Nelson didn’t like to make friends, but this girl persevered with him.
Since the two family were in a good relationship, he could see Maeve almost every day. Old Oconnor liked her very much and said to Nelson repeatedly, “They don’t know anyone here, so we should help them. Maeve is younger than you, you can take care of her.”
“Who wants to take care of her,” responded Nelson.
No sooner had he said so than the sweet voice of Maeve came into his ears from downstairs, “Nelson! Time to go to school!”
Nelson covered his ears and kept silent, feeling annoyed.
Her family seemed to be too busy to pick her up, thus they had to ask the Oconnors for help to take Maeve back after school.
It was raining on that day. Carrying his bag, Nelson didn’t wait for her but ran back home alone.
There was no one at home. After he finished his homework, it was already dark outside, raining heavily, but it was quite quiet downstairs.
He took a deep breath, got two umbrellas, and trotted out. However, he hadn’t gone far then saw Maeve walk back in the rain, holding her bag in her arms-her wet hair stuck together-when she raised her head and saw Nelson with her bright eyes, she wasn’t angry but ran to him cheerfully, “Hey, Nelson!”
Nelson handed an umbrella over to her and said, “Can’t you wait for the rain to stop? You fool.”
“But no one was in the school… I have to go home on my own. Nelson, I thought you something happened to you. I’m glad that you are doing well.”
Her innocent voice touched Nelson who took her wet hand and said, “Let’s go home.”
On the rainy day, a bond of friendship was forged between them.
From 7 and 15, 9 years, Nelson gradually grew up and watched Maeve grow to a beautiful teenage girl. He thought they would stay that way from primary school to the middle, and to the university. He excelled in studying so he could apply for the same college with her.
But suddenly, accident happened, and everything changed.
Since Maeve was missing on the rainy day, there has always been a wound in Nelson’s heart which is not healed today.
It stopped raining outsides.
Somebody was startled when she got in the lounge, “Mr. Oconnor? Why are you…”
It was Cora. She was astonished because she had never seen Nelson to have such a discomfiting look.
The man opened his eyes and raised his hand to wipe the tears off, saying, “Get out.”
Cora didn’t move but steps forward with a worried look and asked, “Mr. Oconnor, did you confront some tricky problem? Maybe you can offload it onto me.”
Nelson just woke up from his trauma. He subconsciously flexed his wrists and, unscrupulously, responded her with irony in his eyes, “Who are you to share it with me?”
Cora felt a chill in her heart. He had never rejected her in such a frank way since she worked for him.
“I know I’m shallow and I’m not eligible. But I will do anything you ask me to do at any time.”
“What a fidelity. But it doesn’t help at all.” Nelson stood up, and there was a black hair tie in his sight when he turned around.
He stared at it for a second. This size of hair tie didn’t belong to Maeve; therefore, it should be of “her”.
Cora noticed the tie following Nelson’s gaze, her eyes burning with jealousy, and said, “Mr. Oconnor, let me sweep it away.”
Nelson recovered to be indifferent and walks into the bathroom, leaving a word, “Throw it away.”
The sound of rippling water came out from the bathroom. With a cold face, Cora pinched the hair tie up and threw it into the trash can violently.