No Goodbye, Just Gone

Kyson Hale, the regimental commander, finally agrees to let me live with him on the military base. But in return, our son isn't allowed to address him as "dad".

Kyson and I have been secretly married for eight years. I've taken care of his parents in the countryside for that long as well.

After the death of his parents, my son, Darryl Hale, and I request Kyson to let us live with him on the military base.

He agrees to our requests, but he has a condition of his own.

"Once you've reached the military base, you shall declare to everyone else that you're just my relatives from the countryside."

Only then do I realize that Kyson has another family of his own in the military.

Some time later, I leave the army with Darryl without looking back. But Kyson, who's always been cold and distant, is alarmed by our disappearance.

"Mr. Gilbert, I want to try for that women's federation job," I said.

The village head, Mason Gilbert, sounded surprised over the phone. "Gisselle, are you sure? Life in the village isn't like the military base. Wouldn't it be better for you and Darryl to stay there with Kyson instead?"

It would be better.

Aside from the fact that my husband, Kyson Hale, wouldn't let our son call him "dad", everything was perfect.

I glanced at the poster on the wall and forced a bitter smile. "I'm not used to it. I want to go back to the village."

Not wanting to waste money on calls, Mason didn't push it. "Well, you've been raising Darryl alone all these years anyway. Kyson's presence doesn't really matter. Come back next week. I'll take you to report for duty."

After thanking Mason, I returned clumsily to my temporary home. It was a small single-story house.

In the yard were two freshly tilled plots with a few scattered seedlings.

On my very first day on the military base, I borrowed seeds from the neighbor.

I spent the whole day tending the garden, planting vegetables, and with them, hope for the future.

But when Kyson came home that night, the first thing he did was tell me to dig up the plants.

He said, "Gisselle, haven't I given you money? Why grow vegetables in the garden? Don't you think it makes you look poor and desperate?"

I fumbled with my apron, trying to explain. "I just saw others planting, so I thought, since I have nothing else to do, I might as well save a little money on groceries."

Kyson frowned, his annoyance clear. "Don't bother. This isn't the countryside. There's no need for your pointless efforts. Jodie was right. A hick will always be a hick. You'll never measure up to her."

I lowered my head, and every spark of enthusiasm vanished in an instant. All that remained was an overwhelming sense of bitterness.

Jodie Duncan was a soldier in the art troupe and Kyson's true love in the military.

I was just