Chana's POV:
George's mother called him several times in succession, but he refused to answer her calls.He asked
me sternly to hang up the phone.I tried to answer it and put the phone on the table, hoping he would
say something, but he hung up directly.He was silent from the beginning to end.
After hanging up the phone, he went right back to his studies.He was stoic.
No joy or anger was written on his face.His studies were his only source of interest.
Absolutely nothing else intrigued him.He had become like an empty shell.
Although he had heard that his grandfather was lying on his deathbed, his expression did not change at
all.
His mother was very anxious and called me dozens of times to persuade him to return home and see
his grandfather one last time.
But it was impossible to convince a man who had lost his soul.I heard about George's divorce through
Boswell.
Not much information about the divorce was shared so I didn't know much.
But I had heard the name Jane crop up.
Later, I tried again to persuade him to go back and see his grandfather lest he had any regrets later, but
George kept on studying as if he hadn't heard me speak.I wanted to broach the subject again.
He sensed it and shot a cold glare at me.
"Why don't you go there for me on my behalf?"
How could somebody else do it for him? Then I chose to shut my big mouth rather than respond.
As George's assistant for so many years, I knew him very well.
Once he had made a decision, no one could change it.
A few days later, Kendal, George's close friend, came to the base.
I knew him because he had called George on many occasions before, and he was the only one who
had the guts to shout at George on the phone.
Seeing a savior in him, I immediately took him to George's research base on the third floor.
Kendal's POV:
My flight was ten hellish hours.
When I finally landed, I wanted to take out my irritability and temper on anyone.Buy when I saw
George, all my anger dissolved.
We hadn't seen each other for three years.He seemed to be much leaner than before.
Only his arrogance and cold demeanor remained the same.He looked sullen.
It was clear that he had not come out of the shadow of divorce.
Although he looked the same on the surface, I could tell that he was dead on the inside.I didn't know
how to face such a George.
When he saw me, his expression was still cold and indifferent.
Three years apart from me meant nothing to him.
He just said, "Don't touch the computer."
Hearing his tone, I almost thought we had met just a day ago.I pulled a chair and sat down.
"So when will you finish?"
He didn't answer me.
Instead, he focused his eyes on the screen with greater attention and tapped rapidly on the keyboard
with his slender fingers.I looked around the studio and found that it was gloomily decorated.
There was no oomph! It was stacked with cold machines and various intelligent products.
He dealt with these things every day so obviously he would not act like a normal person.I didn't come
here to watch him work, so I asked directly, "When will it end?"
"What?"he asked me roughly after he finished typing the last line.
"I came to take you back.Pack up your things and come back with me."
I had already booked the tickets for the return flight.
There were only three hours left before the plane took off.
We didn't have the luxury of time on our side so I spoke with a note of urgency in my voice.
I came to see George not because I was entrusted by the Affleck family, but because I didn't want
George to have any regrets after his grandfather died.I knew better than anyone else what a good
relationship George shared with his grandfather.I knew he was still hurting from his divorce.
Now with his grandfather being gravely ill, he must be in sheer turmoil.
But if he didn't see his grandfather before he succumbed, he would regret it for the rest of his life.
I didn't want him to endure any more pain.I had come here with my mind fully made up that I would
take George back with me, come hail or high water.
If he was willing to come on his own, well and good.
If he resisted, I was prepared to slip sleeping pills into his drink, tie him up and take him back.
George stared at me for a long time, not saying anything.
I felt uncomfortable and even thought he had seen through me.
Then he slowly looked away and resumed his work.I was fed up of his cold attitude.
"George, three years have passed.How long will you continue staying here? You can't just bury
yourself in your work for the rest of your life!"
He had become like one of the machines in his studio.He drowned himself in research to paralyze
himself against his pain and escape reality.
It was self- torture and would not solve anything.
The plane was about to take off in less than three hours, but he was still staring at these cold
machines, with no intention of going back with me.I had no choice but to go out and consult with
Chana.
I had already made up my mind that I would take him back with me, by force if necessary.But I couldn't
do this all by myself.I needed to enlist someone's help.
After she heard that I had planned to kidnap George, she waved her hands in the air hysterically.
"No! It's a crime! George won't take this lying down.I can't manage it when he gets angry."
I tried to convince her.
"Chana, if you really care about him, please help me.Hiding here is not going to solve his problems.He
has to go back and face his demons."
"George's staying here is not hurting anyone.Everyone is free to choose how they wish to live.Besides,
George is an adult.You can't impose your will on him."
Chana firmly defended George and refused to assist me.I argued with her.
"He didn't hurt anyone, but he has been hurting himself.The longer he stays here, the more he will hurt
himself.Do you have the heart to see him hiding here and not moving on? He has isolated himself.No
man is an island."
However, Chana wasn't swayed and insisted on respecting George's wishes.
When I was clueless about what to do, George walked out of the studio and said, "Let's go."
"Are you really coming back with me?"
I was stunned for a while but quickly came back to my senses.
Before he regretted it, I pulled him out.
When we arrived at the airport, it was time to board.We took our seats at once.
George only brought his wallet and cellphone with him.He didn't talk, eat, drink or close his eyes the
entire way.I was so tired that I couldn't open my eyes.
Now that the difficult task was accomplished, I relaxed and soon fell asleep.
When I woke up again, George was in the same position as before, motionless.
No one could tell what was going on inside that head of his.
He was expressionless, with empty eyes.
Soulless.
When the plane landed, we got into the car arranged by the Affleck family that was waiting for us and
went straight to the hospital.
On the way, George's mother called him several times in an anxious tone.
George's grandfather was hanging on by a thread.
However, it was still too late when we arrived at the hospital.
George's grandfather had just passed away.
George's mother said that he had been waiting for George and was happy last night when he heard
that George was on his way to meet him.
But in his excitement, he just could not hold on any longer and passed away only moments ago.
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