I said nothing. I picked up the hand sanitizer, causing him to snort.

He said, teasingly touching my chin:

"It's okay, my OCD isn't as bad as before. You don't need to be so careful."

Just as his fingertips neared, I blocked him with my arm.

John's eyes widened in surprise.

"Sarah, I told you I wouldn't mind. You don't need to be so cautious."

I shook my head:

"No… I mind."

John's face visibly twitched.

He must have thought he misheard.

Quickly, his trembling pupils returned to normal:

"What I said at the exhibition was just to hype the piece. You don't really think my twenty-year OCD suddenly vanished because of Jessica, do you?"

"Sarah, I thought you weren't so rigid. Now you're giving me the cold shoulder because of one photo…"

I didn't respond; I silently returned to the guest room.

And locked the door.

John always said he was a light sleeper, even my slightest movement would bother him.

To avoid disturbing him,

I’d slept in this cramped, windowless room for four years.

He still hadn't realized.

A change in affection isn't instantaneous.

That night, I slept soundly.

I didn’t wake until noon the next day.

Downstairs in the living room, the master bedroom door was slightly ajar; John was gone.

Only a note remained on the dining table:

"I was supposed to take you to dinner yesterday, but the exhibition delayed me."

"I'll come home early tonight to make up for the missed anniversary. Please forgive me?"

Next to the note was a small six-inch photo.

It was the photo of John and me holding hands.

He'd made a smaller version and placed it prominently.

As if to showcase his meager "deep affection."

I tore it into pieces, along with the note, and threw them in the trash.

During our early courtship,

John's OCD was severe, but he tried to overcome his fears.

At school, other couples strolled hand-in-hand.

We held opposite ends of a piece of cloth.

Maintaining a distance of more than a foot and a half.

I knew he was terrified of intimacy, so I wouldn't force him.

Even our first kiss was through a pane of glass.

John blushed, tears welling, apologizing.

"Sarah, once I'm better, I'll be the first to hug you."

I wasn't angry; I adored this unusual boy.

No matter how long it took, I would always be by his side…

Suddenly, an unknown number called.

The sudden ring pulled me from my reverie.

I leaned back, pressed answer, and heard a familiar voice:

"Sarah, I'm starting at a company overseas next month. We haven't seen each other in over six months. Let's grab a drink in a few days?"

It was Summer, a former colleague.

We worked in the same department and were close friends.

I quit my job to care for John.

I even gave up social activities, fearing that regular outings would unsettle him.

After some pleasantries, I learned from Summer that she was going to a newly listed company.

The offer was several times better than before.

"Sarah, I'm going abroad, and I don't know when we'll see each other again. I've made a reservation; you have to come, okay?"

Summer's voice held a hint of reluctance.

I cleared my throat and tentatively asked:

"Could you ask if they have any openings? We could go abroad together."