1998

"I'm sorry Uncle Hugh, I'm sorry" Liz continued pleading and pleading to the deaf ears of Uncle Hugh.

He was more than determined to send her back home to prevent any further damage despite her endless tears.

Liz couldn't dream of dropping school. No! That was her only chance of accessing her free world. If she was to go back to that house, she was done forever.

For what would she accumulate of her life then?

Meanwhile, Meghan wished she was in Liz's shoes but on a very different matter. She had been longing to go home. This mad world, as she put it, had made her homesick.

"Silence!"

Everyone jolted awake as Uncle Hugh thundered. "-- you'll be leaving for home on the morrow. No further questions" he concluded.

Liz paralysed. Nothing could stop Uncle Hugh now, she'd never seen him like this.

He was only doing it for her own good but being calm wouldn't solve the issue.

"Uncle Hugh pleeease listen to me before further judgement" she begged. "I... wasn't...with... Spencer" she sobbed "I... Swear" she lied to save herself.

"Ms Liz I do not care if you swear with your life!" He barked.

"Please...just listen to me please" she regretted seeing Spencer at all today.

"I say you leave tomorrow!"

"She goes nowhere" Spencer came in.

Liz's heart sank.

Not Spencer, not Spencer. She fell silent.

"Spencer!" She cried out.

"SPENCER!" Uncle Hugh thundered.

"She's not leaving because she didn't see me" he continued.

What is Spencer trashing? She was done for.

"How dare you! How dare you barge into this place saying absolute nonsense?!" Uncle Hugh thundered.

"Liz only felt sick and was rushed to the sick bay where she was treated. She didn't have time enough to inform you-- As soon as she was freed, she ran here. You can't start scorning her for nought"

Now he was clearly mad, Liz thought as she shivered in fear. Not only was she going to loose her education, she was going to also loose the love of her life.

Spencer swallowed in terror. He was feeling tensed. But he had to stand strong for her.

"Is that so?" Uncle Hugh's expression softened.

"Truly so" Spencer replied.

"You said she ran here as soon as she was free, so how did you come to know of that?" Meghan pushed on.

"'cos I was the one that took her to the sick bay" he replied.

"How did you know her lodge?" Uncle Hugh wasn't still convinced.

"Surely, you saw me the day you were lodging in. I was right outside this corridor" he pointed.

Liz stood up from where she cried and walked over to Uncle Hugh faintly. "Does it mean I can stay Uncle Hugh?"

"Yes" he mumbled out. Looking up at Spencer, he said to him; "you can leave. Thanks by the way"

Liz watched Spencer turn and leave. She had learnt a very big lesson and would never see Spencer again.