Chapter 612: Chapter 612: Warmth

Evelyn Ford fell asleep to the sound of Ronan Kendrick’s voice. She had a nightmare. In the dream, the entire planet of Azure had truly become a barren wasteland.

The ground was covered in dead branches and rotten leaves, amidst a landscape of crumbling walls and ruins. The sky was thick with dark clouds, the air dry and sweltering, and black dust filled the air.

There was no water, no wind, not even a sun. She stood on the barren ground. The world was vast, but she was the only one left.

When Evelyn Ford woke up, she could hear Ronan Kendrick’s soft, shallow breathing beside her. She let out a heavy breath, turned over, got out of bed, and left the bedroom.

The log cabin they were all living in now was the round one built on the small island. In the living room, a couple of logs were still burning in the fireplace. Officer Graham was sitting in a corner drinking tea. When he saw Evelyn Ford appear, he poured a cup of tea and handed it to her.

"I found this tea in the storage area. It’s high-quality Dragon Well. Have a taste."

A couple of tea leaves floated in the cup. Evelyn Ford sat down and picked it up.

Wendy was still sleeping. While she had been out training these past few days, Officer Graham had been worrying about her on top of managing all the affairs in the space.

After taking a sip of tea, Evelyn Ford looked up at Officer Graham. Eleven years. It wasn’t a long time, but it wasn’t short either. The once tall, handsome young police officer was now a weary, world-worn middle-aged man with a full head of white hair.

"Mr. Graham, is something on your mind?"

Officer Graham paused for a moment, then nodded lightly. "I was just thinking... wondering if we’ll ever be able to go back to Corinth one day, to take Wendy to see her grandparents and her mother."

Back when the snake infestation ended, the three of them were the only survivors left in the entire building. Officer Graham had cremated the bodies of the Graham family and the other neighbors in the building, burying all of them in front of Building D. They left in such a hurry later that he didn’t take the ashes with him.

Who would have known that departure would last for over ten years?

"We definitely will."

Evelyn Ford took a pocket watch from inside the collar of her sweater. After opening it, she revealed a family photo inside and showed it to Officer Graham.

"This was taken when I was sixteen. Back then, my mother hadn’t passed away yet."

The girl in the photo had a blissful smile, her face still full of baby fat. Although her features hadn’t changed much, her eyes were completely different.

The Evelyn of today had the eyes of a thirty-year-old adult.

At sixteen, her parents were both alive and well, she had been accepted into her favorite university—her happiest year was frozen in time in this photograph.

"Evelyn, your parents would definitely be proud of you."

Evelyn Ford closed the pocket watch and carefully tucked it back inside her collar.

"They would be. It’s just... I haven’t dreamed of them in many years. If I didn’t look at this photo from time to time, I’m afraid I’d forget what they look like. My biggest regret in life is that I didn’t get to visit their graves to say goodbye before I left."

"It’s enough that you keep them in your heart."

Officer Graham gave a bitter smile. "I don’t have any family photos anymore. The flood that time washed away the only one I had on me."

He pulled a thin black cord from inside his collar, a ring hanging from it.

"Mr. Graham, do you remember? When Wendy was born and you held her one-month celebration, you invited the neighbors from our building to a dinner at the restaurant outside our complex. I was there too. My mom took a lot of pictures of you all, and they’re in my family’s photo album."

All of Evelyn Ford’s family’s belongings had been moved into another small log cabin. Hearing her words, Officer Graham’s hand trembled, and tea from his cup sloshed out.

"Evelyn, are you serious?"

Evelyn Ford nodded. "It’s true. I’ll go get the album."

The other log cabin was right next door. She quickly got up to go find the album. Officer Graham was excited too. He stood up and looked at Evelyn. "I’ll go with you."

"What are you looking for?" Wendy emerged from the bedroom, sleepy-eyed. Seeing the teapot on the table, she walked over and poured herself a cup.

"Your sister Evelyn said she has our family photos in her family’s album. She’s going to get it, and your dad’s a little excited and can’t wait to go see," Officer Graham explained. Wendy’s face lit up with excitement too as she looked at Evelyn.

"Joy Ford, do you really have pictures of my mom, and my grandpa and grandma?"

"Yes. You had just turned one month old. My mom took them when we went to your one-month celebration."

Evelyn Ford led the two of them to the other log cabin. Inside a trunk in the bedroom, the three of them found a box packed full of photos.

Evelyn Ford found all the pictures of the Graham family and handed them to Wendy. There were fifteen in total. Both Wendy and Officer Graham’s eyes turned red. This must be what it felt like to recover something that was lost.

"Wow, I was so chubby when I was little," Wendy said, poking the baby in the photo with a look of mock disdain.

Evelyn took the photo and glanced at it. "You were adorable! You could already see the makings of a beauty back then. Look, you had such delicate features, your eyes were so big, your nose was so straight, and your eyebrows were so full."

"My mom was so beautiful. I didn’t inherit her looks."

Officer Graham rubbed his nose sheepishly. "Everyone says daughters take after their fathers. Looks like my genes held you back."

Wendy burst out laughing. "At least I’m tall."

Wendy was already five-foot-five, and she was only thirteen. She was in the middle of a growth spurt, so she’d probably reach about five-foot-eight by the time she finished growing.

Officer Graham held the photo of himself and Mrs. Graham, his eyes filled with tenderness and affection.

Mrs. Graham had been beautiful, and also very gentle and kind. Evelyn remembered that the year she married into the family, her own mother was always remarking at home that the daughter-in-law of the Graham family on the twelfth floor was prettier than a movie star.

The elder Mr. and Mrs. Graham had been very kind people. Evelyn picked up a few more photos; among them were pictures of Lauren Keller’s family and the family of David Collins, Evelyn’s next-door neighbor.

"Wendy, you should take these photos back with you. You can get some frames made later and keep these pictures safe."

Wendy threw her arms around Evelyn. "Joy Ford, thank you for keeping these photos. I’d already forgotten what my mom looked like. Sometimes I’d try so hard to remember, but all I could picture was a blurry outline, nothing specific. Dad described her to me, but I could never imagine it. Now... now I don’t have to imagine anymore. I can finally see my mom clearly."

Officer Graham thanked Evelyn Ford solemnly. He carefully tucked the photo of him and his wife into his breast pocket, making sure it was secure.

Back in the log cabin’s living room, Ronan Kendrick and the others were already awake.

"Where did you all go?" Wyatt Vaughn asked, carrying out a plate of fruit and looking at the three of them quizzically.

"Just next door, to find some photos for Wendy."

"It’s almost dawn outside. We should head out first and let Quincy and the others come into the space to rest for a while."

Picking up an apple and taking a bite, Evelyn Ford sat down next to Ronan Kendrick.

"Have breakfast first. You can go out after you eat," Taylor Vance said, looking at them with concern.

Evelyn Ford suddenly remembered she hadn’t even washed her face or brushed her teeth yet.

After wolfing down breakfast, Evelyn Ford hurried back to her bedroom to wash up.

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