led her knees to her chest. She wrapped her arms

sighed. She dug a piece of stale bread out of

alked slowly toward the bench. H

t?" the m

slid over to the

mos from his pocket. His hands shook slightly as

day," he said. His voi

the man's calm energy made the t

minutes. Then, the man asked a

the dam broke. Maybe it wa

bitter laugh. "I told her I have a new boyfriend to stop her from worryin

didn't interrupt. His e

into corners. But sometimes, a win

y. He dropped his thermos. He clutched his che

up. Panic spik

g a jolt of pure panic through her chest. She quickly dialed 911. She gave the dispatcher their exact location by the lake. "My name is Dahlia Mcdonald," she said into the receiver, h

acksuit pocket and pulled out a small orange pill bott

aths. The color slowly

d problem,"

ed path behind the trees.

the sound. He grabbed his can

und sadness flickered in his clear eyes. He thought of his

meone who truly deserves you. I just wish my own grandson

e smile. She thought

the trees. Despite his limp, he carried

sappear. Her heart ra

ent. She opened her laptop an

a sharp ring sha

bbed her phone. The caller ID

rse's panicked voi

stine is in critical condition