Page 127 of Symphony for Lies

I didn’t want to hear anything. My head felt so heavy.

“Thanks for the ride.” My voice was foreign even tomyself. “You can go.”

He stared at me for a long moment before rubbing the back of his neck.“If you need anything, call me. You’re not alone.”

I didn’t answer.

Thankfully, he understood and didn’t push.

I watched his shadow disappear down the hallway beforestepping into the hospital room.

My grandmother lay in bed with monitors attached to her frail body.I couldn’t look directly at her.

Instead, I sat beside her and gripped her hand.

Her fingers weakly curled around mine. “The doctor told you.”

I nodded numbly.

“I’m sorry I hid it from you.”

My throat felt like it was closing. Suddenly, I remembered all the signs: she had been taking a new medication, and after Tristan’s performance, she was subtly saying goodbye while crying. Every little expression on her face declared that something was wrong.

And I was too foolish to realize.

“I didn’t know how to tell you. My poor girl, you’ve already lost so much. And now, me too…”

“You’re still here,” I said, my voice barely breaking above a whisper.

Her grip tightened.“Amelia, look at me.”

Slowly, I lifted my gaze to meet her emerald eyes. There were no tears and no regret. She had already made peace with death.

“I wanted to tell you. I had everything prepared… I took care of things behind your back…”

I exhaled shakily.

“The fact that you had to find out this way on such a terrible day…” Her weak voice wavered. “…I’m sorry, my child.”

“Grandma, please, just rest.”

She gently pulled my hand to her stomach.“Susan was a wonderful woman. A dear friend.” Her face was grief-stricken.

But my mind still felt numb.

I just sat beside her, holding her hand, listening as she murmured to herself. Nothing really sank in.

Eventually, she asked me to go home, even though I wanted to stay. But she pleaded with me, and I couldn’t refuse her.

Outside, the rain was relentless. Heavy sheets of water pounded against the pavement as I stepped out of the suffocating hospital and into a waiting taxi.

When I arrived at my house, my gaze drifted to Susan’s empty home, then to mine. Both houses felt unbearably silent.

I let the rain drench me, seeping through my clothes.

Thunder rumbled overhead in low, rolling growls that vibrated through my chest.

And still, I stood there, letting the cold seep in.

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