Chapter 76: Chapter 76
" Yes a little. “ Charlie sighed, staring at the thick wad full of signatures inside the clear folder “I collect 100 signatures from people who also want to defend the shelter, to try to convince the bank that we are important.
“Oh…” Morgan was silent for a second, apparently out of surprise, before finally speaking again, this time with a warm smile in her voice, “That's great. You did really well. I'm proud of you, honey.
“And I'm proud of you too. “ she muttered back, feeling a bittersweet feeling start to wash over her.
" What? Why? “ he questioned her, confused.
“Because you are the best man I know. “ she revealed, full of sincerity “ Because he is always willing to help everyone he meets and sacrifices himself for everyone to be well. And I... I don't do anything but need your help. Thanks to me, you're being forced to do things like stop your work in the middle of the morning to call me and let me know if I'm okay, even if the problem I'm solving has nothing to do with you. “ Charlie wailed, fighting back the tears that threatened to form. “One day, I hope I can be like you and repay everything you do for me.
“Oh, Charlie…” Morgan sighed regretfully, and a long moment of silence ensued, enough for Charlie to think the connection might have been dropped, until he spoke again, suddenly “Can you answer me one question? thing? Should a caterpillar feel guilty after meeting a butterfly and realizing it still isn't able to fly like the caterpillar?
" What does that mean? Charlie questioned him, confused.
" Just answer. he asked, sounding good-natured.
“Okay…” she sighed, feeling the exhaustion she felt getting the better of her “As much as a part of me thinks the caterpillar has every right to feel sad about not being able to fly… One day it will will make it. “ Charlie completed, suddenly realizing what he was talking about and getting shy “ One day she will become a butterfly and she will be able to fly too.
" Exactly. " Morgan agreed, elated " So if one day the caterpillar needed to cross a river, what would be better: crossing the river and risk drowning? Or accept the butterfly's help and fly with it?
“ Isn't there an option to wait a bit, until she grows wings? Charlie grumbled, not wanting to budge.
“ Of course, but this option will not always exist. “ she could almost see him shrugging in that pragmatic tradesman way “ What if the caterpillar needs to find food on the other side of the river? So she could wait. Realize? In extreme situations, she will need to accept help or she may end up taking unnecessary risks.
“Or it may never become a butterfly and become known among the other caterpillars for being dependent on others. “Charlie snorted, regretting saying it on impulse the moment her words left his mouth.
“Did anyone say that to you? he questioned, his voice taking on a dangerous tone.
"I thought we were talking about hypothetical stuff…" Charlie sulked, still not wanting to talk about it with him.
" Very good. " Morgan took a deep breath. So this little caterpillar can end up worrying so much and believing so strongly that accepting help from others is a bad thing, that it can end up forgetting that it's perfectly capable of doing amazing things, even without wings. And you know what else she might end up forgetting?
“That her wings will one day grow. “ she guessed, with a rueful sigh “ Even if it's taking too long and the problems only grow, lately.
" That is true. But that's not what I was talking about. “ he said, surprising her. “ I was going to say that she might forget that everyone needs help from time to time, regardless of whether they have wings or not. Sometimes the caterpillar will need the butterfly to help it cross some dangerous waters. And there's no problem with that. “ the clear affectionate smile in his voice made her want to cry “ I understand that it can be frustrating to want to fly and not be able to. But that doesn't mean that the help the caterpillar may end up giving the butterfly is any less or less necessary.
“ How does the caterpillar encourage the butterfly to become a chef...? “ Charlie sniffled, being able to smile for the first time in what felt like forever “Hypothetically, of course.
“ Exactly, excellent hypothesis. “ he laughed sweetly “ Or make the butterfly's life more joyful and colorful, while the two wait for the day when it will grow wings and both can fly together. Does it make sense to you? he asked, making her heart flutter, but in a good way.
“Yes…” Charlie rubbed his wet eyes with his other hand, trying not to sniff so loudly “Morgan…May I ask for a favor?
“Of course, dear…” her affectionate voice, however, was interrupted by the muffled voice of what sounded like an older man “I'll be on my way then” Morgan replied to the voice, before speaking to her again “Sorry, dear. Can speak now.
“Oh, uh…” the plea for him to save the shelter, which had been on the tip of his tongue before, trickled down his throat again “Don't worry, we can talk when you get home. Could it be... Are you going to take a long time? “ she asked hesitantly, needing to make that request, even though she knew it was a little selfish to disturb his routine with that kind of thing “It's just… I really wanted a hug.
“I'll be with you soon, darling, I promise. “ was all he said, before the unfamiliar voice rang out again.
" You look busy. I'll stop bothering you now. See you later. “ she said goodbye, laughing a little when he still insisted that she never bothered him, before hanging up.
With a heavy sigh, and feeling a little more hopeful after their conversation, Charlie treated himself to a taxi ride back to the shelter, allowing his legs the rest they deserved. Hugging her petition to her chest, Charlie prayed silently the entire way that it would make a difference, even if she was going to ask Morgan, that night, to buy the shelter, one way or another. I mean, even if it wasn't going to be very useful, she could still be proud of getting 100 handwritten signatures in a single day, couldn't she?
Once at the shelter's front door again, Charlie tried to lift his chin as he entered, to break the good news to Vivian and Jack that the shelter was about to be saved. However, upon hearing strange voices coming from the office as soon as she entered, she knew immediately that something was wrong. Running immediately to where the noise was coming from, a stone seemed to sink into Charlie's stomach as soon as she saw Samantha, surrounded by two middle-aged men who were probably her lawyers, standing in the middle of her office, dressed as if she were going to a prom. gala.
“Hello, Charlotte, darling. “ her ex-stepmother greeted her as soon as she saw her, with a wide smile, while waving in the direction of Vivian and Jack, who were staring back at her with hatred “ I just came here to tell your little friends that the bank called me today at late to let you know that you have completed the sale of the land. And since the bailiff and bank clerk are due to be here any minute now, I thought it would be a good idea to take over right away. “ Seeing the look of pure horror on Charlie's face, Samantha just smiled even wider “ Oh, what's wrong honey? You told them I would be the one to buy the land, didn't you?"
In her speech, Charlie can hear what she really means: Did you tell them they're going to have to leave because of you? And that woman didn't even know that it was Charlie's fault not only because the two hated each other, but also because she had been stubborn, preferring to chase something useless like that petition, instead of asking Morgan's help from the beginning. first moment. Now, however, it was too late to ask Morgan, tonight, to sort it out for her. Her stubbornness made her make the mistake of not asking for help, even though she knew she wasn't able to save the shelter alone.
And now she would pay the price.