Chapter 14: A Walk Down Memory Lane
Something Feels Wrong
Terrence couldn’t shake the unease in his chest.
Valerie had been too calm lately.
No anger.
No accusations.
No tears.
That wasn’t the Valerie he knew.
The old Valerie would fight with him every few days because of Margaret.
Now?
She looked at him with a gaze that felt final.
Like she had already made up her mind.
“Are you hiding something from me?”
Terrence’s voice was sharp, demanding.
Valerie’s lips parted slightly before she answered—
“No.”
Her tone was steady, her eyes unwavering.
For some reason, his chest tightened.
It felt like something was slipping away from him—
And he didn’t know why.
“Then go for a walk with me.”
“You choose the place.”
Valerie hesitated.
Terrence didn’t give her a choice.
He took her hand.
Forced her into the car.
A Place She Needed to See One Last Time
Valerie glanced at the time.
Her flight was at 8 PM.
She still had time.
And there was one place she wanted to visit before she left.
“Rice University,” she said.
Where It All Began
They stood at the entrance.
Valerie’s eyes softened as she stared at the familiar buildings.
Terrence, however, was puzzled.
“Why did you want to come here?”
Valerie ignored his question.
Instead, she pointed toward a large rock in the distance.
“Back then, it was right there where I confessed my feelings to you.”
Terrence followed her gaze.
The Magic Rock.
A famous spot on campus.
Legend had it—if you made a wish there, it would come true.
Valerie had wished to be his girlfriend.
And she got her wish.
But in the end—what did it matter?
He had never loved her.
A Memory That Had Faded for Him—But Not for Her
Terrence’s brows furrowed.
The memory came rushing back.
A younger Valerie, drunk, stumbling out from behind the rock.
She had grabbed his collar.
Eyes blazing, cheeks flushed.
Her voice loud and certain.
“Terrence, I love you.
Will you be my boyfriend?”
At the time, Terrence was the most popular guy at Rice University.
Every girl wanted him.
He had been confessed to countless times.
But never like that.
A drunk, fearless Valerie—looking at him like he was her whole world.
A mischievous thought had struck him.
He had leaned in and smirked.
“Sure.”
He still remembered how her dazed eyes cleared.
She had frozen on the spot.
It had been amusing.
He had wanted to tease her more.
But then—
His phone rang.
Margaret.
And just like that—
He had walked away.
Leaving Valerie standing there.
And now, standing beside her again, staring at that same rock—
Terrence felt something heavily unfamiliar.
Guilt.
