Angel beside her.

Peace?

"It's final then. Tomorrow you'll go out with your mother to do shopping for hostel. I'll pack your bags. And then I'll make your favorite cheese sandwiches for you,"

"That's too early!" Susan protested.

"Look you better let go of your habit of putting things off for the third last day of deadline. Your school wil start next week. We better plan ahead." She said authoritatively making Susan laugh.

"Okay Grannie,"

"It's settled then," She said as she sat back on her bean bag taking her gaze back to the sky.

Both of them enjoyed each other's presence silently, little did they knew about Xander and Roxanne watching them quietly from behind with tears in their eyes.

"Letter for Mother," Stephen announced as he entered the dining room while everyone was having breakfast.

"Me? Who's writing for me now?" she looked surprised while taking the envelop.

A broad smile made its way to her face as she opened it. "It's from Susan,"

"Woah woah! It's just a week and she's already writing to you," Stephen chirped.

"What more can you expect from a thirteen year old?" Xander commented.

"She misses us all. And I don't think she's making any progress with making friends. Kids think she's got loads of arrogance. WHAT? She's having a pretty nice time there." She said as she read the letter.

"You should write back to her. I'm sure she'd love it. She told me she doesn't expects anyone of us to write for her when she'll be in hostel."

"Oh Boy! She can just ring us up from the STD they've got there." Roxanne interrupted.

"And you think you can keep phone calls as memories?" Stephen looked at her.

"Enough both of you. Finish your breakfast," their mother rebuked.

***

'I don't think anybody really understands me. But it's alright, not everyone is similar. I miss Grannie, I hope she's fine. And there's this girl who always picks up fights with me. I dunno how I'll make it to the last year with this kind of people here. But then I don't get scolded for little mistakes. I don't get beaten. It's different kind of peace here.'

'Somebody tell me why do I feel I don't belong to any group of people here?'

'Grannie wrote to me today. She's doing well, so are Uncle Stephen and mom-dad. I think they'll visit me soon.'

'I've made a bunch of friends. Well they're nice and fun to be with. And this girl who always picks fights with me is kinda good. She helped me to tie my shoe laces while I had this cut on my hand.'

'Wonder why this world is cruel to poor animals who have done nothing.'

Five years passed. Grannie and Susan always wrote to each other once in a week telling other one about everything. Susan came out of her shell all due to Grandmother and her friends who always pushed her to achieve higher.

"I won the second prize all-over the state!" Susan yelled as she entered the living room one evening.

"I thought you'll get first one," Her father looked up from his newspaper.

"Congratulations my child! I knew it!" Grandmother beamed at her as she went to hug her for her achievement.

"Wohoo! Well done Susan," Uncle Stephen cheered.

"When will you act like you're 27 Stephen?" Xander looked at his younger brother.

"C'mon you disgruntled man! I'm happy for my niece!"

"Very good Susan." Her mother smiled at her as she entered holding a tray with juice for everyone.

"Juice? Nope! We'll celebrate today. Bring on some Champagne!" Stephen jumped around making Susan laugh.

"I'm proud of you my child. I'll make you your favorite Cheese sandwich and chocolate cake alright?" Grannie said gleefully.

'I got second position all-over state. I don't know how to react. Maybe I didn't make it up to my dad's expectations. But that's alright. I tried. Maybe that's enough? How am I supposed to know?'

***

"What's the matter Suzie you look wary?" Melissa asked looking concerned about Susan zoning out.

"Nothing Mel I was just thinking about Grannie's letter I got after 3 weeks. Her handwriting was somehow broken and...."

"And?"

"She might be ... sick," her voice broke and tears welled up her eyes.

"Heyy It's alright. Let's go to meet your grandma this weekend," Melissa hugged her best friend and tried to calm her down.

Susan was counting days left till the weekend would arrive, 3 more days."Three more days and I'll meet grannie."

But that wasn't needed. Susan got called to Principal's office the very next day telling her that she was urgently needed at her home urgently. Her Uncle's fiancé had arrived to pick her up.

"How can you send me with someone who isn't family?" She asked the Mr. Jonas.

"I've talked to your father Miss Susan. Want me to confirm in front of you?" he looked at her with his half moon spectacles on his nose.

"I'll dial myself. You'll talk to him." With that she dialed the number and quietly heard his father telling Principal to make it quick.

"Hello Miss Darla," Susan smiled at her. Darla tried her best to smile but her eyes failed to hide the sorrow.

"What's wrong Miss Darla?"

"It's nothing Suzie. Let's go it's getting late." Darla made her sit inside the car. The whole ride was silent making Susan anxious.

"We're not going home?" Susan enquired as Darla turned right and started driving towards the place Susan dreaded the most. The Healers Multispecialty Hospital.

She remembered how visiting the dentist was one of the awful times. Going with Uncle Stephen was alright but the thought of going to dentist with mother or father made her shiver.

'They'll probably hit me for crying in pain. I'd rather go alone than going with them.'

"Which floor?" Susan looked at Darla. "Fifth." She answered slowly. 'God I hope whatever I'm thinking is wrong.' Susan thought to herself.

"This way Susan." Darla held her hand and led her to a room.

"Grannie!" she whispered unable to take in the scene.