Chapter 17
Celeste’s cryonic chamber was stored deep underwater.
The director explained, “Our primary storage facility is in the deep sea, but we don’t have a functional research lab there. The storage unit is sealed tight, designed only to house the
chambers, not to accommodate living visitors.”
“Why not?” Damien demanded, his brows furrowing.
The director hesitated before replying, “Mr. Sterling, you have to understand–the deep sea is a hostile environment. The low temperatures and high pressure make construction
incredibly expensive.”
“Due to our limited funding, we could only afford to build the storage unit, not an actual
base. The chambers are stored in a vacuum–sealed environment to prevent oxygen
exposure, which could cause the materials to oxidize and degrade. The facility isn’t
designed for human entry.”
The director offered a solution. “If you insist on seeing Miss Monroe, we can use specialized equipment to bring her cryonic chamber back to the surface. However, there will be a
transportation fee.”
Money was never an obstacle for Damien.
Without hesitation, he paid triple the quoted fee and demanded they retrieve her chamber
as quickly as possible.
But even expedited, the process would take two full days.
Two days. Forty–eight hours.
It wasn’t long by most measures, but for Damien, every second felt like an eternity.
Leaving the cryonics lab, he got into his car and began driving aimlessly through the city.
He was like a ghost, haunting the streets without purpose.
He couldn’t bring himself to return home.
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The house that once he‘
Eventually, he parked on the side of the road and stepped out, finding himself at a bustling
intersection.
Standing amidst the crowd, he finally understood the words Celeste had written in her
letter:
“I stood at the crossroads, watching the world rush by. This city is full of people, but to me,
ey’re all strangers. Only you, Uncle Damien, connected me to this world.”
He felt it now, that same crushing sense of isolation she must have carried.
He’d severed her only connection to the world, pushing her into despair and into the frozen
abyss.
His chest tightened painfully.
Damien clutched at his heart, his knees buckling as he sank to the ground.
“Sir, are you alright?” a concerned passerby asked.
Damien forced a weak smile and shook his head.
“No,” he whispered. “I’m not.”
Later, Damien found himself sitting on a bench in a quiet park, lost in thought.
He watched as white doves circled a stone monument nearby.
This park held memories of a younger Celeste.
He’d brought her here once, years ago, to feed the birds.
At first, she’d been too timid, hiding behind his legs as she peeked at the fluttering wings.
But eventually, with his encouragement, she had stepped forward and scattered the seeds
herself.
He could still hear her laughter as she ran after the doves, her giggles ringing like bells in
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the crisp morning air.
“Sir,” a voice interrupted his reverie.
Damien looked up to see a young man, no older than twenty, holding a large notebook and a pen. The boy looked earnest, his face flushed with nervous energy.
“Can I bother you for just a moment?” the young man asked.
mien nodded faintly, curious despite himself.
The boy hesitated, then blurted out, “I’m trying to win over my neighbor. She’s not really my sister–just the girl next door. She’s been looking out for me ever since I was a kid.”
“My mom passed away when I was little, and my dad was always working, so she’d invite me over for dinner, help me with homework, and even celebrate my birthdays with me.”
he boy’s voice softened.
“She’s kind and beautiful, and I’ve been in love with her for as long as I can remember. My biggest dream has always been to grow up, confess my feelings, and marry her someday.”
Damien’s heart clenched as he listened.
The boy’s words struck a deep chord, stirring echoes of his own buried regrets.
Chapter 18
