Chapter 8
Chapter 8
“Ken…”
“Don’t start,” he cut her off impatiently.
“Don’t worry. I won’t interfere with your relationship with Viola anymore. I hope you both have a happy life together.”
After all, she thought, in two days, I’ll be gone. We’ll never see each other again.
The next morning, Calista cleared out her room. She gathered all of Ken’s love letters and gifts–every precious memento she’d cherished–and thrown them to the nearby dump, despite her weakened state.
When she returned, Uncle Johnson called her to his study.“Calista, what happenned? I heard you fell into the pool?”
She knew Uncle Johnson was fair–minded. If she told him the truth, he would investigate thoroughly. But she was exhausted–too tired to fight anymore.“It was nothing. just slipped.”
He frowned. “That’s dangerous. Stay away from the pool from now on.”
Calista nodded obediently as he pulled out a list.
“I’ve submitted your name. A transport will pick you up in two days.”
“Thank you, Uncle Johnson.”
He studied her face with concern. “Have you packed everything? The base is in an arid region–it might take some getting used to.”
Ken walked in just then, catching the last words. “Packed? Where is Calista going?”
Uncle Johnson glanced at Calista but remained silent.
“I’m renting my own place,” she said quietly. “Moving out.”
Uncle Johnson nodded. “Yes, Calista wants her own space.”
Ken’s brow furrowed. “She’s fine here. Why move?”
Uncle Johnson gave him a long look and shook his head. “You’re getting married, Ken. Someday Calista will marry
and have children too. She’ll need her own home.”
The color drained from Ken’s face. The thought of Calista marrying and having children had never come up to his
mind.
In his distraction, his hand knocked the list off the desk.
“What’s this? A roster for the satellite research base?”
19:23
Seven Years of Love, Seven Minutes
78.9%
Chapter 8
Calista’s heart raced. If he found her name on that list, he might try to stop her. She just wanted to leave quietly.
Uncle Johnson, unable to bear watching the two of them miss their chance, prompted Ken. “Yes, these are the candidates. Aren’t you curious who made the list?”
Ken reached for the papers, suspicion clouding his features.
Calista stepped forward to intervene, but suddenly a cry of pain rang out from the hallway.
Ken dropped the list immediately, “Viola? What’s wrong?” He rushed from the room.
Uncle Johnson shook his head in resignation, but Calista’s expression remained carefully blank.“Let it go, Uncle Johnson.”
“I just don’t want you two to live with regrets!”
