Edwin quickly ended the call, pressing the button with more force than necessary. “Oh, that was my distant cousin,” he said, forcing a light laugh. “His son’s going through some mid-life crisis, well, teenage crisis. The boy just turned eighteen, joined a group of rowdy boys he calls friends, and ran away from home. I was just trying to console his mother.”

His voice came out fast, too fast, and he avoided Becky’s eyes as he spoke. He cleared his throat. “Anyway, what are you doing in my office at this time of the day? Didn’t I tell you to be careful and lay low, for crying out loud?”

His tone spiked but quickly dropped again as he realized they weren’t entirely alone in the building. “This isn’t the time to be reckless.”

Becky rolled her eyes dramatically. “When you told me you were still here, I thought it wise to check on you. You shouldn’t be showing up at the office so soon. You should be mourning your wife, not playing CEO.”

He stood up, already reaching for his coat. “Let’s go. I’ll drop you at your house.”

********************

Austin was back at Erica’s place. The day had been long but surprisingly fun. He now sat on a small stool, watching Erica at the table, scribbling something into a book calendar. Her face suddenly dropped as she stared at the page.

In a hushed voice, barely audible, she muttered, “Not again. My period’s due in two days. I need to get a new sanitary pad.”

She dropped her face onto the table with a tired pout.

Austin smiled to himself. He made a mental note to call his dad, then stood up and walked to the corner where his jacket hung. The jacket he wore the day Erica found him. He checked the pockets. Everything was still there: his wallet with its stash of cash, his car keys, and his phone.

He powered it on and waited.

Meanwhile, Edwin stepped out of his bathroom at home, a towel wrapped around his waist. He saw the screen of his phone light up with a familiar name. He answered immediately.

“Son? Where have you been? I’ve been sick with worry. Are you okay? Just tell me where you are. I’ll come and get you.”

Austin’s voice was calm. “I’m sorry, Dad, for getting you worried. I just needed to clear my head. I’m in a small village. But I’m fine. I’ll be back soon.”

“Soon? How soon?”

“I have to go now, Dad. Talk to you much later.”

Edwin stared at the screen for a moment after the call ended. Then he dialed another number. “Meet me tomorrow morning. I need you to track a location for me.”

He set the phone down and exhaled slowly, relieved at least that his son was alive.

***************************

The next morning, Lizzy was the first to wake. She walked over to the guest room to check on Austin but found it empty. Panic hit her immediately.

She ran to Erica’s room and shook her sister awake. “Wake up, sis! I think the guy left again! What if he went to kill himself?”

Erica shot up, wide awake. They both rushed to check, but the room was indeed empty.

“I thought he was getting better!” Erica said, biting her nails. “How did he leave again without us noticing?”

Just then, the door opened.

Austin walked in, holding two large shopping bags.

Lizzy gasped in relief and threw her arms around him. “Thank God! You didn’t kill yourself again. We were so scared!”

Austin blinked. “Kill myself? No! I just went out to get something. Didn’t want to wake you two. You were both having a snoring contest.” He touched his cheek, pretending to think. “I think Erica won. Hers had a nice rhythm to it.”

“Hey!” Erica laughed and threw a pillow at him. “I don’t snore!” Her face turned pink with embarrassment.

Lizzy laughed and started unpacking the bags. “Wow, you bought a lot! These are expensive groceries.”

She pulled out item after item: bread, cereal, fruits, canned soup, and then four different brands of sanitary pads.

Austin turned to Erica. “I didn’t know which brand you use, so I bought different ones. Hope at least one is okay.”

Erica’s cheeks deepened in color, and she ran out of the room.

Austin watched her go, then turned to Lizzy. “Is she always this shy?”

“Most times,” Lizzy replied, still smiling as she arranged the items.

*************************

Lisa stirred on her hospital bed. She was awake, sitting up slowly. A man in simple clothes stood by her side.

“Glad you’re finally awake,” he said. “I found you by the riverbank. I’m a fisherman. You were lying there, barely breathing. I did what I could before bringing you here.”

Lisa’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Thank you so much. I’m grateful, sir.”

“I’m James,” he said. “What’s your name?”

“Lisa,” she answered quickly.

“Well, Lisa,” James said gently, “you should call someone in your family, let them know where you are. I’m sure they’d be worried.”

He reached into his pocket and handed her a phone.

She shook her head. “I don’t have any family.”

“No husband? Children? Parents?”

She looked down. “None. I’m just alone. I was rendered homeless the day before the accident.”

It was a lie, but one she had to keep. She needed to stay hidden. Thinking of Austin hurt, but she knew he’d be okay. He had grown into a strong man.

*************************

That evening, Austin and Erica were walking home from her shop. He wore shorts and a shirt she had made for him.

“Today flew by,” he said, enjoying the fresh air. “You’re very talented, Erica. Just some branding and marketing, you could be a top designer.”

She tossed some groundnuts into her mouth. “What do you know about fashion? You’re exaggerating.”

“Amanda was a designer,” he said.

She gave him a questioning look.

“My fiancée,” he added.

“Oh… sorry,” she said quietly.

“She designed clothes for some of the biggest celebrities in LA and beyond. She was amazing. So yeah, I know good work when I see it.”

Erica nodded.

Austin looked at her again. “What about Lizzy? She goes out every day. What does she do?”

“She sings,” Erica said with a soft smile. “In the market, at bars, churches, wherever they’ll have her. She gets paid small change, but she enjoys it. And her voice… wow, it’s angelic. Nothing like mine. Mine sounds like a frog with a sore throat.”

She tried singing a line off-key, and Austin laughed, covering his ears in mock horror.

When the laughter settled, he looked at her again. “You have beautiful eyes, and honestly, you could be a model. You’re tall, graceful, and striking. You weren’t made to be stuck here forever.”

Erica’s heart skipped. People had complimented her before, but coming from him, it meant something else; she could feel the butterflies in her stomach being awakened.. She looked down and mumbled, “Thank you.”

As they neared their house, Erica stopped.

“Did I miss a room or am I hallucinating?” she asked, pointing. “That car can’t be from this village.”

Austin turned to look. His expression changed.

It was Edwin’s car.

Just then, the door opened and Edwin stepped out.

Austin walked up with a confused look

“What are you doing here, Dad? How did you find me?”