The next morning, when Darnell left the room, Elaine was already standing in his doorway, waving at him with a smile on her face, “Morning.”
Darnell said, “You get up so early?”
Elaine said, “I want to go to breakfast with you.”
She waited here before dawn, afraid that he would leave while she was still sleeping.
Darnell didn’t say anything, just strode forward.
Elaine followed him and kept on talking to him, “When are you going back to Riverside City? Can you stay here for a few more days? My school has a very beautiful lake. If you are available, can you hang around with me?”
Darnell stood in front of the elevator, “I’m leaving this afternoon and I don’t have time.”
The smile on Elaine’s face almost frozen. But the smile recovered quickly, and she continued to ask, “Can we have lunch together?”
Darnell glanced sideways at her and said slowly, “You should go back to school after breakfast.”
“I know, but I...”
At this time, the elevator door opened, and there was a foreign couple inside.
Elaine looked down and followed Darnell up the elevator.
Just having break first was better than nothing.
Sitting in the dining room, Elaine ate as slowly as possible.
Darnell glanced at the time and reminded her, “You have half an hour to go to class.”
Hearing this, Elaine reluctantly picked up a tissue and wiped her mouth, “I’ve had enough.”
The snow outside had stopped, and the street had been roughly cleaned.
The whole city was like a kingdom of ice and snow that only exists in fairy tale.
Elaine sat in the car, enjoying this rare time they had.
After a while, she turned to Darnell. “Will you come to visit me again?”
Darnell said lightly, “I’m here for business.”
Elaine made an “oh” and asked in a different way, “Then when will you come to Switzerland for business again?”
“Not anymore.”
“Why?”
Darnell looked out the window, “The cooperation didn’t work out.”
Elaine looked at his profile, opened her mouth trying to say something, but failed.
Soon, the car stopped at the front entry of school.
Elaine opened the door, went down. But she turned around just after taking two steps. She bent over and leaned on the front of car window. She was almost pleading, “I will run out as fast as I can after class at noon. I won’t take too much time. Can you pick me up for lunch?”
Darnell said, “Elaine, I’ll leave here even if we had lunch.”
“I know.” Elaine’s voice choked uncontrollably, “But I just wanted to spend more time with you...”
Darnell said, “It’s time for you to go to class.”
Elaine grabbed at the car window, bit her lower lip tightly. Her eyes slowly turned red. Tears fell silently.
Darnell closed his eyes, raised his hand to wipe away her tears, and said gently, “Elaine, just let our journey end here.”
Elaine took his hand, “Then can you kiss me?”
Afraid of his rejection, she added in a low voice, “Like last night.”
After Darnell was silent for two seconds, her thin lips kissed at her forehead. He then whispered, “Elaine, remember, no matter when and no matter what happened, I will never hurt you.”
As what he had done before…
When she returns to Riverside City, she will definitely see a healthy grandpa.
Elaine didn’t even close her eyes during the over ten hours of flight.
After returning home, she rushed in, “Dad, great grandpa...”
She called several times, but no one answered.
Elaine ran into Grandpa James’ room again, “Grandpa, I’m here to visit you. Where are you, Papa?”
The whole room was empty, and there was even sad atmosphere here.
“Elaine.”
Hearing the voice behind her, Elaine turned around sharply. There’s no joy on her face. She stepped forward and said, “Dad, where’s grandpa? Did he go out for a walk?”
It had only been a few months, but Franklin seemed to age in a sudden, with gray hair growing on his temples.
He patted Elaine’s hand and said tiredly, “Elaine, your great grandfather has passed away...”
Elaine burst into tears in an instant, “I don’t believe it. Grandpa has always been so healthy!”
“Don’t worry. He passed away peacefully.” Franklin said, “Elaine, Dad told you before that it’s normal to for us to age, sick and die. It’s not just your great grandfather. I will leave you sooner or later. Grandpa is so old. It’s a decent farewell. You don’t have to be sad.”
“But...but...” Elaine choked, “But I didn’t get to see him one last time...”
“He understands your kindness and sincerity.”
Elaine fell into Franklin’s arms, sobbing.
Franklin comforted, “Come on, Elaine, you have grown up. Dad won’t talk any big words to you. Go upstairs and change your clothes. It’s time for us to go to your great-grandfather’s funeral.”
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