Love Began with the First Meeting novel Chapter 727

There has never been a feeling stronger in my life than the love that I have for you. I love you so much, which is why I have to let you go. It sounds strange and I don't expect anyone to understand, not even you, but I love you so much and I know that I can never give you the happiness that you want and deserve. Keeping you would be selfish of me. Keeping you by my side would only hurt you more, and so I have to let you go. Don't worry about me. Move on. Look to the future. Never look back at the past or me. You can leave me behind. I give you freedom. —Brian

Molly was in a daze so she did not notice that her feet were leading her onto the road. Her mind was blank and numb and it was like her body was on autopilot. She did not see the cars or hear their roaring honks until they seemed to be at maximum volume, shrill and desperate to drive past. They all reminded her of frightened animals hurrying to avoid the hunter. She slowly turned around, her mind still in a numbed state. She was unaware of the danger that she was in. Quite contrarily, she had almost given into the danger. The cars' bright, dazzling lights flashing at her triggered something in her; a strange, unearthly desire was creeping into her mind. She wanted her sorrows to be done and over it. She wanted to end it all. She wanted to give up on everything.

"Little Molly!"

came Eric's hysteric shriek. He had been following her since she ran out from the hotel in tears. Terror overwhelmed him, seeing her standing on the road, which was swarming with moving vehicles. Without much thought, he rushed over to where she was and pushed her aside towards the pavement. Before they could reach the pavement however, the car that was driving towards them came to a sudden jolt but it didn't stop. Eric held Molly in his arms and rolled on the ground to escape the hit. Yet the horror wasn't over; they happened to roll onto the next lane of vehicles and a big, heavy-laden truck was coming. Instinctively, Eric pushed Molly against the ground and used his body as a shield, covering her. The truck passed right above them, with them just under the gap between the wheels at the two flanks.

Then followed a blaring sequence of cacophonous sounds of emergency brakes all around.

Vehicles halted. Honks squealed. Distressed people began to complain out of their car windows, venting about the lack of safety on the road nowadays, reproaching Molly and Eric for their carelessness, even cursing them out, angry that they would drag other innocent people into danger.

"Damn it! Do you want to die?"

The driver of the truck that had passed over Eric and Molly got out of his vehicle and marched up to the pair. His face had paled from his near-death experience. "You want to die? Then go die yourself! Don't drag me with you!"

Despite his anger towards them, he couldn't help but feel relieved when he saw that they were only lightly injured. After a bit complaint, he calmed down enough to return to his truck and drive away.

In the state that they were in, Eric wasn't in the mood and didn't have the energy to argue. He simply watched as the man drove away. Then he got to his feet and helped Molly up. "Little Molly, are you okay?" he asked worriedly.

As he asked her that, he leaned down to heft Molly up onto his arms and started to walk back to the hotel. When they entered the lobby, he laid her down on a couch and checked her from head to toe, searching for any injuries she might have gotten.

To his relief, she was only slightly scraped on her right arm.

"Mr. Eric Long, here are the emergency medicines you requested!"

The lobby manager hurried over to them, a suitcase-sized box in hand. Seeing that the back of Eric's shirt was drenched in his blood, he was shocked. "Mr. Eric Long, are... are you hurt?" The manager's face was white.

"Sure of course, right away!" The manager hurried through his affirmation, suddenly aware of his thoughtlessness. He rushed to order his employees to call for a doctor to tend to Eric.

When the manager left them, Molly turned to look at Eric. "Eric," she said.

"Yeah? I'm here, Molly." Eric was quick to respond, letting his eyes meet hers. He waited anxiously to hear what she had to say.

Molly blinked a few times, as though she was trying to hold back her tears. It took her a moment, but she eventually slipped into a more serious countenance. She tensed and in a firm and resolute voice, she said, "Don't ever get hurt because of me again! A lot of people have already gotten hurt because of me... If you get hurt, I would never forgive myself..."

Death had clearly planted its seeds in her mind, and Eric could see it when he looked into her eyes. Depression overwhelmed her, her eyes darkening, and it was birthing more and more grey clouds, covering the whole of her mind. She was useless in her mind. She felt as if she had reached the end of her life; she wanted to end it and not cause anyone else harm or distress. For a long time, Eric stared at her, watching her face. His own mind was becoming shrouded with confusion and love and extreme worry for her, and it was so tense that he felt he could hardly breathe.

*

Ling got out of bed, in just her bra and panties. She took the bathrobe from the closet and pulled it on, tying it around her waist. Then she looked over at Brian, who was by the window, smoking as though he were a chimney. She rolled her eyes at him and then went to get a bottle of red wine and a glass from the kitchen, pouring herself a drink until the glass was full to the brim, then downed the whole glass.