Chapter 15

Jack stands in the field, the sun beating down on him as he tills the ground for the Summer seeds. Sweat trickles down his face, mixing with the dirt that clings to his skin. Each stroke of the hoe feels heavier than the last, not because of the physical effort, but because of the weight of his thoughts.

His mind is a whirlwind, constantly drifting back to Claire. Despite being married to her, their relationship has been far from what he would like to be. Every day feels like a gamble; some days they manage to coexist peacefully, while on others, tension hangs between them like a storm cloud.

The news of Claire and Kai's breakup had initially brought a flicker of hope, but faded almost immediately. The fact that she had chosen Kai over him gnawed at his heart, a constant reminder of where he stood in her life. Jack grits his teeth, driving the hoe into the earth with more force than necessary.

"I hate you, Jack."

Claire's painful words echo in his mind, each repetition cutting deeper. No matter how hard he tries to push it away, the memory clings stubbornly. He wants to believe that things can get better, that they can find a way to truly be together, but the doubt is always there, lurking in the back of his mind.

The sun climbs higher, casting harsh shadows across the field. Jack pauses, wiping his brow and taking a deep breath. He looks around at the rows of freshly tilled soil, the promise of new growth lying just beneath the surface. He wishes the same for his marriage, for a chance to cultivate something real and lasting with Claire.

But the road ahead seems fraught with obstacles. Claire's declaration that she didn't love him, her fixation on Kai, and now Popuri's confession from last Spring—everything feels like an insurmountable wall. Jack shakes his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He can't afford to be distracted; the farm needs his full attention.

Yet, no matter how much he focuses on the task at hand, Claire's image refuses to leave his mind. He sees her standing there, the way her eyes light up when she talks about something she loves, the way she frowns when she's deep in thought. He feels a pang of longing, wishing he could be the one to make her smile, to make her feel loved and secure.

Eventually, the weight of his job and his marriage becomes too much to bear. The relentless sun, the endless rows of soil, and the echoes of Claire's harsh words all press down on him, threatening to crush his spirit. Jack drops his hoe, the clank of metal against the ground resonating with finality. Without a second thought, he walks away from the farm, leaving behind the fields that have always been his sanctuary.

He needs to clear his mind, to escape the turmoil that has taken over his life. He wanders through town, aimless and uncertain. His body moves on autopilot, carrying him forward while his thoughts swirl in a chaotic mess. His home, the farm, his marriage—nothing feels stable anymore. He knows that just one more thing could break him completely.

Jack walks past familiar landmarks, the general store, the square, the beach, all blending into a blur. He doesn't have a destination in mind; he's just moving, trying to outrun the weight of his troubles. The people he passes give him curious looks, but he barely notices. His mind is too preoccupied with the mess his life has become.

Eventually, he finds himself at the hot springs, a secluded spot behind the farm known for its hot soothing waters and tranquil surroundings. He stops at the cascading waterfall nearby. The sound of the water crashing down is almost hypnotic, offering a temporary reprieve from his thoughts.

Jack remembers hearing a legend about this place—a story about a goddess who lives in the pond below the waterfall. It is said that she grants wishes to those she favors, but Jack has always dismissed it as just a fairy tale. Yet, standing there now, with his heart heavy and his mind weary, he finds himself wishing that the legend were true. What of he can give the goddess an offering and ask her to tell him what to do from this point forward.

Suddenly, Popuri hops in front of Jack, "Hey Jack! What'cha doing?"

Jack jumps back in shock, his heart nearly bursting out of his chest. "Popuri! Please don't scare me like that!"

Popuri's cheerful demeanor quickly shifts as she notices the troubled look on his face. Her expression softens with concern. "Jack, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Jack answers sheepishly, attempting to brush off her concern.

Popuri frowns sadly and steps closer. "Jack, don't be that way. We've been friends for a while now. I know when something is bothering you. Come on, you can tell me."

Jack sighs, feeling defeated. He can lie to himself, but not to Popuri. So, he begins to explain the turmoil that has been plaguing him, recounting the events that have caused him so much pain. As he speaks, Popuri's eyes widen with shock. She had no idea his marriage had taken such a turn. She had noticed signs, especially during the Spring Goddess Festival, but things hadn't seemed to change much since then.

"Claire really said that to you?" she asks, her voice filled with disbelief.

"It's not her fault," Jack interjects quickly. "I said it too. Claire and I… we just don't understand each other. We never took our marriage seriously, and we ended up resenting each other over it. That's why she chose Kai over me. After all, I don't deserve anyone. All I just end up doing is ruin everything I touch. But we're stuck together whether we like it or not. I guess in the end, I'm just getting what I deserve."

"Stop it, Jack!" Popuri shouts, her angry face displaying her vehement dislike for Jack's self-deprecating words. "I don't care what you or Claire said, you deserve better!"

Jack sighs deeply, feeling the weight of his own helplessness. "What should I do then?" he asks, his voice tinged with despair.

Without warning, Popuri takes Jack's hand. Jack's cheeks turn a slight pink color as he wonders what is going on with her. "Jack, come with me," she says suddenly, her eyes blazing with determination. Jack gasps, uncertain about what Popuri means. "Let's go, you and me! We'll leave Mineral Town, start over somewhere else."

Jack's heart nearly stops beating at her words. His chest tightens, but he forces himself to take a deep breath. "Okay, I'm going to take you seriously for five minutes. Where would we go?"

Popuri grins, sensing she finally has his full attention. She steps back and pulls a piece of paper from her cleavage, presenting it to him with a flourish.

Jack takes the paper and unfolds it, his curiosity piqued. The paper is a clipping of a newspaper. In the newspaper, he sees an ad for a farm available in Forget-Me-Not Valley, only a boat ride away from Mineral Town. No money is asked for the farm; the ad only asks for someone who can take over.

"You want to go to Forget-Me-Not Valley?" he asks.

Popuri nods enthusiastically. "Yes, it's my plan B."

"Plan B? What was plan A?" Jack asks, his eyebrows arching in curiosity.

"Don't worry about it, that ship has sailed already," Popuri replies, dismissing his question with a wave of her hand. "The point is that we can take it over and start from scratch."

Jack looks at the ad once again, the idea tantalizing yet daunting. He then takes a stressful sigh and says, "This is not going to work. The ad is from last Spring. Someone must have already claimed the farm by now."

"You don't get it, do you?" Popuri says, her tone taking on a hint of impatience.

"Get what?" Jack answers, genuinely puzzled.

Popuri once again pulls another piece of paper from her blouse. Jack takes it, his curiosity piqued. Unfolding it, he realizes it's a deed to the farm in Forget-Me-Not Valley. Popuri's name is already signed on the line, making her the owner of the farm.

Jack's eyes widen in astonishment. "You already have the deed?"

Popuri grins, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "I told you it was my plan B. I've been holding onto it, waiting for the right moment. I plan to open up a chicken ranch of my own. Ever since mom passed away, I had a lot of spare time to go to the valley and get training for it."

Popuri's expression turns somber as she turns away to kick a pebble. "However," she explains, her voice tinged with uncertainty, "I am not ready for farming just yet. I can care for the chickens, but I need some help with the farming side of the job. I thought about hiring someone, but I don't trust anyone to work with me."

She then turns back to Jack, her mood more cheerful. "But I trust you. We can leave tomorrow and start a fresh, new life together."

Jack's brow furrows as he asks, "What about Claire?"

Popuri waves her hand dismissively. "She'll be fine. She'll have the farm here all to herself. This is about us, Jack. We both need this change. Come on, what do you say? Are you in?"

Jack's heart pounds in his chest as he weighs his options. The idea of starting anew in Forget-Me-Not Valley is tempting, offering an escape from his troubled marriage and the painful memories that haunt him. Yet, the thought of leaving Claire behind, despite their rocky relationship, gnaws at him.

As Jack weighs his options, his mind once again becomes plagued with Claire's words. "I hate your guts" plays in his head over and over, echoing with a relentless ache. He realizes that it may take time, but he could get over his marriage and start over. The thought of a new beginning, far from the pain and resentment, grows increasingly appealing.

With a defeated sigh, he looks into Popuri's hopeful eyes and says, "Alright, Popuri. Let's do it. Let's start over in Forget-Me-Not Valley."

Popuri's face lights up with joy, and she pulls him into a tight embrace. "Thank you, Jack! You won't regret this, I promise."

Jack quickly interjects, "I do have some conditions, though. We do this as friends. No living together. You can live on the farm; I'll find somewhere else to stay. Since this is your farm, you're going to be running it. I'll just work there. And I'll be expecting a salary. Deal?"

"Deal," says Popuri, her voice tinged with determination and optimism. Despite the agreement not being how she would like, she is confident that she'll be able to change his mind and make him marry her eventually. The main idea is to separate Jack and Claire and make him a bachelor again.

Jack nods, feeling a strange mix of relief and worry. The boundaries he set are necessary for his peace of mind, yet the idea of embarking on this journey with Popuri brings a small sense of uncertainty.

"Alright then," Jack says, extending his hand. "We leave tomorrow."

Popuri takes his hand, shaking it firmly. "Tomorrow," she repeats, her eyes gleaming with the promise of a new beginning.

Meanwhile, Claire steps onto the farm, looking around, but Jack is nowhere to be found. She notices the hoe lying abandoned in the field, its handle half-buried in the tilled earth. Assuming Jack must have stepped away for supplies or some other errand, she makes her way into the house. The silence is intimidating, wrapping around her like a shroud.

Since she is alone, Claire walks over to her beauty box, which has remained untouched since last Fall when Jack threw their wedding bands into it. The memory of that night still stings, but curiosity and a sense of nostalgia pull her towards the box. She slowly opens it, revealing the smaller box inside, just as it had been left. Claire picks up the smaller box and opens it to expose the golden rings, still shining like new.

She takes the smaller ring and slips it onto her finger, her eyes tracing over the intricate patterns etched into the gold. As she looks at her hand adorned with the ring, she feels a surprising sense of comfort. For a moment, she feels safe, a sensation she should have felt when she realized she was married to the stranger who lives in the house with her.

Claire's thoughts drift to the early days of her marriage to Jack. The awkward silences, the missed opportunities for connection, and the growing resentment that had driven a wedge between them. Holding the ring now, she wonders if things could have been different. If she had tried, if she had been open to the idea of being a happy couple, could they have found happiness together? She sighs understanding that she'll never know.

A shockwave climbs up Claire's back once the front door opens. In an instant, she takes off the ring, places it back in the box, then chucks it into the beauty box before anyone sees what she was doing with it. She then quickly turns around and sees Jack. She forces a smile and says, "Hi, Jack."

He doesn't respond, instead passing her without a glance and heading straight for their bedroom. Claire's curiosity is piqued. She follows him, her heart pounding as she wonders what is going on. Inside the bedroom, she sees Jack methodically packing clothes into his rucksack.

"What are you doing?" she asks, her voice trembling slightly.

Jack pauses, not looking at her. "I'm leaving, Claire," he finally says, his voice heavy with resignation.

Her heart skips a beat, panic rising in her chest. "Leaving? What do you mean you're leaving? Where are you going?"

"Does it matter?" Jack answers, his voice tinged with a bitterness that cuts through Claire like a knife. "You win, the farm is yours now."

Panic surges through Claire, and she rushes over, grabbing the shirt Jack is attempting to pack into his rucksack. "Jack, stop! I don't want you to leave!"

Her words halt him, and for a moment. He looks away, the weight of their strained relationship evident in his posture. "I thought this is what you wanted. You hate me, after all."

Claire gasps, the realization of what Jack is saying hitting her like a tidal wave. She knows it's true—they have said some horrible things to each other in moments of anger and frustration. She slowly releases the shirt, her fingers trembling. "Jack… I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said. I was just mad, and I didn't know how to react. But I don't really hate you. I just…"

Her voice trails off, the words she needs seeming to elude her. Jack turns to face her, his eyes searching hers for the truth. "You just what, Claire?"

She takes a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. "I just… didn't know how to handle everything. I was confused, and I took it out on you. I never wanted you to leave, not like this. Despite everything, you're still… you're still important to me."

Jack's expression softens, the anger and hurt in his eyes replaced by something else—something Claire can't quite place.

Jack then drops his sack and places his hands on her shoulders, making her look into his eyes as he confesses something he never thought he would ever say, "Claire, I know that we had our moments. But I want to tell you that I'm in love with you!"

Claire gasps, her blue eyes meeting his. Considering how quiet and reserved he is, she thought Jack hated her. Believing that she he was intruding in his personal space. She bites her lip, unsure how to feel.

Jack continues, "From the moment first I laid my eyes on you, I thought you were the prettiest girl I ever met. I was hoping to get to know you, go out with you, and love you the right way. But when we were forced to live together, things got messy. We fought, said some stupid things, and nearly went our separate ways. But when we got married, things slowly changed. We got along for a little while, made me think we could become a real family."

Claire's heart is beating rapidly. This confession is too much at once. If he had said something sooner, in smaller bites, it would have been easier for her to process. But now she's frightened. Not of him, but of how she feels about him.

Jack swallows the knot in his throat, then asks, "Claire, do you love me too?"

Claire can feel tears welling up in her eyes. She knows that she's in a position that's now or never. But her heart is confused. She thought she was in love with Kai, but that was proven to be just infatuation from being alone. She never had a chance to understand how she truly feels about Jack. All she can do is look away and say, "Jack, I… I don't know."

Jack slowly releases Claire. He then grabs his rucksack and starts heading toward the front door. Claire follows him but stays at a safe distance. She knows that she no longer has the right to stop him. Even though she didn't make a choice, what is clear to both of them is that she didn't choose him. All she can do now is watch him walk away from her life. As he grabs the doorknob, he says, "Goodbye, Claire."

"You're leaving with her, aren't you?" she responds, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jack gasps. He trembles as he stands at the door. He can't face her; he already knows the painful look on her face too well. He doesn't understand why Claire hates Popuri so much or how she even knows that he's going with her. His hand lingers on the doorknob, his knuckles white from gripping it so tightly.

"Listen, if you want to leave, then go. I'm already used to people throwing me away like garbage," Claire says, her voice trembling with raw emotion. "If you want to go with Karen, I don't care. It can even be with Elli, Ann, Mary, or someone else I've never met. Go and be happy… But tell me, WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE HER?!"

Jack stands frozen, his back to Claire, her words slicing through the air like a knife. He wants to say something, anything, to ease the pain in her voice, but the words won't come. His hand lingers on the doorknob, the cool metal a stark contrast to the heat of the moment.

Claire's eyes burn with unshed tears as she watches him, her heart pounding in her chest. She waits for him to say something, to give her a reason to believe that this isn't the end, but the silence stretches on, suffocating her hope.

Finally, Jack takes a deep breath, his shoulders sagging with the weight of the decision he's making. He turns the doorknob and opens the door, the bright sunlight flooding into the dim room. Without looking back, he steps over the threshold.

"Jack," Claire calls out one last time, her voice cracking with desperation. "Why does it have to be her?"

But Jack doesn't answer. He steps out into the light, the door slowly closing behind him with a soft, final click. Claire stands there, the empty house echoing with the sound of her own heartbeat, realizing that for the first time since she moved to Mineral Town, she's truly alone.

As Claire stands alone in the house, the emptiness around her seems to amplify the void in her heart. She looks around and realizes that everything in the house, except what was already there when they moved in, belongs to Jack. Soon, he will return to claim his belongings, leaving her with an empty shell of a home.

Driven by feelings of anger and despair, Claire marches to the tool box and grabs the axe, her hands trembling with a volatile mix of emotions. She walks towards the bookshelf, each step echoing with the intent to destroy. Every book on those shelves is precious to Jack, remnants of his grandfather's legacy. Claire raises the axe, the weight of it heavy in her hands, ready to reduce everything Jack owns into firewood.

Her mind races with thoughts of her dragging everything outside and setting it alight, watching it burn until nothing remains but ash. She imagines the look of devastation on Jack's face when he returns to find everything gone, believing that in destroying his possessions, he will finally understand the depth of the pain she feels.

But as she stands there, the axe poised in mid-air, something inside her falters. The memories of the moments they shared, however fleeting, flash before her eyes. The smiles, the arguments, the brief moments of connection—they all flood her mind. No matter how hurt and betrayed she feels, Claire realizes she cannot bring herself to destroy what remains of Jack's life here.

With a heavy heart, she lowers the axe and lets it fall from her grasp, the sound of it hitting the floor resonating with the weight of her decision. She collapses to her knees, her strength leaving her as the weight of her emotions bears down on her.

Tears stream down her face as she sobs uncontrollably, her cries filling the empty house. She wraps her arms around herself, trying to hold together the pieces of her shattered heart. The anger and bitterness give way to an overwhelming sadness, a grief that seems to consume her entire being.

In that moment, Claire realizes that destroying Jack's belongings would not alleviate her pain. It would only deepen the wounds they both carry. She sits there, surrounded by the echoes of her heartbreak, knowing that moving forward will be the hardest thing she'll ever have to do.