No More Waiting, She Chooses Love



Glancing at my watch, which was edging closer to midnight, I received a call from him, “Felicia, is Fanny with you?"

"No, she's not," I mumbled, still half asleep, but quickly added, "What's up? You can't find Fanny?"

“I just finished work, tried calling her but got no answer. Maybe she headed home," Yates said before hanging up and dialing Fanny's parents. He had exchanged numbers with Fanny's dad during their last visit.

"Yates?" The voice of Fanny's father, Aicken Willis, was heavy with sleep.

"Uncle, it's me, Yates. I was wondering, is Fanny home?" Yates tentatively asked.

"No, the girl hasn't been home in ages. What's going on? Did you two have a fight?" Aicken's response was typical and calm.

"No, nothing like that, Uncle. I just got back today," Yates explained. Still, Aicken knew that Yates wouldn't be calling unless he was genuinely unable to find Fanny.

After much pressing from Aicken, Yates caved and confessed, leading Aicken to scold him, "You can't find my daughter and you beat around the bush like this? What if something's happened to her?"

Yates was left speechless, managing only a mumble, "She was fine when we parted, just outside the hospital."

"All I want to know is where my daughter is," Aicken gruffed before hanging up.

"What's wrong with Fanny?" Joie, now awake, asked.

Aicken didn't respond but instead tried calling Fanny again, only to confirm the call couldn't get through. He then turned to his wife, "Fanny's not at the hospital or home, and I can't reach her."

"What about Felicia? They're close. Maybe Fanny went to her place?" Joie's suggestion prompted Aicken to call me.

For some reason, I was exceptionally tired tonight. After Yates' call, I had drifted back to sleep without giving it much thought, but Aicken's call jolted me awake.

"No, Uncle, I haven't seen Fanny. I'm at the monastery," I informed him, which left a pause on his end.

"Mr. Willis, what's going on with Fanny?" My heart rate inadvertently quickened.

Aicken's voice deepened, "We can't find Fanny, and her phone's off."

"Could she be sleeping?" I ventured, though even I doubted it. Fanny was a light sleeper, always keeping her phone by her bed due to her job. She never silenced it-a single text could wake her, let alone a call.

"I'll keep looking for her, Felicia. Do you know who she's close to? Could you try reaching out to them too?" Aicken's anxious voice carried a heavyPlease check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

unease.

I agreed, though a sense of panic began to rise within me. Even though Aicken said Fanny's phone was unreachable, I tried calling her twice more, even the hospital, all to no avail.

Fanny wouldn't just disappear

without reason. Remembering the creepy package she received, I felt a bad premonition and decided to call Allen. was late, but Mr. Clark was a night owl. I was sure to catch him now.

UMS

Allen's phone rang, but he didn't pick up immediately. I waited patiently, calling again. Finally, he answered with a lazy tone, "Felicia, are you out of your mind calling me at this hour? I'm dead on my feet. What do you expect me to do?"

Damn it!

I cursed silently, not in the mood for his attitude, cutting straight to the chase: "Where's Fanny?"