“Everyone has their off days, right?” Rebecca White tossed the cotton ball into the trash bin and returned to help Sherilyn stand up. “Let’s go home, take it slow. Make sure you’re steady on your feet, and don’t walk until you’re no longer dizzy…” “Got it, big sis Rebecca…”
As they approached the door, Sherilyn’s phone rang. It was Edgar.
“Hello?” Sherilyn paused, swiping to answer the call.
“Sherilyn,” Edgar’s voice came through, filled with concern, “Are you sick?”
“How did you know?” Sherilyn was surprised.
Edgar sidestepped the question, pressing on, “How are you feeling now? Is it serious? Are you still feeling unwell?”
“It’s nothing.” Sherilyn chuckled, “Just a cold…”
“That’s a relief…” Edgar sighed softly, finally addressing her initial question. “Gilbert came looking for me. He told me you were sick.”
What? Sherilyn was taken aback, her smile fading. Gilbert actually went to see Edgar?
“He came to confront me, wanted to drag me to see you.”
This… Sherilyn was shocked; Gilbert was really getting involved!
“Sherilyn.”
Edgar paused, choosing his words carefully, “I told him, I don’t love you anymore… It’s over between us.”
“I thought you should know, to prepare yourself-Anyway, I’m hanging up now. Take care of yourself. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
Sherilyn put down the phone, deep in thought. So Gilbert knew…
But what was she supposed to prepare for?
On the other end, Edgar stood by a window at the end of the hallway in his home. Outside, the lights of Sunhaven at night were a painful glare.
Edgar suddenly closed his eyes. He
still cared for her. But he would not let her know, would not get close to her again. Loving her was his own affair. Letting her go should be too.
In his mind, he suddenly remembered the first time he saw Sherilyn at the Neon Nights Bar… She was so beautiful, shining brightly on stage! It was the first time in his life he had experienced love at first sight.
He thought, only by not clinging, not disturbing, could he be worthy of the awe he felt for her at that first encounter. Honor the meeting, cherish the feeling. “Sherilyn…” Edgar murmured with closed eyes, a tear escaping, “Goodbye…”
Rebecca White supported Sherilyn back to the Sunset Ridge Community. From a distance, they saw Gilbert’s flashy Bentley parked at the building. “Why is he here?” Rebecca White looked at Sherilyn, puzzled, “I thought you said he left?”
“I don’t know.” Sherilyn frowned, shaking her head.
From the car, Gilbert saw them, got out, and walked over, looking down at Sherilyn. She looked a bit better than before, her eyes watery from the fever.
Gilbert cleared his throat, softly
saying, “You didn’t come back, and I
was worried Jenna would be upset. I stayed downstairs just in case, to help out with anything.”
“Mhm.”
Sherilyn nodded, her voice a bit hoarse. “You’re thoughtful. I’m back now… It’s nothing serious, it’s late, you should head back and rest.” “…Okay.”
Gilbert nodded, realizing he indeed had no reason to stay any longer. “I’ll be off then.”
After giving her a long look, he turned, got back into his car, and slowly drove off.
“Do you think…” Watching the car drive away, Rebecca White tugged at Sherilyn’s arm, “Is he really just worried about Jenna? Or does he have other motives?”
What was she implying? Sherilyn understood. She gave Rebecca White a piercing look, bursting her bubble, “He’s with Caroline now, they’re living together.”