No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

It took me a four-hour bullet train ride to get to Galaxy Harbor.

The sun had just set, giving way to the evening lights. Though it couldn't match the glitz of Seabreeze City, its lights shone brilliantly, capturing the small town's romantic charm.

Right on cue, Fanny's call came through. "Made it yet? Found a place to stay?"

She hadn't expected me to leave in such a hurry. When she asked where I was going, I gave her the address and the train schedule.

She wondered if my rush was to avoid Conrad, fearing his persistence.

I told her she was wrong. Conrad wouldn't do that. He must be furious that I stood him up and wouldn't listen. And I was right. He hadn't texted or called since he questioned why I hadn't shown up for the registry.

My haste to get there wasn't only because I'd always wanted to visit but also to avoid entanglements, not with Conrad, but with Herschel and Jacqueline. They would seek me out to persuade me.

But I had made up my mind. Engaging with Herschel and Jacqueline would waste my energy and wear me out. So, I figured it was best to leave swiftly, denying them the chance.

I even put my usual number on airplane mode. Fanny called my burner, which even Conrad didn't know about. This number was my dad's, tucked away in another slot of my phone. It hadn't rung in ten years until today.

"I haven't looked yet. No rush," I said, taking in the unfamiliar city, feeling suddenly at ease.

"How can you not be in a rush? It's getting late. Find a decent hotel, one that's safe. Check under the bed and in the closet before you sleep. Ensure to lock the windows...," Fanny rattled off her instructions.

I chuckled, touched by her concern. "Okay, I got it. I'll do just that."

"And don't forget to grab something to eat. There must be delivery services there," Fanny added as a delivery guy zoomed past.

"Should I order someone to keep me company, too?" I joked.

Upon hearing that, Fanny sighed in relief, "Felicia, always take good care of yourself, no matter what."

"Yeah, I know. You take care, too. Get some rest. You've got surgery first thing tomorrow," I reminded Fanny before hanging up.

I wasn't rushing to find a place to stay. I'm not big on hotels, so I came here because this place is my ancestral home, where my parents were born. They weren't natives of Seabreeze City, just folks who moved there in hopes of making it big.

Sadly, they never made their fortune. Instead, they lost their lives there.

I was born in this small town, too, but my parents took me away when I was still young.

I grew up in Seabreeze City, but my dad often talked about Galaxy Harbor. He promised to take me back to see where we used to live and the orphanage where they grew up.

My parents were orphans,

abandoned due to their disabilities.

My dad

conborn deaf and mute,

and my mom had a congenital heart condition. Fortunately, they both received surgeries funded by kind-hearted donors, which allowed them to live normally. Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

I opened my phone gallery to find the address my dad had noted in his journal hailed a cab, and said, "Sir, please take me to Water Tower Street, at the end of Old Alley."

As I spoke caught the driver

glancing at me, a look that made me pause and take a closer look at him. The man had a crew cut, with sharp, stern features, and his almost bronze skin made him look tough.