The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 217

"Miss, are you looking for someone?"

Jocelyn snapped out of her daze.

"Oh, yes. I'm looking for someone named Sylvia Reed."

The woman thought for a moment. "Sylvia Reed?"

Jocelyn nodded eagerly. "Yes! She's lived here for over twenty years, so you guys must know her."

The woman smiled apologetically. "I'm fairly new here, and there are a lot of residents, so I haven't learned everyone's name yet. You should probably ask the director. She's been running this nursing home since the day it opened."

Jocelyn tried to suppress her excitement.

"Okay, could you take me to see her?"

The woman said, "You'll have to wait a bit. The director just stepped out on an errand. She probably won't be back for another hour."

"I can wait."

She had waited twenty-eight years; what was another hour?

The woman led Jocelyn into the director's office.

"You can wait in here. It's too cold outside, and it looks like it's going to rain soon."

She poured Jocelyn a cup of hot water.

"The weather here in Crestwood is a lot colder than in other cities. It doesn't look like you're wearing enough layers. You're going to catch a cold."

Jocelyn smiled sheepishly.

"It really is colder here. I was in such a rush to leave that I completely forgot to grab a heavier coat. But it's fine, I was in the car most of the way, so I didn't get too chilled."

The woman warned her kindly, "Make sure you drive safely on your way back. We've been having a lot of landslides in the mountains lately. The government is working on it, but it doesn't look like it'll be fully cleared up anytime soon."

Jocelyn felt a surge of warmth at her kindness.

"Thank you, ma'am. I'll be careful."

An hour and a half later, the director returned.

The calm Jocelyn had managed to find completely vanished as she hurried over to greet her.

"Director."

The director was nearing sixty, but she looked sharp and efficient.

"Who might you be?"

Jocelyn said, "I'm here to see a resident named Sylvia Reed."

The director's expression shifted strangely.

"Sylvia Reed?"

"Yes, Sylvia Reed."

"And how are you related to her?"

Jocelyn stood there, stunned, for a long time.

"Could you... could you take me to the room she lived in?"

The director said, "Of course. Someone else is staying in that room now, but I can ask if they mind us taking a look."

Jocelyn didn't speak, just nodded numbly.

To be given hope, only for it to be ripped away in a split second.

What did the universe want from her?

Why did it have to be this cruel?

Jocelyn wanted to scream and cry.

She knew exactly how hard she was fighting to hold it together.

The director took her to the room where Sylvia had lived.

An elderly resident was now occupying it.

Jocelyn greeted the elder politely, and the resident kindly let her come in to look around.

The room was small, but fully equipped and kept perfectly tidy.

Jocelyn turned to the director. "Did she... did she leave anything behind?"