23

“What era are we in, friend? Do you understand the concept of seizing the day? Lester is actually a good guy. He may not be old, but he knows how to take care of people. Just go for it...” Listening to the endless chatter, Rita didn't respond. Trista, who had been chattering on the phone, suddenly fell silent. “Queena...” Rita, rarely seeing her so hesitant, instinctively asked, “What’s wrong?” “Jerome is dead. Stomach cancer.” Rita’s fingertips paused on the phone, and after a long moment, she murmured a barely audible “Hmm.” “Apparently, when he was diagnosed with stomach cancer, there was still a chance of survival if he had undergone active treatment. But he had already made up his mind to die and refused to cooperate with the treatment, eventually letting it progress to the late stages. He came to see me before he died. By then, he was so emaciated that I didn’t even recognize him when he stood before me.” “He begged me to let him see you one last time. I've never seen J