“Miss, wake up” said Annabelle while shaking Grandma Chen as gently as possible. But despite how much she shook Grandma, she wouldn’t wake up.

“Miss, please wake up” said Annabelle again after trying for a few more times. She was getting a bit nervous. She didn't know if she should use more force, but she didn't want to hurt her miss.

“No, please don't leave. Stay" cried Grandma Chen in her sleep. Her hand stretched out searching for the hazy figure in her dreams.

Annabelle held her hand and said, “Miss, it’s just a dream. Please wake up.”

“Wait!” yelled Grandma Chen before waking up abruptly. She was surprised to wake up in this room this morning. She didn’t remember when she fell asleep yesterday night. It took her a couple minutes to erase the sadness on her face. His birthday always bring back unwanted memories and dreams.

“Miss, are you okay?” asked Annabelle carefully.

“Do you want to hear a poem?” asked Grandma Chen, avoiding the question.

“Uh...okay”

“It’s one of my favorite poems” said Grandma Chen “It’s a poem by Lord Byron that goes a little something like this:

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that’s best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellowed to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies”

Grandma Chen saw the confusion and worry in Annabelle’s eyes and decided to stop at the first stanza. She lift one of her hand to wipe the tears dripping down her face.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Have you ever been in love, Annabelle”

“No, Miss”

“One day you will and I will ask him to recite this poem to you, Then you will understand why this is my favorite poem. And why there are tears”

“Do you want me to get you a tissue?”

“No, I would like some time by myself this morning”

“Okay” said Annabelle before closing the door behind her. ‘What just happened?’ she thought to herself ‘Love? When had Miss ever been in love? She had never even held hands with a guy!’

An hour later, Annabelle was standing in front of Grandma Chen’s room again, but this time she was holding a tray of breakfast and had good news.

“Miss, can I come in? I have breakfast”

“Come in”

The moment the door opened, a loud clang sounded throughout the penthouse.

“Miss! What are you doing!” screamed Annabelle as she disregarded the breakfast that had dropped onto the floor and ran inside the bedroom. Grandma Chen was in the middle of doing her walking exercises and decided to tell Annabelle the good news. She was right. The more she moved around, the more control she developed over the body, and the less pain she feels.

“Don’t worry! I was going to tell you that my body feel much better today. See? I can move around and walk a bit now.” said Grandma Chen demonstrating by flapping her arms side to side. Annabelle wasn’t amused by Grandma Chen’s antics and stared coldly at her until she stopped.

“Sweetie, you have perfected the cold and intimidating stare, but you need to stop that otherwise you will scare all the guys away. How will you get marry and have children then?”

“I don’t care about guys”

“That’s fine. This is a progressive world. You can marry a girl and adopt children or go get a sample from the donation clinic”

“Miss!” screamed Annabelle again for the second time in the past few minutes. While blushing furiously and gritting her teeth, she said, “ I like guys! But I don’t to think about guys and marriage now. I am too young for that!”

“You can’t choose when love will come. It just comes.”

Annabelle decided it was best to ignore everything her miss had said. She will pretend that conversation never existed. “Miss, can you please sit down? I can’t help but worry since we don’t know what is going on. It is best for you to stay put until we do. I will get you some more breakfast, but I also came in wanting to tell you that the family doctor is here now. Do you want to see him before or after breakfast?”

“I’ll see him now. I want to finish my walking exercises. Will you let me do so if he can’t find anything wrong with me?”

“...we’ll see what he says”

Annabelle went out and brought in the doctor. Upon seeing the doctor, Grandma Chen thought it was best for her to sit down. ‘Gosh, doctors here are getting younger and younger’