No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

"Felicia is a pushover!" That was what Conrad and Haley used to think of me. My non-confrontational attitude made them think I was an easy target, but little did they know I couldn't care less.

Since that was the case, I had to show them even the softest peach had a pit.

My sharp words instantly made Conrad's face turn sour. "Felicia."

"Let go!" I snapped at him again.

But he didn't. Instead, he said, "I'm not blaming you. I just, um, wanted to let you know."

"Trying to make me sick?" My words were harsh. Each one aimed to sting him. "No need. I don't want to hear it."

My words got under Conrad's skin, his temples throbbing with visible veins. I knew he was holding back, biting his tongue. His eyes trembled as he looked at me, a departure from his usual storm-out-the-door reaction.

But it was different. After holding my gaze for seconds, Conrad spoke, "The amusement park is opening as scheduled, and I want you there."

I felt a tightness in my chest, unable to voice my refusal. That amusement park meant more to me than only a project I was involved in. It held a special significance.

I genuinely wanted to be there. When it was first under construction, I dreamt of standing at its highest point on opening day, sharing the moment with my dad.

But at the moment...

"If you don't want to go because of me, I can stay away that day," Conrad sensed my dilemma, offering such a compromising statement.

I looked at him. "No need."

After that, I also delivered a heartbreaking retort, "You've meant nothing to me long ago."

Conrad's face stiffened, and he murmured in a low voice, "Do you have to sting me with your words to feel satisfied?"

I didn't engage further, instead reaching for the car door. "I have things to do."

"Will you be there?" Conrad asked before letting go.

"We'll see," I said with force as I pulled, and with his release, the door slammed shut.

I saw Conrad visibly shake from the impact, stepping back as if he had been abandoned again.

As I drove out of the parking lot, I sighed, glanced at the documents on the passenger seat, and sped up to find an open space to pull over.

I took a deep breath and picked up the accident report, flipping through it page by page.

My hands shook more with each page until I couldn't bear to read any longer, closing my eyes as my whole body trembled.

I finally understood why Herschel

and Jacqueline didn't want me to know these details. They feared I couldn't handle it. Even in black and white the gruesome photos from the accident scene were enough to break me.

Sweat poured out of me, and my hands clenched to steady myself. I never imagined my parents' deaths were so horrific, their faces

unrecognizable. If their names

hadn't been on the report, I would have refused to believe it was really them.

My phone buzzed incessantly. I lacked the strength to check who it was, let alone answer.

Forcing myself to continue with the report, my hands trembled so much that I couldn't hold the pages.

Eventually darkness encroached

my vision. The overwhelming

sensation made it clear I was

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shock. As my consciousness faded, my hand reached for the phone.

Faintly, I heard someone calling my name, but I couldn't respond.

I dreamt of my parents, the accident scene, and moments I couldn't accept.

"No!" I screamed in denial.

"Licia!"

"Licia..."

A deep, calming voice reached my ears.

Flashes of my parents calling me flickered before my eyes. "Licia, how about we have pasta for lunch?"