From Now On I Grow Toward Spring Chapter 07
It wasn’t until I was on the plane that I truly believed I had left.
When the flight attendant reminded us to turn off our phones, my screen lit up one last time.
I glanced at the caller ID, didn’t hesitate, and powered the phone off.
At the hospital, Matteo stared at his phone, unable to believe I had hung up on him.
My mother said coldly, “Talia is getting more and more immature. We ask her to buy a few things, and now she’s giving us the silent treatment. We’ve spoiled her.”
Sofia obediently handed our mother a piece of fruit, then said in a low voice, “This is all because I accidentally knocked over my sister’s flower. If I’d known she cared that much, I never would have come to the hospital, no matter how bad the cut was.”
As she spoke, she inhaled sharply, as if she’d brushed against her wound.
Matteo frowned and took her hand. “It’s not your fault. It was just a flower. How could it be more important than you? Talia’s the one who doesn’t know what matters.”
My father checked the time, his expression darkening. “It’s been forty minutes and Sofia still hasn’t eaten. When Talia gets back, she needs to think long and hard about what she’s done.”
But an unease was growing in Matteo. He pulled out his phone and called me again and again.
“The number you have dialed is currently switched off.”
Twelve calls.
The same automated message every time.
As he stared at his phone, his face slowly went pale.
“What if something happened to Talia…”
My mother tucked a pillow behind Sofia, unconcerned. “How could anything happen? You put her in the car yourself. What, you think she just vanished into thin air?”
But Matteo couldn’t shake the feeling.