MY LAST WORDS

Chapter 5:The Mystery Box

Bryan sat on his bed, his eyes red from crying. He held his phone in his hand, staring at the photos of Carine he had kept.

"I can't believe you're really gone, Carine..." he whispered, his voice filled with grief.

Cathy walked into the bedroom.

"Bryan..." she called softly before falling silent.

She knew he was hurting. Slowly, step by step, she walked over to him and sat beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Bryan didn't even turn toward her. He kept staring at Carine's pictures.

"Bryan, come have lunch with us. Your daughter is already asking for you," she said worriedly.

He didn't answer.

Cathy's eyes drifted to the phone screen, where she saw Carine's picture. Her expression shifted between surprise and discomfort as she looked from the photos to Bryan's closed-off face. Resigned, she folded her hands on her lap and nervously ran her fingers through her hair. Her patience was wearing thin.

Suddenly, she stood up and stepped in front of him.

"Bryan, aren't you tired of thinking about her all the time? She's dead, for God's sake! And we're still here—your daughter and me!" she burst out.

Bryan didn't move.

He didn't say a word.

His eyes, already red with pain and sadness, suddenly filled with tears again.

Faced with his endless silence, Cathy lost control and snatched the phone from his hands.

"Carine is dead, Bryan! She's dead! I'm here, Cathy! I'm still here, my love. Give me the love you've never stopped feeling for her! We have a daughter. She could never give you a child, but I did, Bryan! That makes me more important to you, Bryan!" she shouted, growing more upset with every word.

Bryan still said nothing.

At once, Cathy broke down. She crouched in front of him, sadness written all over her face.

"Bryan, look at me. Do you want to die? Is that it? Do you want to go be with her while your daughter is waiting for you? Where is the man I love? Where is the wonderful father you used to be? It's been a month since Carine died, and nothing has changed. You've completely changed. I don't even recognize you anymore, Bryan," she cried.

Slowly, Bryan lifted his head and looked at her. There was a cold emptiness in his eyes that made Cathy shiver.

She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him.

"My love, I'm here. Your daughter and I are here for you. Carine is gone..." she said with a trembling voice.

"My love, I'm here... I want my Bryan back."

She kissed him again and again, but Bryan remained completely still, untouched by her affection.

Without warning, he stood up, took back his phone, and walked out of the bedroom.

No matter how much Cathy begged him to stop, he kept going.

He entered the living room, and his eyes landed on his little girl sitting in her high chair. The child smiled at him innocently.

Suddenly, Bryan clenched his teeth.

Tears spilled down his face.

He grabbed his hair and bent forward, his throat tight as he whispered through sobs:

"I'm sorry, Carine... I'm sorry!"

Behind him, Cathy slowly stepped forward, shaken.

"Bryan..."

But Bryan straightened up and walked out of the house without looking back.

His footsteps echoed through the quiet street.

The cold wind brushed against his face, but he couldn't feel it.

His eyes were full of tears.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

"Carine..." he repeated, like a prayer, like a wound that refused to heal.

His lips trembled.

So did his hands.

He had nowhere to go. He just kept walking, lost and consumed by her absence.

Nothing made sense anymore.

Only pain.

Only grief.

Only regret.

Eventually, his feet led him to the cemetery.

Carine's grave stood before him, covered with fresh flowers.

Bryan dropped to his knees.

His sobs burst out uncontrollably.

"Forgive me, Carine... Forgive me... I've never stopped loving you. I can't live without you... Why did you leave me?" he cried, his voice shattered.

He pounded his chest and bent over the cold stone.

His trembling hands rested against the grave as if he hoped to feel her on the other side.

His entire body shook with grief.

He stayed there, broken and empty.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated.

He ignored it.

It rang again.

And again.

Finally, irritated by the constant buzzing, he answered.

"What?! Who is this?" he snapped harshly.

Silence.

Then a soft but firm voice replied.

"Bryan... it's Lise."

He froze.

Quickly wiping his eyes with his sleeve, he stood up.

"Lise... is that you?"

"Yes. I have something to give you. Something from Carine. Meet me at the park in thirty minutes," she replied in a cold, distant tone.

The call ended.

Bryan stood there for a moment, stunned.

His legs barely carried him, but he forced himself toward the park.

He felt completely drained, weighed down by regret.

When he arrived, he saw her sitting on a bench with her arms crossed.

Lise looked him over coldly.

"You're not doing too badly," she said sarcastically as she noticed his messy hair and swollen eyes.

She paused, looked away, then pulled a small mysterious box from her bag.

Without a word, she handed it to him.

"Here. It's yours."

Bryan sat down across from her, his eyes fixed on the mysterious object.

He wiped away his tears and stared intensely at the box.

Without waiting for his reaction, Lise stood up.

"I hope you'll at least recognize its value... and take care of it."

"Li-Lise... what... what is this box?" he asked, confused.

Lise looked at him for a moment before turning her gaze away.

"Carine wanted you to have it. Now you do. It's up to you—and only you—to discover what's inside," she replied vaguely.

Then she walked away without another word.

Bryan remained there, frozen, his hands wrapped tightly around the box whose contents were a complete mystery to him.

His heart pounded violently in his chest.

He lowered his eyes to it, hesitating to open it.

"Why, Carine? What's inside this box?"