Chapter 8

It was evening when I left the tattoo parlor.

Lily and I got along well, we exchanged contact information and added each other on SnapChat.

On my way home, I passed a cotton candy stand.

I couldn't help but stop.

The last time I had it was probably when I was a child, when my grandmother was still alive. She would take out all the change she had to buy me some when I couldn't move from craving it so much.

She always watched me eat it all, then teasingly called me a "little glutton."

Grandma always loved to watch me smile.

Her wrinkles deepening on her aged face as she smiled.

A cold wind blew, scattering the memories.

I walked to the stand and bought a rabbit-shaped cotton candy.

It was sweet.

As sickeningly sweet as I remembered.

Passing a street corner, I heard a boy asking loudly, "Mom, look, that guy looks so cool! But why is he eating cotton candy?"

"Isn't that for kids?"

The mom laughed and explained, "Who says cotton candy is only for kids? Everyone can eat it. Having something sweet makes people happier."

I walked by quietly.

Then I heard a little girl's innocent voice, "But, even after eating such sweet cotton candy, why doesn't the guy look happy at all?"

"Mom, he looks so lonely..."

The voices faded away.

By the time I got home, the cotton candy was gone, leaving only sticky hands.

I went in and washed my hands.

Then I received a call from Emma.

She sounded drunk.

"James."

"Yes?"

She laughed a little on the other end, "Seven days left, and you'll be marrying me."

"Tomorrow, will you come with me to choose a wedding dress?"

"You can choose, you know my size."

Emma was silent for a moment.

I faintly heard a man's voice on the other end, "Emma, I'll go with you to try on wedding dresses. Don't you want me to see how you look in a wedding dress?"