Susie's loneliness was palpable, almost as if she wished to tether me to her side indefinitely., With merely a weekend to spare, I found myself extending my leave by another two days for Grant Smith, all to keep her company., But as the adage goes, all good things must come to an end, and my departure was inevitable., She packed for me a thermos filled with dew-brewed chamomile tea and a box of food steamed with pollen and petals - it was as if she wanted to give me the very best of what she had., Her fondness for me was undeniable, and it instilled in me a profound sense of responsibility.,

"Felicia, do drop by whenever you find the time,

" Susie managed, avoiding my gaze., Tears brimmed in her eyes, a silent testament to her vulnerability and inner strength., I could hardly muster more than a nod, fearing my voice might betray the emotions I was desperately trying to keep at bay., Goodbyes are the tenderest blades, slicing through hearts with silent ruthlessness.,

"I've asked a friend to get in touch with a doctor. Once everything's set, your brother and I will come pick you up,

" I promised, offering her a glimmer of hope as I hugged her goodbye.,

"Alright, I'll be waiting, sis,

" Susie's words were the motivation I needed., So, on my way back, I messaged Fanny, planning to meet her straight after landing., My journey to Susie was by train, but I returned by plane, drifting in and out of sleep, my dreams a replay of our moments together - tending to gardens, washing clothes by the river, and long conversations into the night., I was roused from my slumber by a flight attendant as we touched down in the evening. Instead of heading home, I opted for a taxi to the garage to pick up my car., Before I could reach, Conrad Wagner's call came through., Ever since his public declaration with Haley Perez, Conrad hadn't bothered me much. His call now hinted at something urgent., Without waiting for me to speak, Conrad blurted out,

"Is it true my dad went completely gray overnight?

", His question caught me off guard, a reminder of events from a few days ago., And his asking meant he hadn't seen Herschel since., I struggled to find words that could convey my frustration adequately.,

"Felicia, won't you say something?

" His voice carried an edge of desperation.,

"What do you want me to say? Can't you see for yourself?

" I retorted, my patience wearing thin., My serene demeanor, nurtured by my time with Susie, was quickly unraveling., Conrad fell silent. As I was about to end the call, he confessed,

"My parents won't even let me through the door now.

", Served him right!, Those words echoed in my thoughts.,

"Felicia, I'm utterly alone now,

" Conrad's voice was laden with defeat., Yet, I found no sympathy within me, only a cold retort,

"You chose this path.

", He chuckled bitterly,

"Yes, indeed. I deserve this.

", At least he was aware of his folly.,

"Felicia, does my dad truly despise me now?

" His question was naive, to say the least., Herschel's overnight graying was not just disappointment; it was heartache, frustration, and a depth of sorrow only he could fathom., Despite Conrad's belief that his parents showed equal love to him and Dustin Wagner, it was clear to any outsider that they had a soft spot for Conrad., And now, he had let them down in the worst possible way.,

"Felicia, could I ask a favor of you?

" Conrad's voice, uncharacteristically humble, broke through my thoughts., Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.