Facade of Love

Chapter 307 Emily Seeks Help

Charlie looked at me, a bit lost. “Tooth–losing years?”

ones

I nodded. “You know, from like six to twelve, when your baby teeth fall out, and the adult come in. Do you remember? I used to toss my teeth under the bed or up on the roof. Mom hated the under–the–bed thing–she was a total clean freak–so Dad ended up keeping them. Then, every April, we would go back to our hometown for this family remembrance thing, and he would chuck them on the old house’s roof.”

As I reminisced about those days, they seemed so distant, like a foggy dream. The image of my dad, once so towering and strong, was fading, and now, even the sound of his voice, the lines of his face, were slipping away from me.

A lump formed in my throat, and I quickly took a bite of my food, pushing down the wave of emotion that threatened to surface.

A moment later, when I glanced up at Charlie, I noticed he still looked confused. I could not help but blurt out, “You can’t seriously tell me you don’t remember anything from when you. were little, can you?”

He nodded, his eyes earnest. “I don’t have any childhood memories.”

I paused, puzzled. “No childhood memories? So, did you just skip being a kid?” After a brief pause, I ventured, “Were your parents super strict with you or something?”

His head shook, his eyes steady. “I’m an orphan. As far back as I can remember, all I knew was that I had to fight just to make it through.”

tried cotton. candy because his parents were tough, but now I realized it was because… his

one to dig into people’s past hurts, but I could not shake off a wave of sympathy

him.

on to my pity, I cracked a smile and nudged the food his way, “What do you say we

face unreadable, and gave a

planned to swap fun little kid stories, but after stumbling

an odd silence. The commotion from the street below had died

eating, it was still early. I got up to settle the bill. Charlie, sitting in his wheelchair, was about to say something, yet I cut him off with a grin, “I know you’re loaded, but remember, I said this one’s on me. So tonight, just enjoy your meal. I’ve got it

the front, I spun around to head back to

to see Emily and Liam stepping out of

2017 Emily Benne

the one calling out to

Liam, Emily,” I greeted them with a warm smile.

me a slight nod, keeping

hand, looked at me curiously. “Here

shook my head, still smiling. “No, I’m