My chest was tight with anxiety.

"Alright, around what time tomorrow?

",

"I'm not sure. Keep your phone close,

" Ernest paused before adding,

"Have you had dinner?

",

"Yeah, had some with Conrad,

" I replied, meaning nothing more by it., He probably wouldn't think much of it anyway, considering he had asked Conrad to keep an eye on me., As expected, Ernest didn't dwell on it but shifted the topic,

"What did he say about Jefferson Daniels?

",

"He said he'd find a way for me to meet Jefferson. Didn't say much else,

" I answered truthfully.,

"Jefferson's teammates are familiar to him; he might get some useful leads,

" Ernest commented, which I didn't respond to, and he didn't press further., A silence fell between us on the call, an unprecedented occurrence., I glanced outside again, breaking the silence,

"It's raining here, quite heavily.

",

"I can hear it,

" Ernest replied, and it was only then I realized my phone's screen was facing up. Throughout our video chat, he hadn't seen the rain or me, just the hotel ceiling.

"Let me show you,

" I moved my phone towards the window.,

"I'd rather see you,

" Ernest finally said., I paused for a moment before responding,

"Ernest, you've upset me, so as a punishment, you won't see me until I return.

", Ernest fell silent again, then after a while, said,

"Alright... I deserve that punishment.

", Was it really a punishment? I suppose so., After all, he loved me, and to those in love, a day apart feels like an eternity., Ernest stayed with me on the call, quietly sharing the view of the foreign rain. Neither of us spoke again., I sat for about an hour until my back started aching, and I decided to lie down on the bed., When I went to end the call, I noticed he hadn't hung up and his camera was still on him.,

"Why haven't you hung up?

" I asked.,

"I didn't want to. This way, even though can't see you, I can still bear you,

" Ernest's affection always took me by surprise. , But I was a bit heartless,

"Well, I'm hanging up. You won't get to listen anymore.

",

"Are you tired?

" he asked.,

"Not tired, just exhausted,

" I replied, lying down,

"Goodbye.

", With that, I ended the video call, but soon after, my phone buzzed. I knew it was Ernest., True enough, it was his message: Licia, get some rest., I didn't reply, just turned off my phone and closed my eyes., Shortly after, my phone buzzed again. Thinking it was Ernest, I ignored it., When I woke up and checked my phone for the time, I saw the message wasn't from Ernest but 'JusticeHeart': Meet me at your parents' gravesite tomorrow at 3 PM , Panic took over. I was thousands of miles away; meeting him seemed impossible., So, I quickly typed a message back: Sorry, Officer Sampson, I'm abroad. Can we reschedule?, No reply came, and my unease grew., But I couldn't have someone meet, voto net, him in place, so I tried again: Officer Sampson, I'll contact you as soon as I'm back, okay? , Right after sending it, I saw

"typing...

" appear on my screen-, Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.