No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Fanny shot me a text that nearly had my heart jumping out of my chest: "Seriously, had you taken an hour longer to reply, I would've called the cops. You know what went through my head? I was half-convinced Conrad had you tied up in a basement somewhere." The wildness of her imagination had me both laughing and crying; I sent back a thumbs-up emoji to show my amusement.

Fanny wasn't having any of it: "It's not funny. You hear about this kind of drama happening back home all the time. So, when are you coming back? Did you wrap up your trip today? Did Jefferson win his match?"

Staring at her barrage of questions and pondering over my own situation, I replied with: "Not sure."

Fanny was puzzled.

I said, "Might never come back to this place. Might stay a bit longer."

I didn't want Fanny to worry, so a lie was the only option.

Fanny: "Alright, have fun then. Let me know when you're back; I'll throw you a welcome home party."

Reading her messages filled me with a bittersweet feeling, and suddenly, I was scared I might never make it back.

Where did this sudden fear come from?

So, I ended up sending her a voice message: "Hey, so, if anything weird happens to me, my bank PIN is the date our parents passed away. If I'm gone, you're in charge of my assets. Keep half of it as your dowry from me, and donate the rest... to any charity, to kids with serious illnesses, whatever feels right."

Right after I sent it, Fanny's video call came through.

call, I knew she was freaked out, so I

last will? What's going on? Where are you?"

the camera to show Dustin's luxurious mansion, "Look, I'm in a mansion,

the hell out of me," Fanny, clad in scrubs, seemed either ready

you know, with all the

my foot," Fanny cut me off and then demanded, "Turn the

wasn't going to be at

and I cheekily made a 'peace' sign

staring at me for a

you

Fanny finally relaxed, "et

me like that again,

swear I'll kill you."

I teased, pressing my face against the

you staying at? Conrad's?" Fanny's

an "Oh," then probed further,

on that, so I kept fibbing, "It's safer

that makes sense. Just

take advantage