Chapter 3

3

My Nana's only wish was to see me settled down.

I had promised her I'd bring a boyfriend home, but I never did.

And now, there was no time left.

I looked at my contacts and paused on Callum's name.

Would he help me?

Even if it was just acting, if it gave Nana peace, I was willing to beg.

I dialed, but it rang and rang. No one picked up.

Instead, I got a text from Sienna.

"I'm warning you one last time. Callum is mine."

Attached was a photo.

It was Callum, wearing only a bathrobe, stepping out of a hotel bathroom.

In that moment, my heart finally died.

I rushed out of the house and drove toward my hometown.

The three-hour drive took me only one.

But when I arrived and saw the black ribbons on the door, the world started spinning.

I forced myself inside.

Relatives I barely knew were there, their faces a mix of grief and indifference.

But I only saw the little old lady lying in the center of the room.

In her hand, she held a photo album.

The cover was a photo of us together on the day I became an astronaut.

"When I go, I'm taking this with me. I have to show your Grandpa how successful our Lyra is!"

I touched her cold cheek and choked out a sob.

"Nana, I'm home..."

A relative patted my shoulder. "She lived to be ninety. She didn't suffer. It's a blessing."

I didn't hear them. I only saw her smile.

I couldn't believe she was gone. Two days ago, she was talking about New Year's dinner.

The cold wind rushed in, and I finally collapsed into darkness.