"Thank you, Vince." Mrs. Hernandez reached out for his hands, her heart exploding with gratitude as she smiled from ear to ear. "You have given Angie another chance to live her life again. You don't know how long we have been waiting for an eye donor," tapping at Vince's hand while glancing and smiling at Angie.

Angie looked at her, gave a quick smile, and averted her eyes to the steaming caramel macchiato right in front of her. "It's...it's going to get cold," stammering with her words, fixing her eyes on the donut while sipping her coffee. It was a cold autumn day, but sweat trickled on Angie's forehead.

"Are you okay, dear?" her mom reached for her shaky hand. "You're sweating in this cold weather. Do you want to go home now?"

"Yes, please," she answered without looking up. Angie's heartbeat was hammering against her chest. And she couldn't stand another minute in the cafe with Vince, "I am so tired. Please let me sleep." almost half pleading as if her words were meant for someone else.

"We're sorry to cut this short, Vince. But my daughter has not been feeling well since last night."

"That is okay, Mrs. Hernandez."

"Oh, call me, Helen!"

"Helen," he smiled, glancing towards Angie, who has been avoiding the whole time.

"And, can you give me your number so we can invite you to dinner some time. I heard you have recently moved to Quebec. So, you might want to add me on your emergency numbers," handing over her smartphone. "Better to have a nosy neighbor than nothing at all," winking at him. He laughed at her humor. They exchanged numbers and said their goodbyes shortly after. She didn't dare lift her eyes, feigning ignorance on what is in front of her.

"See you around, Vince," Angie finally spoke as she grabbed her purse and went straight outside. She was hoping that the image stayed with Vince and did not follow her.

As they climbed into their car, Angie was washed with relief. Sighing loudly as she swept her eyes around the carpark. "Can we go home now, please?"

"Sure, our Angie." Mrs. Hernandez glanced at her from the front seat, tapping at her husband's shoulders to leave.

They have been worried about her. Since August that year, she stopped driving her own car for reasons that she couldn't adequately explain. But when she mentioned that her eyes hurt sometimes, they let her off the hook. Dr. Tom Andersen, Angie's ophthalmologist who helped her go through the surgery, stated those minor black flashes were normal, especially if she had been straining her eyes.

And yet, her mom, although religious, can be really suspicious and suspects that there is more to it than that. She had said in passing that they might need to refer to a shaman just to be safe. But, her dad disagreed and claimed there was nothing wrong with their daughter. She agreed with her mom but didn't want to hurt his dad and she could not afford to make them worry about her again

Vince sat in the cafe as the Hernandez left. He wanted to look at Angie straight in her eyes as those were the precious eye of his beloved. She had been awkward the whole time, refusing to look at him in the eye. He was relieved for a moment to find out that her eyes were donated to a lovely lady, for some odd reasons. They have striking similarities. They both have the same almond-shaped eyes, and now she has her cornea. But, her brown wavy hair has been covering her lovely but pale face.

Mrs. Hernandez was right since he moved in August that year. He had not met anyone except his friends, Tony and Ashley. The isolation made him feel lonely and scared at times.

Before that, he had been staying in Nevada all by himself, alone in the house, he and Vicky built. The house, made of wood, has a cabin-like feel, just like what Vicky wanted. All the furniture and decorations were handpicked by Vicky herself, who was too excited for the day when she finally moved in after their wedding day, which was Fall of 2018. The house has never been the same after the 13th of November 2018. Now, it is all deserted, dark, and cold. Different from what Vicky wanted, a house full of warmth, laughter, and love.

The cornea donation had never been his plan either. But, Vicky wanted it from the start. That was why she carried a donor card in her wallet. She said whatever happens to her in the future, she would want to make a difference in someone's life. Selfless, loving, and thoughtful, that's Vicky. While Vince, he was drunk most of the time and cares only about himself. "A mystery," that's what their friends describe their love story. But, it was Vicky who made a difference in his life. But now, without her, it went back to its original state - meaningless.

Moving to Quebec was not his choice either for it was there that Vicky died. For some reason, something was pulling him back to this place where she died. Since July of the same year, she had been continually visiting him in his dreams. He saw an image of a woman walking on a bridge, behind Vicky. She would occasionally look at her smiling, as she waved her hands toward Vince. But, he never saw her face. He knew Vicky was telling her something. At one point in his dream, a maple leaf fell on his lap. And his heart pounded as tiny hair stood up behind his nape when he saw the exact leaf next to his bed. He looked around, and no one was there. All the doors and windows were closed, there were no maple trees in sight next to their place. From then, he knew that he must go back to where she gave her last breath. He remembered making that promise to her and intended to keep it before he dies.