Chapter 174

Bruce had met my grandmother, Clara Peterson, before. It had been shortly after the start of our sophomore year; Grandma who had always lived in the countryside, had ventured out of town for the first time. She had been carrying a bag of freshly picked walnuts with her when she had arrived in Joddesdon and Saza late at night to save on travel expenses. It was raining outside, and Bruce and I had just left the library. I had been both surprised and at a loss after receiving her phone call. Ultimately, Bruce had made the quick decision to accompany me to the train station. Bruce had thoughtfully arranged everything from meals to lodging; it had been so heartwarming that I had thought he genuinely liked me. Yet, in just a few years, life had changed dramatically. "She's not doing too well," I said casually, as if I were speaking about someone else's affairs. Bruce's expression softened slightly at my words, and even the grip on my wrist became gentler. "You never mentioned it befo