All Chapters of Till Time Do Us Part: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Gray Stewart’s attention shifted to the voice coming from behind her. It was a familiar voice. She could look over her shoulder but she didn’t want to. A head peered from beside her. It was Sarah Lewis. “So, it’s really you,” she said. “I doubted myself for a second since you didn’t look back when I called.” Meanwhile, Zia was preoccupied with her zealousness for shopping. In the few minutes since she entered the boutique, she was already able to find 6 clothes that she wanted to try on. Struggling to gather the clothes with her short arms, she walked toward the entrance where Gray was standing and saw her talking to a saleslady. The saleslady’s back was facing her. She approached them. “Gray, could you hold this?” she said as she attempted to pass the clothes to Gray.

“Gray…and Sophia?” said a visibly surprised Edward Bartlett. “I didn’t know you guys were here.” Zia smiled awkwardly at him. And seeing as Gray was just nonchalantly eating, it made Zia palm her own face from frustration. “H…hi, Uncle Edward.” She tirelessly waved her hand. “Are you guys having dinner here too?” he asked. Gray cleansed her mouth with a glass of water after she instantaneously ate half of her portion. “I am,” she said to him. “Wow. What a great coincidence, huh?” said an amused Edward. “What’s the occasion?” Gray and Zia shared a glance. “Her parents got promoted so we’re celebrating,” Gray reasoned out.

Edward Bartlett drove to the hospital. He went up to the ward where Alice Burgin was. When he opened the door, he saw Felicity standing by the bed. The bed was already empty. The machine and tank were already taken. It was as if there was never anyone there. Edward quietly approached her. She had this exhausted look in her face. There were bags under her dead eyes, her lips were dry and pale. There was no longer any hint of brightness and cheerfulness in her face. It was as if a big vacuum had sucked her energy dry. When she finally noticed him, she looked over her shoulder. And seeing his sorry expression, her eyes started to well up. He embraced her in his arms as she started sobbing on his chest. After over an hour of weeping, Felicity had finally calmed down. She loosened her hug on Edward and he also did the same. He studied her features. Her eyes were red and dry. She had really cried her eyes out.

Edward stared at his phone with an expression painted with yearning. That call seemed to be a short one. And he so wanted to talk more; however, he figured she was already exhausted from whatever schedule she was catching up on. “Here, I brought you pillows.” Felicity set the pillows down on the couch. “I’m giving you your last chance. Are you really set on sleeping on this hard couch? Because I can just sleep in my mom’s room and you can sleep in mine.” He gripped on his phone and turned to her. “You know…” He paused. “I think I’ll just go home after all.” “Oh,” said Felicity. “Will you be alright? It’s still a few miles to your home.” “I’ll be fine. Listen,” he approached her. “Thank you for dinner. I’m sorry I can’t stay with you tonight.”

“Why don’t we just give her to a staff member? For sure they’ll handle lost children better than us,” complained a visibly irritated Gray. “Yeah but what if a bad guy takes her? We should take her to her parents ourselves. She’s our responsibility now,” countered Zia. “Our responsibility? I believe it's her parents’ responsibility, Zi. We’re not heroes. You came here to have fun, right? Go take her to a lost and found center and let them announce about the parents over the speakers. That’s faster. Believe me.” Zia scoffed and turned to little girl, El, but she was gone. She looked up at Gray. “Where is she?” Gray looked around and noticed that the girl was actually gone. “Where is she?” repeated Zia with a