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 turned to Maria. “Bring
Old Mrs. Macari.” Maria brought a
Kathleen was taken aback.
this morning to whip up some mushroom soup with Maria. It’s your favorite, isn’t it?” Diana
of guilt. “Old Mrs. Macari, you really didn’t have
really loves me. I can feel
weekdays, anyway. I’m happy to cook you something nice. Now, be a good girl
obediently before
were reduced to slits. A warm,
you
smile with an embarrassed
of her eye, she saw Samuel looking at
“Samuel had some of your soup before
Kathleen looked over.
did,”
her attention back to
grandson. “I did some digging of my own. What happened with the ward this time really wasn’t your
Samuel was struck dumb.
not as dirty as she thinks
that
heard that a ward is being vacated this afternoon,” Diana announced. “I have already arranged
Samuel nodded and didn’t voice
Diana thoughtfully before commencing
she stroked Kathleen’s hair. “I’d said before that I’ll
find out that Diana didn’t intend to bring them back
on the other hand,
next door was vacated, and
settle in, Diana turned to look at Samuel.
deign to answer
lamented. “It’s not going to work with her no matter how hard you force things. The sacrifice of Katie’s parents has given me several additional decades of
do care for her,
addressed Samuel like that for a
was old enough, she addressed
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