Chapter 17

Charlie had gone into a downward spiral, and no one knew how long he had been sitting by the reservoir. His face had thinned out, and his sunken eyes and gaunt cheeks made him nearly unrecognizable. The sight shattered his parents' hearts. They choked back sobs as they tried to lift him and bring him home. Charlie's mother, Natalie Weaver, pleaded softly, "Charlie, we're heartbroken, too. Selene is gone, but you can't go on like this. Come home with us. Someone needs to arrange her funeral." Charlie's father, Eric Grant, watched him with profound disappointment. But he couldn't bring himself to be harsh. After all, this was his only child, who was meant to inherit the entire family business. He tried to reason gently, "Enough of this. You survived three years ago. This time, you brought it on yourself, so why torment yourself like this?" They took turns coaxing and consoling Charlie, but he remained motionless. Then, something in their words must have hit a nerve, because he sudde