A Second Chance at Forever ( Eleanor Shultz )

The courtroom had cleared, its final verdict severing the last thread between Chase and Sigrid. Leaning heavily on the attorney's desk, Chase peered over the sea of bustling suits to catch a glimpse of Sigrid as she rose to leave...

His lips parted, yearning to call out to her, "Sigrid, one last goodbye," but no sound could escape his throat...

Chase finally collapsed, right there on the floor of the courtroom he loved so dearly, with no regrets, save for the piercing one: the woman who had burrowed deep into his bones had never once looked back at him...

Chase's body gave in, and he found himself in a hospital room, tubes running in and out of him like a grim marionette. He made his students promise not to tell Sigrid. "Why endure this alone?" they asked. Gazing out at the pallid sky, he replied, "I pushed her away first, how could I expect her to look back?"

Yet, when the doctor grimly announced he had merely three days left, Chase yanked out the tubes, dressed in his sharpest suit, and had his students drive him to Sigrid's studio.

Sigrid had been working tirelessly, nights on end, carving a masterpiece from exhaustion. The effort took its toll, and she collapsed into a deep sleep atop her drafting table.

When Chase entered, the other artisans respectfully made their exit, giving him space. Out of gratitude for his help with the lawsuit, they were willing to play matchmakers for him and Sigrid, unaware that Chase no longer had the luxury of time....

The sun shone that day, bathing Sigrid in a soft golden glow, stark against Chase's shadowed figure. It was like a cruel metaphor: one destined for the light, the other doomed to darkness...

How could a creature of the sun ever mingle with one from the underworld? Even when Sigrid later opened her heart to another, only to be rejected, Chase had no chance to hold her hand, to fulfill the promise of their youth to grow old together...

Chase couldn't bear it. Every time he saw her, he was on the verge of tears. What could he do with just three days left? He could only stand there, an imbecile, watching Sigrid sleep peacefully...

Knowing this was their final encounter, he mustered his courage, leaned closer, and like a thief in the warmth of the sun's embrace, he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips...

Sigrid awoke at his touch, but instead of a slap or an outcry, she remained still, feigning sleep...

The touch, light as it was, opened a floodgate of pain in Chase's heart, bringing tears to his eyes. Fearing he might wake her, he reluctantly broke the kiss...

Before leaving, a single hot tear fell upon Sigrid's cheek. Her lashes fluttered, and thinking she might stir, Chase quickly straightened up and hurried away...

He didn't leave the building, though.

et

He lingered just outside the door, waiting for Sigrid to emerge so he could feign nonchalance and say "The trial's over, and you didn't even buy me dinner as thanks. Guess I'll have to invite myself over for a meal."

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But as time ticked by, Sigrid didn't come out. Inside, she considered following him, yet restrained herself, touching her cheek where his tear had fallen, then her lips, kissed by him...

Confused about her feelings, she

decided to resolve them before seeing Chase again. However, before she could sort her thoughts, Chase called. On the night of the kiss, his voice weak, he told Sigrid

his ulcer had flared up and asked her té come to the apartment across

from hers.

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Learning that Chase had secretly lived opposite her for years, Sigrid's anger boiled over. "You promised never to disturb me, never to meet again. Why live across from me?"

In the dark night, blood soaking his

shirt and the pristine sofa behind

et

him, Chase offered a strained apology "Sigrid, I'm sorry. I think missed you too much. I couldn't help moving across from you. Can you forgive me?"

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His plea for forgiveness wasn't about him living across her, but Sigrid misunderstood, replying coldly, "You're like a stalker, living across from me. How could I ever forgive you? Dream on!"

Angry, she hung up on what would be Chase's last call. Later, wanting to forgive him, Sigrid dialed his number countless times, but no one ever picked up, no one was there to whisper an apology ever again...