Chapter 32: What Remains
She blew softly on the spoon, cooling the liquid, and then offered it to her grandma.
She was helping her grandma, taking care of her, just like her grandma had done for her many times. The roles had changed, but their love stayed the same.
"Thea this soup is great." Grandma said, enjoying every bite.
"And did you share that chocolate with him?"
"I believe the chocolate he had was up to his taste." Thea replied, her voice laced with sadness. Her words were spoken softly, as if the memory of the scene was still too painful to speak aloud.
Grandma Grace nodded, pleased. "I am glad that he enjoyed the chocolate."
Thea chose not to reveal that the chocolate was already being enjoyed by him in the company of another.
"Have you eaten yet?"
Thea shook her head.
"Hand me the tray." Grandma Grace directed, her voice soft yet authoritative.
Thea held the tray steady as Grandma served herself a portion of the meat dish and offered it to Thea,holding her hand in front of Thea’s lips.
"Open your mouth.." Grandma Grace said, her eyes brimming with affection and empathy. "You need to eat. The food will give you nourishment."
Thea’s gaze locked onto Grandma’s compassionate face, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Her voice cracked as she struggled to speak. "I’m not hungry, Grandma.." she murmured, the words trembling with unspoken sorrow.
Grandma’s expression softened, her eyes filled with gentle understanding. "I know you’re not telling the truth, child," she said, her voice warm and coaxing. "But you need to eat. Just a little... for me."
Thea opened her mouth, and Grandma fed her a small bite. After the feeding, Thea tenderly tucked her grandma into bed, making sure she was snug and comfortable. She planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. As she turned to leave, Grandma’s weak voice called out, "Thea?"
"Yes, Grandma?" Thea replied, her voice gentle.
"Are you hiding something from me?" Grandma asked, her eyes searching for truth.
Thea faltered briefly. "No, Grandma... there’s nothing you need to worry about." she said softly, masking her pain behind a brave smile to spare her grandmother any distress
Thea stood at the sink, her hands moving automatically as she washed the dishes, her mind numb and detached from the world around her.
Later, she quietly slipped into Grandma’s room, where soft snores filled the air. Thea’s gaze fell upon her grandmother’s serene face, relaxed in slumber.
She returned to her room.On her bed, the day’s events replayed in her mind until exhaustion took over, and she fell asleep, her eyelids slipping shut.
Her eyes opened shortly and drifted to the phone on the table, charging. She reached for it and turned it on.The screen flickered to life, displaying a list of missed calls from Ryder and his mother.
She dialed Elizabeth’s number. After a few rings, Elizabeth’s soft voice responded, "I called you and found your phone was switched off. Have you reached home safely?"
"Yes, Aunty, I’m home safe.. My phone died, and I couldn’t charge it until now."
Elizabeth’s tone was worried as she explained, "Ryder told me he wasn’t able to reach you on your phone."
Her exhale of relief was audible, even through the phone. "Thank goodness you’re okay, I was getting worried."
As soon as she hung up the phone, it rang again. Thea’s s heart skipped a beat as she saw Ryder’s name flashing on the screen.
She hesitated, her thumb hovering over the accept button. She didn’t feel ready to talk to him yet. With a swift motion, she silenced the call and stood still, her hand gripping the phone tightly.
But before she could gather her thoughts, the phone rang again.This time, her fingers seemed to move on their own, and she accepted the call without realizing it.
"Thea, Mother mentioned that you came by to see me today. Did anything happen?"
"Yes, I went...No, nothing important. I just simply went ...that’s all."She chose not to disclose the reason behind her visit.
"Is everything okay, Thea?" Ryder asked, sensing a shift in her demeanor. "You sound different. Is something bothering you?"
The line went silent, the only sound being the heavy breathing on both ends.
"Thea?"
But Thea remained silent, her heart heavy with unspoken words.
Finally, she broke the silence,"Ryder, if you have time, please visit my Grandma. She wants to see you."
Ryder agreed, "Okay, I will visit her soon."
The conversation hung in the air, heavy with unspoken thoughts. The silence grew awkward.
Thea broke it softly, "Okay..Goodnight."
Ryder’s response was equally subdued, "Hmm, goodnight."
Thea clutched her phone to her chest.She whispered to herself, her voice trembling, "I have been waiting for his call for so long."Her gaze drifted downward.
She knew now she couldn’t fall asleep, her mind restless and her heart heavy. So she took a seat at her desk and spread her journal before her, its well-worn pages a comforting reminder of the countless moments she had entrusted her innermost feelings to its pages..
As she delved into the familiar landscape of her memories, her eyes tracing the lines of handwritten thoughts and emotions, tears began to well up.
With a gentle touch, she ran her fingers over the pages, reliving the moments she had shared with Ryder-the laughter, the tears, and the silences that spoke louder than words.
Her journal had been her confidant, her safe haven, and now it was her solace in this moment of vulnerability. Each word etched on those pages was a thread weaving together her tangled emotions, allowing her to confront feelings she could barely voice aloud.In this private space, she found clarity amid the chaos, a gentle reminder that through writing, she could untangle her pain and begin to heal.
The first tear dropped onto the page, followed by another, and another, as Thea surrendered to the emotions she had tried to keep hidden.
"Why can’t I stop my tears?" she whispered, her eyes brimming.She paused, her chest heaving with a deep breath.
