Meet Me Where the Oak Tree Grows novel Chapter 59

It felt like I'd lost all interest in having fun. My days were spent either lost in books at the library or immersed in experiments at the lab—studying became my only escape.

Every year, I'd find myself wandering back to that little alley, hoping maybe this time he'd have returned. It was also a chance to give the tiny house a good scrub from top to bottom.

In my second year of college, I heard my dad was out of prison. Apparently, he’d teamed up with that casino boss and headed south to chase his fortune.

Days drifted by like beads on a string, turning into weeks, then months, and before I knew it, years had passed.

In my fifth year, I took an internship at a hospital and met someone who really looked out for me. Funny enough, he turned out to be Lord’s brother Cassidy. I barely recognized him at first.

After graduating, I followed Jonah's lead and took the civil service exam back home, landing a job in the criminal investigation unit. I was fueled by the hope of maybe working alongside Jonah someday. I wasn’t fazed by the demands of the job—fearless, some might say. I even got compliments for being more capable than the guys, which was a big boost for female forensic experts like me.

Over those six years, whenever the world felt like too much, I'd think of him. Knowing he was somewhere out there gave me comfort. His presence, even if just in my mind, made all my troubles shrink away.

Time with them was a mystery—both endless and fleeting. I relived those moments over and over, finding happiness in memories alone. If any part of their presence in my life were erased, I wouldn't be who I am today.

...

That day, I was deep into writing a report when suddenly my heart clenched painfully. The pen slipped from my hand, rolling to my feet. It felt like my heart was breaking, the pain was overwhelming, my limbs went numb, and tears streamed down my face. The sadness was so intense it made me want to vomit.