Minnie finally met William at the tower, surrounded by a serene statue and soothing waterfalls.
The sound of gently cascading water filled the air as they stood together, taking in the tranquil atmosphere.
William broke the silence, his eyes locked on Minnie's. "You called me out here. You look gorgeous, by the way."
Minnie's cheeks flushed as she smiled. "Thanks. I was thinking, maybe we could have some fun?"
William's expression turned curious. "Wait, tell me something. What do you remember?"
Minnie's eyes darted around, her fingers fidgeting. "I...I don't understand."
William's voice was gentle. "That night...do you remember anything?"
Minnie's mind racing, she thought to herself, "Oh my God, he finally remembers!" But she didn't want to reveal anything just yet.
Just as William was about to press her further, Minnie's phone rang, breaking the tension. "Excuse me, let me pick this up."
She walked away from William, answering the call. The voices were inaudible.
As she ended the call, she rushed back to William, tears streaming down her face. Her voice trembled. "William, I'll meet you later."
Before William could respond, Minnie turned and ran, disappearing into the night.
William called out after her, but she was already gone, having quickly hailed a cab.
As the cab drove away, William stood there, confused and concerned. "What happened? What's going on?"
***
THE NEXT DAY🌞
The next day, after attending two classes, Snow returned to her room. She was relaxing when Violet knocked on the door.
Violet's expression was concerned. "Hey, Snow. I haven't heard from Minnie since last night. Have you?"
Snow opened the door wider, letting Violet in. "Actually, she mentioned visiting William. Maybe they ended up staying at a hotel or so."
Violet frowned, checking her watch. "It's 3:15. That's a long time to not hear from her. Are you sure she's okay?"
Snow's brow furrowed. "Maybe we should go ask William if he's seen her."
Violet nodded. "Let's go."
The two girls headed to the boys' building, wearing their bomber shorts.
They walked upstairs, knocking on the door when they reached the boy's room.
Leo opened the door, a hint of surprise on his face when he saw Violet. "Hi."
Violet smiled. "Hi, Leo. We're here to see William. Is he in?"
Leo stepped aside, letting them in. "Yeah, he's in. What's up?"
Snow exchanged a brief greeting with Leo before Violet explained their concern about Minnie.
Leo's expression turned thoughtful. "I think William might know something. Let me go get him."
As Leo walked away, Snow and Violet exchanged a worried glance.
Where was Minnie, and what had happened to her?
***
~ST. MICHEAL HOSPITAL- 3:15
Minnie sat beside her mother's hospital bed at St. Michael's Hospital, watching as the machines beeped softly and her mother received oxygen through a mask.
Her mother's eyes were sealed, and her chest rose and fell with shallow breaths.
Minnie's eyes welled up with tears as she gazed at her mother's frail form.
She had fallen asleep beside her mother, exhausted from worry and lack of sleep.
Suddenly, the machines surrounding her mother began to beep frantically, signaling a drop in blood pressure and oxygen levels. Minnie's eyes snapped open, and she shouted for help.
Doctors and nurses rushed into the room, their faces grim. They tried to revive Minnie's mother, but it was too late.
The machines flatlined, and the doctors nodded solemnly.
Minnie was in shock, her mind reeling with grief. She stumbled forward, protesting, as the doctors covered her mother's body with a white sheet.
"No, no, no, no!" Minnie wailed, rushing to her mother's side. She pulled back the sheet, revealing her mother's pale face.
"Mom, no! Please don't leave me! Wake up, Mom! I'm your only child, your only daughter! You can't bear to see me in tears, Mom! Please, don't go!"
Minnie's cries echoed through the hospital room, a heart-wrenching plea to a mother who was gone.
ST MICHAEL HOSPITAL- 4:20PM
As Violet and Snow arrived at Saint Michael's Hospital, they spotted Minnie sitting in the waiting area, her eyes red-rimmed from crying.
Violet and Snow rushed to her side, concern etched on their faces. "Minnie, what's wrong?" Violet asked, her voice soft.
Minnie's eyes locked onto hers, and she whispered, "Snow, Violet..."
"Hey, it's okay, it's fine," Snow said, trying to comfort her.
But Minnie's words tumbled out in a sorrowful torrent. "My mom is gone. She left me all alone. She left me."
Violet and Snow exchanged worried glances, their faces filled with empathy.
Minnie's body shook with sobs. "I never thought this day would come. I never thought I'd lose her again."
Violet wrapped her arms around Minnie, holding her close. "We're here for you, Minnie. We're not going anywhere."
Snow joined in, her voice gentle. "We'll get through this together, okay?"
Minnie's wails grew louder, her body trembling with grief. Violet and Snow held her tight, trying to absorb some of her pain.
As they consoled Minnie, Violet whispered, "We'll be here for you, no matter what. You're not alone."
Snow added, "We'll support you through this, Minnie. We'll help you get through the tough times."
Minnie's cries slowly subsided, replaced by sniffles and gasps for air.
Violet and Snow continued to hold her, offering what little comfort they could.
A WEEK LATER
The burial ceremony was a somber affair, with everyone dressed in black attire.
The mourners gathered around the grave, their faces filled with sorrow and grief.
The speeches began, with various people sharing their memories and eulogies about Minnie's mother.
The words were heartfelt and emotional, causing some of the attendees to break down in tears.
Snow sat beside Minnie, holding her hand tightly as the speeches came to a close.
Oliver, William, and Leo were also present, their faces filled with sympathy.
As the speeches ended, the praise and worship segment began.
The attendees sang hymns and songs, their voices filling the air with a sense of reverence and respect.
The ritual of the burial continued, with the attendees taking turns to pay their last respects to Minnie's mother.
Some people lit candles, while others placed flowers on the casket.
As the rituals drew to a close, the attendees were invited to come and say their final goodbyes to Minnie's mother. However, when it was Minnie's turn, she refused to go.
Instead of approaching her mother's casket, Minnie sat down in her seat, her eyes fixed on her father.
He was pretending to weep, but Minnie's expression was one of disgust.
She looked at her father with a mixture of anger and contempt, her eyes flashing with resentment. It was clear that she didn't believe his tears were genuine.