I See the Face He Truly Loves Chapter 10
A year later, I hosted my solo design exhibition.
The exhibition was titled “Seven Years Old”. The pieces were inspired by the idea of looking at the world through the eyes of a child.
The curator told me that my creations were gentle yet powerful.
A magazine team dropped by to interview me, asking me about the symbolism behind holding hands.
“There isn’t really a symbolic meaning,” I explained. “Having someone to hold hands with is a good thing, but if you don’t have someone like that, you’ll just have to move forward by yourself.”
After the interview was published, Michelle informed me that Dominic had purchased a copy of the magazine and placed it on his bedside table. He even placed it on the side where I used to sleep.
His closet was left half-empty. His clothes were shoved to one side while the other side remained empty. His assistant also mentioned that he kept spacing out when he sat in front of his computer. The wallpaper was our wedding portrait.
I asked Michelle how she found out about these things. .
“Xavier’s the one who told me. He and Dominic’s other friends are going mad with worry. They say that he’s like a completely different person compared to a year ago.”
“Well, that’s his problem.”
In November, I visited Southport to see the maple trees.
Maple leaves were scattered all across the ground, crunching crisply whenever someone stepped on them.
As I ambled along the street, I noticed someone standing beneath a maple tree.
The gray coat that he was wearing was the same one that I bought for him five years ago. The cuffs were fraying, and the threads were coming loose, but he didn’t buy a new one for himself.
Dominic had also noticed me. He stood rooted to the spot, looking stunned. He then took two steps toward me. He opened his mouth, looking like he wanted to call out to me.
I turned and started walking the other way, only looking back after I had put a considerable amount of distance
between us.
Dominic was still standing beneath the maple tree. He was alone, looking in my direction with his hand stuffed into his coat pocket.
I looked forward and continued walking without stopping.
On the first day of the exhibition, a staff member informed me that after the exhibition closed for the day, a man had stayed behind. He stood in front of the necklace that was placed in the middle of the hall and stared at it for over an hour.
I looked through the surveillance footage. It was Dominic. He stood in front of the necklace titled “First Meeting” with his head lowered.
The light of the exhibition hall shone on the necklace, while he stood outside the ring of light.
Later, a staff member informed me that Dominic bought an identical necklace and asked them if they could engrave some words on it.
“He wants the words ‘I’m sorry’ engraved on it.”
“Ignore him,” I said.
Michelle told me that Dominic hadn’t met with anyone during the last year. Tiana tried to meet him several times after she was fired, but he avoided her like the plague.
Dominic also didn’t join any gatherings and stayed cooped up in his office during the weekends.
His mother got so worried that she sought Michelle out, asking if she could convince me to return to his side.
“What did you tell her?” I asked.
“I said that it was impossible.”
I was working on my designs for the next season when I heard Michelle’s answer. My pen froze above the paper for a split second before I continued drawing.
I drew a pair of earrings and named them “Dawn Light”.
