A Time for Love

Day 17

I'm such an idiot! Such a fool in love! I ended up going to Steve's workplace, determined to give the letter to him. Of course, this was horrendously stupid - thinking that after all this time of ignoring me, he would suddenly want me back. I ended up circling around the office building in my car three times before dropping the letter in the parking lot - where my wheels crunched it in reverse as I pulled back out. I cry big, fat salty tears as I drove past the other buildings, past the local community church, and back to my apartment. The numbers 11:44, 12:12, and 555 follow me as I drive home. 

I sit in silence on the couch. It's raining heavily outside. I'm reminded of all the things that are happening - all the people moving on in their relationships and their careers, becoming adults. Amber has been out a week now, and Callie keeps to herself working on graduate homework in her room. 

The rational person would look at me and say, "There, that's all there is to be done with you. Time to make do, and appreciate what you do have."

An insane person, however, would fight for what she had lost. Edward cares about me, and I ran from him because I was scared.

"Did somebody get rid of Mimi's radio?" I ask my sister over the phone. 

"No. We donated it to a new museum in St. Simons dedicated to Coastal Georgia at war."

I wait patiently through long work hours at the diner serving tables. Late nights, I spend brushing up on late WW2 history up to the Cold War. Whomever Jade really was when her sister was not around, she must have been a really gifted spy. Maybe the Chinese government trained her. There was no use following her to her "new job," but when the opportunity arose where I found Amber's door unlocked, I snuck into her room. 

I open drawers. Found no papers other than her spreadsheets for her finance job. Chastise myself for thinking Amber could have "secrets" - but still, it has gotten me far enough. Took a long look at the photos - such as that of her dad. He looks smart, stern, and not at all like a man a stranger would trust. Their mother looked high strung - no surprises how this translated to her daughters.

On Amber's nightstand, I notice the same bangle that her mother was once wearing in a photo.It was green, with a jewel on top. I reach for it, only to hear "What are you doing in Amber's room?"

At that exact moment, the ancient Chinese bracelet had catapulted back in time - sending me through a green portal. I succumb to fainting on hard concrete.