Love Is There, Always

ollege, I was Mike'

irst love left the country, and

on raising his daughte

Mike was distant, and my

ffort, only to be seen as

mpled dignity and cu

stopped thinking of m

trip in Silverwood, I

year since w

options," he said. "Can you... may

of excitement, I sai

morning, I'd m

tion days and booked

the window pulled my t

ll towns, scraping by on 500

s finance office, pic

ing to the cafeteria for discounted food. Five crisp hund

eteria, but the cheap

ood disappointed at the counter. "Hey, you're running lik

d he was right, and grabbed h

t resemblance to a pop star, his f

d on treating him to a chicken

drumstick is cheap and tasty. The coo

to eat together ofte

s like cleaning labs or

needier students and pooled our

lers, thrilled to shave

ses back to campus, even

drink on the way. "Littl

him a pr

e, earning cash by

girls' dorms,

orders and climbing countless stairs, I coll

hiltrum until I came to, and my

orrowed a hot pot

re probably still queasy,

seeing the conc

d amazing, like he was

along, and my bond w

teady customers under M

ardworking students from poor fa

ies, knowing that for people like u

lunteer group, hopi

's recruitment event,

ahead, the gr

eech, her ton

a commanding strength that mad

led and asked, "Why do you wan

od." I was a year younger, bu

ness where you can, but a

d once been harassed by a male worker

fiercely until o

ut after a brief rest, she return

bout it, he admire

tice the pity i

stayed close to Adele

t her, so intense,

e library and ate in the cafete

ed Adele's bracelet was from Van Cleef & Arp

what Mike and I li

a gorgeous skirt last time. I looked

between people

ike's face paled, but

ould be so nonchalant, a spa

dn't care a

dive bar near campus for a tre

im, he started chuggi

campus flowerbeds, mumbling, "My love is beyond m

achable love, just

eft me numb by the f

up, Mike worked ha

oin projects, and network with se

right to stop him from impr

, Mike gave Adele a gold necklace in

you're kind and driven. I like you. I'm not

knew this day would come,

crowd, tears falling

Mike won h

d with Mike to stop c

year, Mike texted me. "Got

t. His true love, Adele,

t working hard would be enough, but I was too youn

he could've studie

reality. Mike's famil

e going with her. Why? Why!" Mike shou

etic look and gently

nce, that was a

overwhelming, impos

believe she's that heartless!" Dru

o late, it's not safe

rp. "You think I don't

liked him, but I wasn

cab with him t

y head toward Adele's house, I thoug

ke and Adele that night

yed her depart

e left Mike with a

bus and transferred, enduring a b

ived there, the city f

as sturdier than at graduation,

days, carefully avoidi

was heading out to buy groceries. I greeted her po

would play stepmom

going on, ushering he

. Mike had a child with Adele. What

returned and opened the door. "

from late nights. My lovesick heart still adored him. "

Mike, to move into his plac

, it was hard to see

loved her because of Mike,

ll sorts of funny expressions, h

art of every moment o

a made my friends and

raising someone else's ki

like that, how coul

you to be someo

ho's going to support yo

m yellow lights, Mike held h

, and I wished time co

ought this through? Your mom's been sick wit

e balcony. "Dad,

u're raising his kid with another woman! You never ga

igh over the phone

ke were waiting

atch a cold." Mike's gestu

yes carrying a meaning

k on Eva." I st

carlett, thank you for everythin

rst. I didn't mind Mike's past wit

but Mike and I supported each ot

ed, and in some ways, she st

axed and gentle whe

ase anything. Eva an

didn't

ing and rewashed the v

out to play too much, le

s degree. "You can't let this child hold

is." Mike held Ev

t! I raised an outstanding son. Wh

so aimless. Because of this kid? Her real mom's so irresponsible. Why did you take this burden? Are her mom's

d, as if I'd

es reddening. "Mom, Eva's my daugh

an decide about her. Mark my words, she wo

ming, then suddenly clutched he

held Eva and stayed with Mike

fine but needed to s

took Eva home

nd lost at the hospital,