Fanny: A character from manga. A nurse.

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CHAPTER 4

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Worried, Patty clenched her fist and murmured. "What happens to Jimmy?"

"It's not Jimmy," answered Candy. Her voice was shaky. "It's Sr. Lane… S-she passed away…"

Both her friends were holding their breaths in stunned disbelief.

"When?"

"How?"

"One child fell sick four days ago. In just two days, almost all fifteen children were infected. Ms Pony and Sr. Lane cared for them. But yesterday Sr. Lane caught a fever and died soon after-" Candy burst into tears.

Annie covered her mouth with her hands and sobbed, "Oh no."

"Not Sr. Lane. Not her… She's so kind," Patty whispered. Tears flowed unchecked on her cheeks.

"Poor poor Sr. Lane," Annie wailed. "Poor Pony's home. Poor children…"

"It's a massacre. No doubt. This disease is worse than the bullets," said Patty. For a second she thought of the bullet that shot down Stear's plane. It's so sad that sadness in the world didn't stop there. "What happens to Ms. Pony and the rest of the children?"

"Jimmy doesn't know…," said Candy tearfully. "But he said he will do all he can to find the best care for the remaining children."

"How many children… left?" Annie almost couldn't finish her words.

Candy shook her head. "Jimmy said it's hard to tell now."

"Oh God…" Annie almost fell to the floor if not because of Candy and Patty who quickly held her. Gently they led her to a chair. Candy gathered Annie into her arms. Annie lay her head on Candy's shoulder and Patty held Annie's hand. Together they cried and cried.

Finally, Candy pulled her handkerchief and used it to wiped Annie's tears. "Remember your baby." All she wanted to do was to keep crying. But for Annie's sake, she swallowed back her sob and tried to look strong. "Annie, you go with Archie to St. Helena or the Pacific. I shouldn't. Pony's home needs me-"

"Pony's home is gone. You're my last sister. I don't want to go if you're not going, " Annie started to cry again loudly.

"Hush…Don't' be like that," said Candy gently.

"I won't go. Oh don't push me. Don't! I want to go home, Pony's home, and take care of Ms. Pony and the children," cried Annie.

"Dear, dear…you know that's not possible," said Patty "Women with child is especially vulnerable."

"It's Sr. Lane who read me bedtime story every night. She's the one who found me and took me to Pony's home. Without her there's no me. I must attend her burial even if it means I will perish!" wailed Annie.

"I know… I know…" Candy held Annie tight until her crying eased."But you'll make Archie happy if you do as he said. It's your wish to be a perfect wife for Archie.. You always say that."

They were silent for a while with Candy and Patty store Annie's hair to comfort her.

"If I come with you, will you go?" Patty asked quietly. "I'll stay with you until the baby is born."

"Yes, Annie. Patty is your sister too," said Candy.

"We'll take your baby to Ms. Pony when the time comes. It will make her very happy," said Patty gently.

To make Ms. Pony happy... Although at this moment, the word sounded unreachable, still it gave hope… Annie finally agreed to go with Patty and Candy stayed in Chicago.

That afternoon when Candy saw Annie and Patty off, they hugged again tearfully. She waved at them as the car pulled away.

Even the moon looked sad.

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= o = o = o O o = o= o

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In New York.

Suzanne looked like she had lost so much weight. She's wearing that yellow dress which he remembered so well. But back then, it was perfectly fitted and cared now it looked carelessly put and disheveled. Her once long and shiny hair, now was short and dull-looking. For someone who always be so careful of her appearance and proud of her long shiny hair it's sad to watch.

Terry had been wondering how to open the conversation. This was the first time they met after he imploded and left her for Rockford. To his relieved, it's not hard. Sitting on her wheel chair, Suzanne was smiling at him. He knew she's happy to see him. He had determined to treat Suzanne nicely when he left Rockford. But, poor thing... he hadn't thought much of that promise since he's on contact regularly with Candy.

"Hello Suz," Terry bent to kiss her cheek.

"Terry!" Suzanne put her thin arms around him and hugged him tight. "You looked wonderful," said Suzanne, examining him from head to toe. "Famous too. Your name is everywhere in the paper."

"Thanks! How are you?"

"Very good. Happy happy life," replied Suzanne. A smile cross her pale face briefly lightening up the puffy shadow under her eyes.

Terry flexed every muscle on his face to hide his pity. That's a lie. In the letter, her mother said Suzanne had been unhappy.

"Come on in. What brings you here?" asked Suzanne.

"I feel like visiting you." He forced a big grin.

Suzanne looked excited. He felt sorry for her. Why she had to like him so much?

"Want to drink something?" she offered.

"No, I'm fine," Terry said. He looked at her dry choppy lips. "But I can get you some."

"I'm not thirsty. How long will you stay here?"

"It... depends."

"On?"

Terry took a deep breath and answered quietly, "Look, I'm sorry to hear what happened to your mother."

Her eyes widened, looked surprised. "You know that mom... passed away?"

Terry nodded silently.

Suzanne instantly at the brink of tears. "That flu had no mercy. It was too quick. We even couldn't say good bye." She had hoped she got infected and died with her mother so she didn't have to live without Terry, unfortunately she didn't.

Terry leaned forward quietly putting his hand on her shoulder to show support.

"How did you know about mom?" asked Suzanne.

"Her lawyer wrote me. He also forwarded me her letter."

"Mom wrote you... a letter?" Suzanne looked up, glaring at Terry suspiciously.

"Yes." Terry nodded.

"I see." Her tone turned unwelcoming. "So that's why you're here. Mom asked you?"

Terry nodded again. "Yes, your mother asked me to help you -"

Suzanne made a sudden U-Turn with her wheel chair and wheeled herself away to the hallway.

"Thanks for your concern but I don't need your help," spat Suzanne. Crushed, she felt hugely disappointed that Terry came because her mother asked him to not because he wanted to. So foolish! "Mom is dead! She won't watch your back anymore. You can leave now."

"Wait," said Terry, pulling her wheelchair. "I heard you were sick."

"I'm well and happy thank you. You know where the door is."

Terry looked at his watch, ignoring her. "Lunch time. You want to eat out?"

"I'm not hungry."

"I get you juice and we go out, sounds good?" chirped Terry. He pulled her to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. "What juice do you-"

To his shock the refrigerator was empty. No juice. No food, no nothing. He opened the cabinet which usually was full of all kind of food her mother prepared for her. Mrs. Marlow was a doting mother. But it's empty too.

"Molly!" Terry called Suzanne's housekeeper. An older woman wearing apron hurriedly came out.

"Why is this?" Terry pointed to the empty refrigerator and cabinet. "There's no food!

Molly shook her head helplessly. "Miss Marlow... s-she..." She looked sheepishly at Suzanne "She… doesn't..." She bowed her head, embarrassed.

"When was the last time she ate properly?" asked Terry.

"Miss Marlow... h-hasn't been eating much. I have t-tried..." Molly answered in a very low voice.

Terry waved his hand and in relieved the servant retired. He then tired to make an eye contact with Suzanne but she kept looking at the floor so he crouched in front of her wheelchair.

"I'm here to help," said Terry gently, patting her skinny hand.

"I am sure mom's lawyer explained that she had used most of her money for my medication. She left me very little money. I can't pay you!"

"You really think I'll ask you to pay me?" Terry laughed. "I have rented a room in the building next door. Let's make this clear, I come here as a friend-"

"A friend would obey his friend's words. I said leave!"

"Where's your nurse?"

"I fired her."

Terry had guessed that. Mrs. Marlow wrote in her letter that they changed nurses almost every two weeks.

He tipped his head and looked at Suzanne. "Marvelous!" He grinned. "I bring a nurse here."

"Get lost, Terrence Grandchester! This is my home! You can't just bring anyone without my permis-"

"Fanny," called Terry, ignoring Suzanne.

A nurse with firm face, dark hair, wearing glasses entered.

"Suzanne, this is nurse Fanny."

Suzanne threw her face. From his angle Terry could see her lips tremble. He knew that behind all this drama and showing off strength she was broken. Suzanne always tried to be strong like Candy but she never was as strong and never would.

"Come on Suzanne. Accept it," said Terry.

Suzanne pushed Terry and propelled herself out of the room. "Go away! I'm doing great. Can you see that I don't need help?"

Terry grabbed Suzanna's wheelchair.

"Help! Someone is bullying a woman in a wheel chair!" screamed Suzanne.

Fanny looked at Terry, silently asking permission. Terry nodded. Fanny then took a determined step forward and grabbed Suzanne's wheelchair.

"Ms. Marlow, this is enough," said Fanny firmly. "I don't allow people to starve themselves especially my patients. You have to be properly fed and cleaned under my supervision."

Fanny's firm voice and stature stunned Susanna. No nurse was ever that unyielding before. Quietly she let Fanny pushed her wheelchair.

"Good girl… now tell me, which one is your favorite dress?" Fanny spoke firmly but gently, wheeling her away. "Oh I like that pink one too. What if we take that first. And which is your favorite brush, we can start by brushing your hair..." Terry heard the two chatted as they left the room.

Heaving a sigh of relieved, Terry watched them. Fanny seemed to know what to do. Good! He had a total trust in Fanny since... it's Candy who recommended her. One day, he'd tell Suzanne that.

-To be continued-

Thanks for reading.