"I want you to marry a woman who can give you children, someone who loves you even more than I do."
"In this life I held you back. In the next one, remember to marry me early."
"Marrying you was the greatest blessing of my life."
"Dale, I'm sorry."
"I love you."
…
Aunt Claire's funeral was exactly as simple as she had asked—no reception, nothing. They hired a few workers to dig the grave, lower the coffin, cover it with earth, and set up the headstone. It was finished in a day or two. In the end only three relatives stood there among the quiet mountain woods—desolate and lonely.
All the small things she had loved in life were placed inside the coffin with her. Yellow paper burned to ash, scattered by the cold wind until nothing remained, just like the life that had slipped away so quietly, as if it had left nothing behind.
A breeze lifted Evelyn's long black hair. Sunlight fell across the tender white chrysanthemums placed in front of the gravestone. The mountain was silent except for the faint whisper of wind, like a soft elegy for the departed.
Today was the day they left Maple Ridge. Wade Harlan's case had already been closed as an accident. Everything left of the Thompson family had been given to Uncle Dale. Maple Ridge would have no further connection to them.
One last look at the graves of her mother and aunt. Hands pressed together, three slow bows. Then the two of them turned and took a different mountain path out of the village.
The trip felt like it had lasted forever. The winter snow was already starting to melt. Noah now knew every part of Evelyn's past, yet felt not even a trace of joy. From now on… she truly had only them left.
He could find no reason anymore to pull away or give up. Evelyn had become his only choice. Even setting aside every layer of love between them, he couldn't imagine the look of regret and loss on her face if he ever left. Just picturing it felt like a thousand arrows piercing his heart.
By the time they reached the station the sun was already sinking low. Their train home wouldn't arrive until night. The station was nearly empty, only the mechanical female voice of the announcements rising and fading. Lights flickered here and there across the vast, cold hall. They huddled close together, sharing warmth against the winter night chill.
"Why haven't you said a word the whole way? Too heartbroken?" Evelyn poked Noah's cheek, blinking at him.
"I was waiting for you to feel better."
"Silly boy. Your sister isn't that fragile anymore." She leaned her head on his shoulder and took his hand. "Besides, your sister still has you and Mom."
"Yeah. We'll always be together."
Evelyn smiled. Her slender fingers slipped between his, lacing them tightly together. "Don't lie to your sister, okay?"
Half an hour until the train. Outside, heavy rain suddenly began to pour. The loud patter filled the huge waiting hall. The air turned damp and freezing. Sitting on the hard benches felt like falling into an ice cave.
"Eve, what will Uncle Dale do after this?" Noah asked suddenly.
"He said he wants to stay by himself for a while. Live in Maple Ridge a few more years. Only when he can really let Aunt Claire go will he go see the outside world."
"Then if later I…" Noah's lashes lowered. He hesitated, then continued. "If later I…"
"Say one more word and I'll beat you to death. Your sister means it."
"I—I was just saying, in case…"
"Then your sister will stay right beside you until the day she dies." Evelyn answered firmly, her gaze locked straight on Noah's temple, staring at him without blinking.
"Alright, alright. No more heavy topics." Noah shrank into himself and breathed out a puff of white vapor. "Eve, I'm hungry."
"You didn't eat your dinner properly earlier." Evelyn pulled a chocolate bar from her pocket, tore open the wrapper, and popped it into his mouth. "Your sister has bread and instant noodles in the suitcase too."
Noah chewed the sweet chocolate and said softly, "I want your cooking."
"When we get home, whatever you want, your sister will make it all."
"Then I want cabbage and tofu, beef stew with potatoes, and shredded carrot stir-fried with pork."
"Alright, alright. I'll make them all."
"Really?" Noah glanced sideways at her. "Eve, aren't you afraid of spoiling me rotten?"
"Think back to the times you disobeyed. Do you still think your sister would spoil you?"
Noah thought for a moment and realized he had asked a stupid question.
All of Evelyn's indulgence and support had always been built on the foundation of his obedience. When his sister got fierce, she was truly fierce. As a child he had talked back to Laura a few times, but in front of Evelyn he had almost never dared. Even explanations came out timid and careful.
It was exactly her clear balance of gentle warmth and strictness that had shaped the person he was today—his values, his character.
The word "spoiling" didn't really fit them. It fit Lila Vale far better.
From childhood on, Mr. and Mrs. Vale had always doted excessively on their daughter, which had caused plenty of fights between Lila and her parents. In the end it was often Noah who had to comfort the childish girl.
There had once been a night just like this—rainy, at the old hometown train station. That afternoon Lila had fought fiercely with her parents, slammed the door, and run out. By nightfall she still hadn't come home. No one could find her.
Noah and Evelyn had helped search, walking every street and alley. Around seven or eight that evening Lila suddenly messaged him with her location and told him to come alone—don't tell anyone.
By the time he reached the station it was pouring. He ran inside soaked through, half his body drenched and freezing.
He found Lila curled up on a bench in the waiting hall, hiding far from the lights, using the darkness to conceal herself.
He still remembered the wild thing she said the moment she saw him. The girl begged him to run away with her—buy two tickets, go as far as possible, never see her mom and dad again.
He comforted her while secretly texting Evelyn.
That night he hadn't had dinner, cold and hungry and tired and sleepy. He could only huddle with Lila on the metal bench, shivering. Outside the wind howled and the rain pounded.
The hall was dark, empty, and silent. In that moment he had felt truly helpless and afraid, yet he kept soothing the girl—until he saw the familiar figure rush in.
Evelyn's shoulders had been wet too, strands of hair stuck to her forehead. She found him quickly. He noticed the sadness and panic in her eyes, then saw her gaze shift to Lila. She raised her hand, held it suspended in mid-air for a long time, and finally lowered it.
"Attention passengers, the overnight express to Loane…"
The mechanical female voice pulled Noah back to the present. He snapped out of it, stood up, and grabbed the suitcase handle. "Eve, the train's here."
"Mmm. Let's go."
They passed through the ticket gate and stepped into the car. The heavy rain outside still hadn't stopped, drumming against everything. Their two berths faced each other. The upper bunks were empty. Lying on their sides, they could see each other's faces clearly.
"Good night, Eve."
"Good night, Nate."