I shook my head and said softly, "No."

I chose to stay in Celestine for two reasons. First, I wanted a change of environment, and second, I wanted to find Derek.

At first, I had no leads. Later, as my network expanded, I asked many friends to inquire, but no one knew of his existence.

It was as if he had never appeared in Celestine at all.

Aurora couldn't help but advise, "Why don't you stop looking? If he were really alive, he would've found you."

I forced a ...