The flame licked the ends of Caleb’s hair. He paled, swatting at it as he roared, "Lena, pick a better time and place for your tantrums! This is a temple, not a marketplace!"

Claire cowered behind him, a smug look on her face, though she feigned a pained smile. "Caleb, it's all my fault. If I'd never come back, none of this would be happening. Lena, don't worry, I'll resign tomorrow and leave the country. I'll never be in your way again."

The more pitiful she sounded, the more disappointed Caleb looked at me.

"Why should you leave? You've done nothing wrong. She's the one blowing things out of proportion, getting too big for her britches!"

"Lena, I'm giving you one last chance. Apologize to Claire."

Hot wax dripped onto the back of my hand, but the sting was nothing compared to the ache in my heart.

"Why should I apologize? I'm the victim here! And when did I ever tell her to leave the country? In fact, I wish you two nothing but the best!"

Claire's lip quivered, her face a mask of fragile innocence. "Lena, I'll go right now. You don't have to be so sarcastic."

Caleb grabbed her wrist and yelled at me, "Lena, don't push me to break up with you!"

Hearing that, I took a step forward.

"You don't get to be the one to say that. I already kicked you to the curb, you get it?"

Seeing the lit candle in my hand, Caleb instinctively shielded Claire. "Lena, put the candle down. If anything happens to Claire, I'll never forgive you..."

My patience was gone. I cut him off coldly.

"As if I'd dare touch her. After all, she's got her big-shot mentor to back her up. I'm just a nobody. I can't afford to mess with her."

Caleb instantly understood I was talking about Claire's social media post and seemed to relax.

"Lena, if you're jealous, you can just say so. There's no need to make such an ugly scene. I know I've neglected you lately, but once I..."

It was always the same with him.

He knew my anger wasn't just about his ambiguous relationship with Claire; it was about his dismissive attitude.

"Shut up!" I snapped, disgusted.

"I don't care if you marry Claire and have kids with her."

"But if you dare touch my mother's Everlasting Lamp, I will make you both pay."

For the first time, Caleb saw pure, unadulterated loathing in my eyes. He flinched and then, softened his stance.

"Lena, how is your mom doing?"

My eyes burned hot.

"She's doing great."

She's already down there waiting for me.

Caleb didn't catch the choke in my voice and let out a sigh of relief.

"See? I told you she'd be fine. Tell her to hang on for a few more days. Once I take care of a few other patients, I'll come back and do her surgery."

"There. Are you satisfied now?"

I said nothing. He took a step closer.

I immediately backed away, brandishing the candle.

"Can you just leave now?"

His face hardened. As if to provoke me, he deliberately intertwined his fingers with Claire's.

"Lena, we'll see how long you can keep this up."

As the other temple visitors stared, all the strength drained out of me. I gave a bitter smile, returned the candle to its place, and apologized to the monk.

Then, I went to check on my mother's lamp.

Maybe it was just my imagination, but among all the glowing lamps, hers seemed to be the brightest.

It was as if my mother was comforting me.

Instantly, tears streamed down my face. I crouched down and cried for a long, long time.

I took my mother's ashes and went back to my hometown.

After my dad died, my mom and I had left this place.

Looking at the dusty old house, I decided I would fix it up.

The next day, I came home with groceries to find the front door broken open.

The little stool and table my father had made for me as a child were smashed to pieces. My mother's clothes, which I had hung out to air, were trampled in the dirt.

Claire stood in the middle of the yard, barking orders.

The blood rushed to my head. I charged forward in a blind rage.

"Stop! What do you think you're doing? This is trespassing! I'll have you arrested!"

Claire held up a legal demolition permit.

"Go ahead and sue. Caleb said this is a demolition zone. We can smash whatever we want."