As soon as I sent the message, Jefferson's call came in almost instantly.,

"What's up? Did someone try to pull a fast one on you?

" Jefferson's pretty straightforward., I couldn't help but chuckle.

"I wish, but how could they without even meeting me?

",

"You haven't met? So, you got me digging around just out of curiosity?

" Jefferson sounded a bit surprised,

"Girl, do you think I've got nothing else to do?

", He had just posted about entering a pool tournament, so I knew he'd be swamped., Suddenly, I felt a bit reckless,

"If you're too busy, Jefferson, it's cool. It was just a curiosity, not a must-know.

",

"Making me feel bad now, aren't you?

" Jefferson pretended to be upset., I laughed,

"No, really, it's just curiosity. If you can, great; if not, no worries.

",

"I've got time. Maybe not for others, but always for you. Alright, I'll look into it,

" Jefferson agreed., But after his promise, he didn't hang up right away. I knew he had more to say, probably about Conrad's latest public announcement., I waited quietly, and after a moment of silence, he finally said,

"Never mind, it's nothing. But remember, I'm here if you need me.

", I breathed a sigh of relief. Honestly, anything he said would have made me feel awkward. His silence was a blessing.,

"Sure,

" I replied, then, remembering his tournament, I casually added,

"When's your game? Get me a ticket; I'll come and cheer for you.

",

"Ha, will do!

" Jefferson's response was enthusiastic., After hanging up, I drove home., A restless night filled with dreams had left me craving some extra sleep. But as soon as I arrived at my neighborhood, I found a crowd gathered at the entrance. Parking the car, I walked over and saw the notice pinned up at the entrance., Demolition! My heart sank at the sight., Though I had sensed this place wouldn't last forever, facing the reality was still a shock., For some, demolition meant a windfall, a chance for sudden wealth. But for me, it spelled destruction, shattering the happiest and warmest parts of my life.,

"Two months to move out, and there's a bonus of $10,000 for those who do it early.

",

"I've been wanting to leave this place. Finally, the day has come.

",

"I just signed a year's lease with my tenant. Now I'll have to pay them to leave.

", The crowd buzzed with a mix of emotions., I stepped away from the gathering, choosing to walk home instead of driving., This old neighborhood had preserved its original charm, partly due to its age., The old oak trees lining the streets were lush and green. I remembered how, as a kid, my mom and neighbors would gather locust flowers in spring to make locust flower pancakes. In summer, my mom often took me to play in the shade of those trees., And the rockery nearby had been the ultimate adventure playground for me and my friends, clambering up and down, smoothing the stones with our games., Walking home, I realized that soon this place would be flattened, and everything about it would vanish. My heart ached at the thought., As long as this neighborhood stood, it felt like my parents were still with me., But without it, I didn't know where to place my memories or how to keep their presence alive in my heart., Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.