"Don't show your face in here anymore. You will cause trouble for Earl."
His words hurt me badly.
Now, is it too much to ask to see my child?
"Frances, don't go too far. Can't I just take a look at him? I've lost Penelope. Please let me see Earl."
Looking at the indifferent man with tears in my eyes, I humbly plead.
His face darkens and he says flatly to me, "It's your business that you lost the child. Earl is living here
with me now. If you want to see him, you can apply to the court."
Does application work?
Can I see Earl just by that?
Hilda hates me so much. How could she allow me to see Earl?
Rather than naively believing in the power of law, I would rather sneak over to see him myself.
I know that Frances has no feelings for me, but he doesn't need to be so heartless.
"Frances, can you show some mercy?"
I grip his hand and ask with tears trickling down my cheeks.
His gaze lands on my hand. It is emotionless.
I notice that my overly intimate grip might tick him off, so I hurriedly let go.
I appear totally servile to get his promise that I'm allowed to see Earl every day.
I never entertain the idea of taking Earl back. I just want a visit. Can't I do that?
"Stop. If you continue sneaking here every day, then I'll call the police."
After Frances finishes speaking coldly, he closes the door.
As I look at the tightly shut door, I'm overwhelmed by feelings of depression.
Frances doesn't care about Penelope at all, right? Probably, he just asked me about Penelope casually
back then.
However, I naively think that he care about Penelope.
I'm so stupid and callow.
Now, all my hopes are torpedoed.
I silently walk away from the door. When I arrive at the restaurant where I worked, I bump into the
manager.
"Jane, why haven't you come to work for so long? I kept calling but couldn't get through. Without you,
the restaurant staff has their hands full."
I glance at the manager and said indifferently, "I quit. You can hire someone else."
With that, I walk past him without saying anything else.
I'm not in the mood to work.
In the past, I worked hard to earn money for Penelope. And now, even if I rake it in, what can I do with
all the money?
Earl and Penelope are not by my side. Why should I work anymore?
Right now, I feel like a walking dead, numb and mechanically living my life.
If it weren't for my concern for Earl, I probably would have killed myself.
When I get home, I close the door and lie in the bed.
I don't want to face my mother and brother or the real world.
I don't care if people call me coward or timid. I can't find a way to make me feel better except to run
away from the reality.
Suddenly, my phone rings. I excitedly pick it up, hoping that it is from the police station and brings me
news of Penelope.
The moment I see the name on the screen, my hope is dashed.
It's Mindy.
These days, besides calls from the police station, I only answer her call.
Knowing that I'm upset, she often calls to comfort me. I feel better, when she talks to me.
"Hey, Mindy."
I whisper as I pick up.
"Jane, I've got news of Penelope."
Earl and Penelope are not by my side. Why should | work anymore?
Right now, | feel like a walking dead, numb and mechanically living my life.
If it weren't for my concern for Earl, | probably would have killed myself.
When | get home, | close the door and lie in the bed.
| don't want to face my mother and brother or the real world.
| don't care if people call me coward or timid. | can't find a way to make me feel better except to run
away from the reality.
Suddenly, my phone rings. | excitedly pick it up, hoping that it is from the police station and brings me
news of Penelope.
The moment | see the name on the screen, my hope is dashed.
It's Mindy.
These days, besides calls from the police station, | only answer her call.
Knowing that I'm upset, she often calls to comfort me. | feel better, when she talks to me.
"Hey, Mindy."
| whisper as | pick up.
"Jane, I've got news of Penelope."
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