Chapter 16

Amanda's response was silence; she disconnected the call without uttering a word. From the bedside drawer, she retrieved four bottles of trembling hands, both containing antidepressants. In quiet despair, she spilled out several pills and swallowed them in one go, battling the depths of severe depression.

Initially, she only needed one or two antidepressants a day, but over time, the quantity escalated. Now, there were instances where she had to ingest more than a dozen pills to find solace.

"Mandy? Hello? Amanda?" Andrew anxiously shouted into his phone, but all he received in return was the persistent beeping sound. Concerned, he stashed his cell phone and hastily descended from his apartment. Andrew rushed into his car and sped toward Amanda's hotel, driven by worry for her well-being.

Having known each other abroad since childhood, he and Amanda were once neighbours. Despite the three-year age gap, Andrew found the seed of romance taking root in his heart during those early years.