Love's Redemption



Abortion?

Jewel was still stirring up trouble.

But if she wanted to make a mess of things, that was her choice. I didn't have the energy to concern myself with anyone else's problems.

"Let her be," I said to Lisa.

"Huh? Is there no saintly act this time?"

Even Lisa was teasing me, showing how much I used to meddle in other people's affairs.

I let out a sarcastic scoff and replied, "The saint's gone dark."ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"Ha! Love you for that." Lisa laughed, clearly amused.

After she hung up, I headed to the Demolition Permits Office to finalize the paperwork. The clerk gave me a notice and told me I had three days to pack up and move out.

I braced myself when I first saw the demolition notice and started packing. But now, with a deadline, it hit me that my home was truly about to be torn down.

Asl returned to my neighborhood, I stood outside my block for a long time and didn't go up. The usual neighbors I often saw were nowhere in sight- they'd probably already moved out.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't even notice when Brandon appeared beside me. It wasn't until I felt too tired to stand and decided to go upstairs that I realized he was there.

"Hungry?" Brandon asked as he looked at me.

He didn't pry into anything else, just checking in with a simple question.

I shook my head slightly, not saying a word.

At that moment, I felt utterly exhausted to even speak.

"Tired?"

Brandon was always good at reading people.

I nodded in response.

Brandon opened his mouth to speak. Before he said something, I lifted my feet and started walking upstairs. He fell in step beside me, taking my bag from my hand.

He understood me well. As we climbed the stairs, he didn't say anything more. We just walked in silence.

While we reached the top, I held out my hand to him. But he didn't hand me my bag right away; instead, he looked at me.

I knew he understood what I wanted, but he was waiting for the word.

I dropped my hand and finally spoke.

"I just finished closing out my parents' records. I'm tired. I want to be alone tonight."

Brandon's gaze deepened with understanding.

"At least have something to eat first."

"I don't have the appetite," I said, reaching out again.

Brandon hesitated for a moment and then handed me my bag.

I turned around and walked into the house. I leaned against the door once inside, keeping the lights off. stood in the dim glow of the setting sun filtering through the windows, taking in the familiar sight of my home.

Three months ago, when I had first come here, I had done the same thing-just stood and looked.

Nothing in the house had changed. Even though thad been living there for three months, everything was still the same as it had been. Even when Brandon had moved in, he had respected the previous owners and didn't change a thing.

As I looked around at the familiar furniture, memories started playing out.

I could see my dad sitting on the couch, reading the newspaper. When he heard me, he would look up and say, "Mae, come here. Check out this article. It's so well written.

My mom would peek her head out of the kitchen with an apron tied around her waist.

"Mae, wash your hands and have some fruit. Dinner's almost ready."

I pictured this scene and moved to the couch, sitting down beside my dad. I reached under the table and pulled out an old newspaper from ten years ago. Then I turned the pages to the article my dad had pointed out to me back then, softly reading it out.

When I finished, I repeated what I'd said all those years ago.

"If this is good writing, then I'm definitely going to be a great writer."

"Of course. My daughter will be a great writer."

Suddenly, I heard my dad's voice.

I froze and quickly looked beside me. That wasn't what my dad had said back then. He tapped me on the head and said, "You've got to be humble if you want to be better."

But just now, I had clearly heard him say something different.

I had really heard it.

I stood up and looked around the room. But the house was empty, and I was alone.

But I swear I had heard it.

"Dad, Mom," I called out as I rushed to the kitchen.

The kitchen was empty. I looked back at the couch, but there was no one there.