"Maria, I've been neglecting you these past few days. About what happened at the hospital... I actually went to check on you later, but the nurse told me you'd already been discharged."
His voice was warm and gentle, the way it always was, though tinged with a note of apology.
I shook my head. "It's fine. I'm better now."
"Are you free today? Let's grab dinner."
I glanced at the watch on my wrist. Two and a half hours until boarding.
One last meal. A farewell, even if he didn't know it.
"Sure," I said.
Alfred met me at the restaurant. He seemed to be in a good mood, even peeling shrimp for me without being asked.
"I'll take you to Disneyland in a few days. It's my fault, really. I've been so swamped with work I never took you anywhere."
Now he wanted to spend time with me?
But Alfred, I was already leaving. My flight was in two hours.
Back to Harbor City. And I was never coming back.
I watched him, that gentle look on his face as he finished peeling one shrimp, placed it on my plate, and immediately started on the next.
I swallowed hard against the sting in my eyes and drew a slow breath.
"Alfred, there's something I've been meaning to tell you. The reason I'm going back to Harbor City this week is because I'm—"
