MISSING HIM In the first days that they were away, Mandy missed Mark so much, because she was used to talk to him and see him everyday. She missed his eyes, his smile, the way he whispered sweet words to her. The touch of his hand holding hers. She hadn´t noticed how much he had become a support in her life. When she did things at school or work, mandy couldn´t wait to share with him. And now he was away and silent. At first, she thought it was better to give him space. After all, he had cut contact with her, not even caring to say goodbye. Altough she knew it was the right decision, it hurt her every minute of every day. When she traveled to Washington without him, they talked on the phone, sent many selfies and used video conference a lot. They participated in each other´ss life, even from a distance. Mandy had missed her boyfriend, but not been this devastated. After two weeks of this cold treatment, she thought it was enough. What

The teachers get together a little before classes start. This way they can prepare the materials for the following semester, or just get updated on some rules and even special calendar activities.Professor Jackson had arrived early as always and was having some coffee with two colleagues, while they waited for everyone to arrived.They were chatting about their familes and how fast time went during vacation.They noticed that he bent his head and complained of being a little dizzy. But before they could react they saw their friend fall on the floor before their eyes.This time he fainted.When the ambulance took him to the hospital, he was still unconscious.REBECCA AND THE BOYSIt was such a scare for Rebecca when the school phoned her and she heard that her husband was in the hospital after fainting in the teacher´s meeting.She didn´t have a family to count on, so she took her kids with her to the hospital and t

Mandy couldn´t believe her eyes. Dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt, there came Mark walking towards her.It was around ten o´clock on a Tuesday and she had just arrived from her morning ride at papa John´s farm. Quickly she dismounted her horse and ran to his arms.“I am so glad to see you.”He squeezed her and kissed her lips like a thirsty man. She looked so beautiful to his eyes. She became very alive when she rode her horse. He took turns in admiring her and kissing her, until they were both out of breath.“Mandy, Mandy.” Mark kept repeating her name like he couldn´t believe she was finally back in his arms.“Did you drive all night?”“It was worth it.” He took her hat off and touched her silk hair, bringing her mouth to his again.But then they got interrupted by nana Helen calling them from the window of her house. She kept checking if Mandy was back from h

Mandy couldn´t keep the break up a secret from her grandparents. There was no explaining to Mark´s sudden departure, except the truth. Even having a brilliant mind, Mandy was human after all. She even couldn´t believe it herself, so how could she say anything convincing to the family? That he had a sudden compromise? In the day of his arrival, in the middle of school break? And it caused her extra pain, the realization that Mark didn´t think to avoid causing concern to her loved ones. Talking about selfish, he had proved by his actions that the word described him better than it did her. So, Mandy kept the explanations honest and simple. They had a fight. Mark broke up with her. There was no need to try to save face, after all these people loved her completely and they comforted her and supported her. She was talking to the four of them because she was not sure of being strong enough to repeat the story in the same day. Papa John and gr

PARENTS´ CONCERNSWhen they arrived from their second honeymoon, Carol just had to have a quick look at Mandy´s face and she knew that something was wrong.So she opened her arms and Mandy ran to her, unable to hold back some tears. Carol allowed her to unburden her sorrows. They sat on the sofa and as she listened to the details, she dried Mandy´s eyes and said encouraging things.“I am sure everything will be all right, sweetheart. Relationships have ups and downs, but your love is strong.”“But mom, the way he acted, the things he said. And the grandparents? He left without even saying bye.”“I am sure they understand. Guys are proud and Mark probably didn´t want them to see him suffering.”“I hadn´t thought of that.”“About the things that were said or done, they are impossible to take back. That is why you will need the capacity of forgiveness. Ca

Mandy knocked and was welcomed in Arthur´s office. “Dad, just a quick word.” “It´s okay, Mandy. I am all ears.” “Our lawyers advanced the papers for the scholarships, and they have been in touch with professor Jackson. But now for the final signatures, they can´t get an answer from him.” “How long have they tried?” “It has been two weeks since they last talked to him.” “Come to think of it, I haven´t heard from him in a while too. I will try his phone.” Arthur doesn´t get an answer but he sees that Mandy had more luck, since she is talking on her phone. “I see… And what hospital was that? Thank you very much.” “Hospital?” “I had the idea of calling his school. They told me that he got sick there and was taken to the Municipal Hospital some days ago.” “It´s useless to call the hospital. I am going there right now.” “I will go with you, dad.” On the way, Arthur called Rebecca. She a

Eric and Louis couldn´t help but be impressed by Arthur´s house. It really caused an impact on anyone. Mandy tried to make them feel at home.“Once you rest a little, I can show you the swimming pools and sports courts.”They nodded, still too shy and worried to talk much.Grass had order from Carol in an adjoining guest room, so she took them there, while explaining, “This guest room is next to the one that your mother will be using. It is connected by this door, see? Why don´t we just leave it open for now?”They liked the idea. Grass seemed ot have a way with children because she offered comforts that they could assimilate. Louis had a request, “Can I call my mom, now?”“Sure you can, Louis. But if you both have showers and eat something, you will have something to tell her that will make her happy. And you know what? This phone I have here is only to contact my friend Green. She is als

Because Mark didn´t know any other people at school, he settled with Noah and Ted to chat during breaks and go to lunch together, since it would be so depressing being alone, after having been part of a very close group from his old school. And he would never get used to not being with Mandy. He felt like if he had a chronic pain because it was a bad feeling that never left him, this missing Mandy pain. What he most wanted was to listen to her laughter, to touch her silky hair, kiss her lips very slowly. But he had not seen her in days, after that first glimpse.Instead he had met Charlotte and she gave on his nerves. This annoying girl would never stop talking nonsense. Things about her nails, and deodorants and her hair clips. Her voice was a pitch too high and she thought the world about herself. Because she was Noah´s big sister, she joined them for lunch and lectured them about every unimportant matter that ever was.“When you are lawyers, guys,

Now that Jackson had a great tem of doctors all working in his case, he soon found out that his heart was okay as well as his brain. Other conditions were also dismissed and he was talkative and happy when his sons and his wife came for their visits.But Don, as an experienced doctor, told Arthur that something was indeed wrong with Jackson. They just didn´t know what it was yet.“But you have your suspicions.”“I always do. And I never talk about them, Arthur. I am just explaining to you that his stay will us will continue for one more week. We can´t do all the exams in one day. It would exhaust the patient.”“Okay, Don. I trust you.”“Sure Arthur. We are family.”“As long as our children get a grip.”“They will, my friend. Give them time.”The visitor´s waiting room was always crowded with Jackson´s students. They weren´t all

When Rebecca met her mother and sisters, there was a blast of joy. They kissed on the cheeks and hugged and sat very close on the sofa.They were speaking in their native language, so Carol gave them privacy to talk among themselves.Mandy and the boys were at school, since the visitors had arrived in the morning. It was hard to convince the boys to go to school that day, because they were anxious to meet their family.It took all the ability from Grass to convince them, which included the patient explanation of plane´s delays. Also, they had already missed some classes and it was better for them to go back to their routine.Carol had noticed how patient and understanding Grass was towards children. She mentioned it to Mandy.“You know, sweetheart, maybe she has the qualities to be a manager in Mandy Foundation.”“I see what you mean, mom. She really cares for the children´s feelings and she is great at communic