Everyone held their tongues, fake smiles plastered over all of their faces as they watched him leave.

*****

Noon was approaching fast, and I was growing increasingly anxious. It had been some time since Phoebe had gone to see Grandma.

Aurora tried comforting me at first, but seeing that I could not be consoled and I kept pacing back and forth restlessly, she finally gave up.

She decided to help me another way, so she was about to sneak a peek in Grandma’s room but ...