The Teddy Bear's Secret

I dragged my lame leg, inching forward step by step to the funeral hall. Today is Veronica Zimmerman's grandfather's funeral, and I'm here to mourn in her place. The employer paid well—enough for Wendy and me to live on for half a month. The incense smoke in the funeral hall was thick, choking my throat. As agreed, I knelt on the tatami mat and cried my heart out. My sobs had to be loud, had to be sad—to satisfy the employer. I don't know how long I cried; my knees had gone numb when I finally heard someone call me. I stopped and looked up—it was Veronica Zimmerman. She wore a black dress, light makeup softening her face, more refined than ten years ago. Her eyes fell on my legs, a flicker of sympathy in her gaze. "Your leg..." she whispered. I braced myself on my knee and stood up, doing my best to straighten up. "It's nothing, just an old injury. Doesn't affect my work." I said with a calm smile. She frowned, as if she didn't believe me. "You haven't had it easy all these years, have you?" She asked again. I shook my head and pulled a tissue from my pocket to wipe my face. "I'm fine. Got work, got food—that's enough." Before she could say anything else, I spoke up first. "Ms. Zimmerman, I've finished the mourning work. If there's nothing more, I'll be going now." I deliberately enunciated the name "Ms. Zimmerman" clearly, to remind her that our relationship was purely employer and employee. She paused, probably not expecting me to be so cold. Veronica looked at me, her eyes full of surprise. She probably thought I'd react like I did ten years ago, overwhelmed and unable to speak properly. But she was wrong. Ten years was enough time to grind away all the feelings and madness. "Let me give you my contact info," she said suddenly. "If you ever need help, just reach out anytime." I waved my hand, refusing. "No need, Ms. Zimmerman. I can handle my own matters." She added, "I know some people who can help you find a better, more respectable job. It's better than doing this." I still shook my head. "Thanks for your kindness, Ms. Zimmerman, but I feel pretty okay now." Her eyes darkened a bit, and she didn't push any further. I turned to leave, but her voice came from behind me. "Joshua Locke, do you really not care about the past at all?" My footsteps faltered for a moment, but I didn't look back. How could I not care? Ten years ago, the first time I saw Veronica Zimmerman, my heart nearly burst out of my chest. Back then, when she smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons, and she instantly lived inside my heart. I worked my ass off for her, wanting to give her the best life. But later, she fell for the man hidden inside the Teddy Bear—Leon Shane. The day I found out, I lost my damn mind and stormed into her house, demanding answers. But now, those wild emotions and madness have all been worn down by time. I'm just an ordinary guy hustling to get by, no longer the Joshua Locke who once threw himself blindly into love.