Mark felt lonelier than ever. Not only his best friend Charlie had moved to another town to study, along with his girlfriend Dorothy, but he also missed the guys from the swimming team, who would often get together after practice to have some sandwiches and chat all afternoon. He even missed Steph, because she was always singing a beautiful song or talking about arts and culture.It was very different from his new acquintances who debated hours about the thickness of a napkin. It was unbelievable that they were in College instead of kindergarten. To annoy him even more, there was the issue of Charlotte´s strange voice which she would use nonstop.He felt tired after just a few moments with these guys.But when he thought about Mandy, he almost couldn´t bear how much he missed her. While others debated the future of the world in general, and though Mandy was well informed about this subject, she rathered discuss Mark´s future and what could make

The next morning from the parking lot fiasco, Mark received a package that was delivered to him at home. Mandy was returning the compromise ring he had given her.It was too much for him to take calmly. He had to blame it on someone and Pam´s timing was perfect, because she just entered the living room when Mark was staring at the ring.That is when Mark had a fight with his mother too. In some sense of wanting to be fair he thought he shouldn´t blame only Mandy for what had happened, so he was straight in his talk to Pam. He said, “Mother, you and Mandy had a talk behind my back.”“And we took turns spitting on your picture too.”“Come on, be serious. What was all that charade of a trip together to Europe? You did this just to impress Mandy, just to keep a good image to society and your sophisticated friends.”Pam looked at him in silence for a while, like if she was savoring what he had just said an

Mandy told her mom that she was thinking of staying home to help out in hosting their guests, since there were so many of them.“Nonsense, dear. Arthur and I have an army of staff here. Some of them are bilingual. Not to mention that we can always summom assistants and secretaries from the office, if necessary. Or get some temps to do quick chores. But why would we need so much help? Becca stays at the hospital most of the time; Both boys are busy with school and different hoomeworks. Grass, their guardian angel, makes sure they are well fed and rested. I even stoped to make Grass take turns going to the hospital. She is now officially in charge of the boys, exclusively. The grandparents and the nieces are very polite and quiet, with almost no demands. So, go ahead to your trip, sweetheart. You could use a break yourself.”“Are you sure?”“There is no reason for you to cancel your plans, Mandy. It is all under control here. Besides,

The news about professor Jackson´s cancer had spread throughout the school where he taught. Students posted their feelings and best wishes on social media. They continued to send gifts to the hospital, all of which Green was in charge to redirect to Arthur´s house.The teacher read all the get-well cards and They really warmed his heart.Mainly because of the posts on social media, when Pam and Don told Mark about it, he already knew some facts. They were talking about it at the dinner table.“Does he have a good chance of recovering, father?”“I have to say that his chances are pretty good. And again, with cancer, we never know.”“And why is that?”“Because science still doesn´t understand everything about this disease. There are cases in which the patient is not in bad shape, but the cancer spreads so quickly that they can´t live more than a month. And there are cases in whi

Mark entered his room and sat on his bed holding a picture of Mandy in his hands. He could see her clearly in his mind, but this was a picture he had taken when she was at the farms, after riding her horse. She looked like she belonged in nature and she was very beautiful, with a wide smile and a peaceful look in her eyes.Thinking back about their relationship since its beginning, he thought that maybe it had happened too easily. And as it so common to happen in such cases, Mark had taken it for granted. He certainly had not valued the treasure that was in his hands. Mandy and her love for him were what he considered his most valuable assets. Mark knew it for sure now.Even if he had to fight for her against the new guy, it was worth it. Mark was ready to fight for his love. He would do anything to win Mandy´s affection one more time.Then Mark asked himself what he wished for her. He tried to be completely unselfish, because the first answer that came to