No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

I was silent, lost in the turmoil of my own thoughts.

Conrad edged closer, his voice a whisper, "Felicia..."

"Conrad, do you even hear yourself? How can you be so heartless?" My words stopped him in his tracks.

He looked at me, his face flushing with a mix of shame and defeat. "Yeah, I've been a fool, betraying my own brother because of a moment's passion, and now causing trouble between you and Ernest because you saved me. And here I am, shamelessly thinking I could take advantage of the situation..." He shook his head, disgust written all over his face. "I'm not just a terrible person; I don't even deserve to be called one."

With those final words, he walked away, leaving a heavy silence behind.

When Dustin and I left, Conrad didn't see us off.

At the airport, Dustin went to handle the check-in, leaving me alone with my thoughts, feeling utterly hollow, as if my soul was adrift, unsure of where to go or what to do.

"Miss, are you traveling by yourself?" Suddenly, a beautiful little girl with curly blonde hair and porcelain skin took a seat next to me. Her eyes, as dark as night, were a stark contrast to her Western features, yet she spoke my language with such ease.

People say kids have a healing touch, and it's so true. Just having her around seemed to ground my restless soul.

I managed a small smile, replying, "No, sweetheart, I'm just heading home."

"Are you going home to see your mom and dad?" Her curiosity was boundless.

longer with us. Yet, I couldn't burden such a young heart

a mischievous twinkle

funny?" I asked, tilting my head with a

boyfriend too," she whispered, leaning in as

innocence made me laugh, a genuine laugh that bubbled up

along

three or four, her speech peppered with adorable mispronunciations. Her boyfriend' was likely

friend. ve

confided in me, "My

cute as you?"

nodded vigorously, then added,

must mean a brother

charm was undeniable. Even at her young age, she was already into

boyfriend is handsome and

said, thinking of Ernest's

too," I said,

and even mimicked

is super cool too," she declared, not willing to let her crush be