I laughed.

"Ernest, I've made myself clear. If our goals aren't the same, it's best we go our separate ways.

",

"But you need a boyfriend, right?

" he asked me.,

"Sure, I do. But I can't keep up with a military man like you. I'll find another way,

" my words seemed to deepen the intensity in Ernest's eyes., I thought he would try to stop me or compromise, but I overestimated my importance. He said nothing.,

"Goodbye. Sorry for the abruptness,

" I said, turning to get into my car and driving away, almost like I was fleeing the scene., After I was sure Ernest couldn't see me anymore, I stopped the car, took a moment to catch my breath, and regretted the impulsiveness provoked by last night's drinks. I should've considered anyone else, even Jefferson, to play the role of my boyfriend instead of stirring trouble with Ernest. But what was done was done, and regretting it was pointless., After calming down, I drove to a florist, picked up a bouquet, and headed to my parents' gravesite. Aside from Memorial Day and the anniversaries of their deaths, I seldom visited there. But lately, I'd been dreaming about my childhood, about Mom and Dad, as if they were calling out to me., However, when I arrived at the cemetery, I noticed a bouquet already there, barely wilted, suggesting the visitor had been there no more than a fortnight ago., My parents had been gone for over a decade. Besides me, as their daughter, only our family friends, like Herschel and Jacqueline, would remember. Could it have been them who visited? But if it was, why hadn't Jacqueline mentioned it? I was puzzled, but considering my recent fallout with Conrad, perhaps Jacqueline forgot to tell me., I moved the wilted flowers aside and placed my bouquet down. When looking at the young faces of my parents on the headstone, my heart felt heavy, but I smiled.

"Mom, Dad, have you been missing me? I've been dreaming about you a lot lately.

",

"Mom, Dad, you know what? Conrad and I broke up. I'm sorry I couldn't fulfill the wish you, Herschel, and Jacqueline had for us to marry.

",

"Mom, Dad, I think you'd prefer my happiness over fulfilling a contract, right?

", ..., I sat there, spilling all my stories, completely losing track of time until the heat of the sun reminded me it was time to go. As I was about to throw away the wilted flowers, I noticed they were daisies, not lilies. In all the years with the Wagner family, including Herschel and Jacqueline, and even the times Conrad and I visited, we always brought lilies because Mom loved them., But these were daisies, clearly not from them. If not them, then who? My curiosity turned into a perplexing sensation. Could there have been an old friend of my parents paying respects?, I quickly dismissed the thought as Herschel and Jacqueline had picked the cemetery, and at the time of my parents' burial, no other relatives or friends were present. And even if there were friends, they wouldn't know this place. Who could it be, then?, Feeling an odd sense of curiosity, I decided to call Jacqueline.,

"Felicia,

" Jacqueline answered joyfully,

"I was just about to call you.

", I held back my questions,

"Jacqueline, what's the matter?

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