A Short Time to Live


    That day, Ava told Grace to stop bullying me. I knew Grace wouldn''t have forgotten it. Indeed, she


    paled and gluped.


    I continued, “Also, stop saying this house belongs to your family. Do you know where your family would


    be without me and mypany?! I was kind enough not to take away your current house.


    “You can still be Ava’s grandmother if you behave. However, I''ll shut you off from her if you insist on


    harassing me.” I looked at her sternly and understood something. I pitied her misfortune but resented


    her unwillingness topromise.


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    Grace stared at me with misty eyes and remained silent for a while. Finally, she cleared her throat and


    asked, “Then why did you send Ava to Celestis Ind? Why do you always seem to send her away


    whenever I visit?”


    I replied, “It has nothing to do with you. Ava and I have other things happening, so you should


    understand that our lives have nothing to do with your family. Can''t we arrange our own lives and


    schedules? Me sending Ava to Celestis Ind was a coincidence.”


    Grace retracted her aggressive stance and asked with a hint of uncertainty, “When will she get home?”


    “She''ll return when she’s happy again. I told you that I''ll call you when she gets home.” I nced at


    Grace. “Just keep your phone on.”


    “I... I don’t have one,” Grace mumbled while avoiding my gaze.


    “What?” I was puzzled, wondering how she didn''t have a phone.


    She lowered her head and grumbled, “Abby took it from me.” I sighed and approached the drawer


    beside the liquor cab, finding an old phone I had reced. I turned it on, deleted my information,


    and handed it to Grace. “Here, there are many pictures of Ava inside. You can look at them when you


    miss her.”


    She looked at me in shock. "You''re giving it to me?”


    "Yes." Her demeanor pained my heart, and I wondered where Matthew''s filial piety went. “Now, will you


    stop being so forceful toward me? If you''re like this, how could Abby take away your things?


    “What are you afraid of? You raised her daughter, so how can she be so arrogant? You should focus on


    venting your frustrations on Abby instead of me." I couldn''t help but resent her.


    Considering Grace''s clothes, I knew the Murphys had left her with little. Grace had lost a lot of weight


    and looked like a different person. With a heavy heart, I said, “You can tell me if you need anything.


    Since you cared so much for Ava, I''ll still help you.”


    I almost wanted to p myself after saying that. I wondered why I still bothered with those from the


    Murphys. However, I would adhere to my words since I had said them. I wouldn''t be at odds with an


    older woman like Grace.


    Her demeanor changed, and her voice trembled, “You''ll still let me see Ava? You won''t stop me, right?”


    “No, I never said you couldn''t see her. Again, I''ll tell you when she returns, and you cane and cook


    for her,” I reiterated.


    "Okay, then. I..." She wiped a tear and nced at me, struggling to speak. "Chloe, I might not... have


    much time left."


    I was startled and looked at her. “What do you mean?”


    “Oh, let''s not talk about it. Just let me see Ava.” From her expression, it didn’t look like she was trying


    to gain sympathy.


    "Is something wrong with your health? Tell me.” I had to make sure. If her health was in jeopardy, it


    could affect my daughter.


    She looked at me pitifully before hesitantly saying, "Chloe, my body might not be doing so well.”