Chapter 21

It was the right choice. As long as her family was safe, Shirley could endure anything. Shirley stayed awake all night. … At the first light of dawn, she got dressed and went downstairs. Jenny brought her a bowl of spaghetti but lingered at her side, clearly hesitant to speak. Shirley ate half the bowl before setting down her fork. "If you have something to say, just say it. I'll be heading out soon." Jenny hesitated before replying, "Yesterday, we received a package from abroad. We weren't sure what to do with it." Shirley didn't think much of it. "Bring it here." Moments later, she stared at the package, sitting frozen as the blood drained from her face. Inside was a prosthetic limb she had specially ordered for Samuel the previous month. Looking at it, Shirley felt the barriers she had built around her heart begin to crumble. Her composure shattered, piece by piece. Without another thought, she grabbed the prosthetic and bolted out the door. At that moment, nothing else m