15. A helper.

The four-wheeled vehicle stopped at the edge of the road right near the lamppost–a place where someone often lurks. He paid attention to the surrounding situation, more precisely to the straightforward house across the street, so quiet with the door tightly closed, no clothes drying, not even the curtains covering the windows were pushed aside. The light on the veranda was still on even though it was morning. Was this a sign that someone no longer inhabited the house?

Denis began to guess in his mind. When he saw Aunt Romel coming out of the house, Denis immediately went out to the woman.

"Excuse me," Denis greeted her.

Aunt Romel set the laundry bucket she was carrying on the grass, then looked Denis up and down while remembering something. "I feel familiar with you, and you're like ...."

"I'm Marra's friend."

"Ah, right. You're Marra's friend who helped me take Lauren to the hospital that day, right? So, what are you doing here, kiddo?"

"I was wondering, is Marra at her house? It lo