Redmption 194


    I received Derick’s call as soon as I sent my message.


    “Why’s that? Is he trying to bang you?” Derick was straightforward.


    I burst intoughter. “I’d actually like that, but I haven’t even met the guy. How could I do that?”


    “You haven’t even met him? So you’re asking out of curiosity? Girl, are you saying that I have too


    much free time on my hands?” Derick sounded surprised.


    Derick must be busy since he had just posted about participating in a billiards challenge.


    I felt that I must have been a little too reckless. “Forget it if you’re too busy. I was just curious. It isn’t


    that important anyway.”


    “Girl, are you trying to make me feel guilty?” Derick raised his voice in anger, but it was just a put–


    on.


    Iughed. “No, really, I was just curious. If you have time, check it out. But if not, it’s fine:”


    “I always have time for you, not for others. I’ll search it up.” Derick agreed.


    He didn’t hang up the phone immediately after, I knew he had more to say, probably about Chris


    announcement.


    I quietly waited. He was silent for a while before finally saying, “Forget it, it’s nothing. Call me


    anytime.


    I breathed a sigh of relief. It would have been awkward no matter what he would have said. It was


    better,


    this way.


    “Okay.”


    The thought of his challenge crossed my mind. I asked, “Derick, when is the challenge? Give me a


    ticket, and I’lle to cheer you on.”


    “Haha, sure!” Derick agreed very readily.


    Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    I drove home after hanging up. I hadn’t slept well due to frequent dreaming all night, and I wanted to


    catch up on sleep. Upon arriving at the neighborhood, I saw a crowd gathered at the entrance.


    I walked over after finding a parking spot and saw an announcement posted at the entrance.


    Demolition!


    Seeing that word made my heart sink.


    Although I had a premonition that this ce wouldn’tst long, seeing it confirmed was still hard to


    ept.


    To others, a demolition might be a surprise and a chance to earn a fortune overnight. But to me, it


    was a destruction that would crush my happiest and warmest memories.


    “Everything has to be moved out within two months. Those who move out early get a 10 thousand


    dors bonus.”


    “I’ve been wanting to leave this ce for a long time. It’s finally happening”


    “I just signed a one–year lease with a tenant. Now that I have to ask them to move, I probably have


    topensate them.


    2/2


    The crowd chattered on and debated.


    I quietly left the crowd. Instead of driving, I walked home.


    The neighborhood was old, but that was mainly the attribute of its original charm.


    The locust trees nking both sides of the road were lush green. I remembered that back in my


    childhood. days, my mom and the neighbors would pick the flowers when they were in full bloom


    and make ck locust pancakes..


    Summers were spent cooling off and ying under the trees with my mom.


    The rockery over there was the best yground for me and my ymates. We climbed up and


    down, smoothing the rocks over time.


    I walked and looked around. My heart ached at the thought that the ce would soon be leveled,


    and everything would be gone.


    With the neighborhood and my parents‘ home around, I felt they were still with me.


    But without it, I wouldn’t know where to ce my longing.