Samuel knew how painful it was to miss somebody.
It turns out that even thinking of someone hurts all over.
His stomach twisted. It was the kind of pain that would spread to every limb before having them smashed by boulders.
Despite the pain, he found that he couldn’t stop thinking about her.
Kathleen fell silent.
Samuel’s gaze deepened. “Say something.”
“I have nothing to say to you,” she bluntly said as she lay down. “I’m going to take a nap. Please carry on with your work.”
Samuel studied Kathleen thoughtfully, trying to decide if she would be heartbroken or disgusted if he told her he had missed her.
Judging by her expression, probably the latter.
Meanwhile, Kathleen felt awful.
Samuel hasn’t changed. Why would he tell me this after a year? Does he think that I’m foolish enough to change my mind just because he said that? I’m no longer that girl who loved him wholeheartedly in the stupidity of my youth. Not anymore. Why didn’t he treasure me when I did? Leaving him was the right choice.
Samuel looked sideways at Kathleen, who had her back to him. She seemed to be asleep.
He didn’t bother her further. Instead, he turned off the light.
The night suddenly became unbearably long.
Kathleen woke up the following day in a daze.
“Good morning, Katie,” said Diana with a kind voice.
Kathleen was surprised. “Old Mrs. Macari?”
Diana sat on the chair between the two beds as she reached out to stroke Kathleen’s head. “Are you feeling better?”
“I am,” Kathleen murmured demurely, like a small furry animal being caressed.
delicious.” Diana
Mrs. Macari.” Maria brought a
Kathleen was taken aback.
up some mushroom soup with Maria. It’s your favorite, isn’t
“Old Mrs. Macari, you really didn’t have to go through all that
lady really loves me. I can
not a big deal, dear. I’m usually bored on weekdays, anyway. I’m happy
before picking up a spoon
eyes were reduced to
you enjoy it,
lady’s smile with an
of the corner of her eye, she saw Samuel looking at
noticed what had caught her attention. “Samuel had some
Kathleen looked over.
did,” Samuel
her attention back
some digging of my own. What
Samuel was struck dumb.
as dirty as
to discover that
being vacated this afternoon,” Diana announced. “I have already arranged
and didn’t voice his
thoughtfully before
I’ll treat you like my granddaughter,
to find out that Diana didn’t intend to bring them back
the other hand, remained
ward next door was
Maria to help Kathleen settle in, Diana turned to look at Samuel. “Katie and Christopher are quite compatible, you
didn’t deign
no matter how hard you force things. The sacrifice of Katie’s parents has given me several additional decades of life. Moving forward, I’ll only act in her best
care for
Samuel like
soon as Samuel was old enough, she addressed
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