several more days. The longer I stayed, the less I wanted to return,

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If it weren’t for Paige,

Dying quietly here might have seemed like a good choice.

But I have Paige.

Before I leave, I need to make arrangements for her.

It seemed that, knowing was away, Ruby’s social media updates became increasingly frequent.

They were mostly subtle displays of affection.

I didn’t disappoint her; I liked each post.

And saved screenshots of them.

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Clay advised me to gather as much evidence of Archer’s infidelity as possible.

Even if it goes to court.

Archer is the one cheating.

Archer was adept at hiding things, but he hadn’t anticipated that Ruby was so eager to flaunt it

to me.

Had it been before, I would have demanded explanations with those photos.

But now,

I had neither the time nor the energy.

Let her post as much as she wants; I see it as a

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joke.

A malevolent thought crossed my mind.

Can the living outfight the dead?

I don’t know the answer.

Perhaps I’ll find out once I’m gone.