The next day.
Monday.
Hawk, who had already taken leave last Friday, woke up early today, but instead of heading directly to Calvin Cemetery in Glendale, he took a taxi to a welfare home… or rather, a Mexican burrito shop nearby, with the five Chitauri alien weapons packed in a golf bag he bought yesterday afternoon.
The shop owner was a genuine Mexican, and he seemed to know Hawk, appearing somewhat surprised when he saw him.
"Hawk…"
But the owner quickly reacted, "Is it the tenth?"
Hawk nodded, taking out the change he had prepared from his pocket and handing it over.
After receiving the change, the owner said, "Just a moment."
A moment later.
Two freshly made Mexican burritos were packed.
Hawk took them, said thank you, and then turned and left, carrying his golf bag again.
About an hour later.
After walking around the nearby blocks with his golf bag, Hawk finally held the dozen or so extra takeout bags in his hand, hailed a taxi, and headed to Calvin Cemetery.
Calvin Cemetery, spanning Brooklyn and Queens, was established in 1849 and is an old cemetery.
Logically speaking, after so many years, Calvin Cemetery should have been full.
Indeed, it was, but in 1984, Calvin Cemetery had a turning point.
It was acquired from New York City's municipal government.
Yes.
Calvin Cemetery became private, and because of this, the privatized Calvin Cemetery began a cleanup. In just three months, Calvin Cemetery announced its reopening, and this time, there were plenty of plots available.
Don't ask why it suddenly became empty.
Anyway, after Calvin Cemetery announced its reopening, no one protested or objected.
Moreover, to meet the needs of the times, Calvin Cemetery not only specially opened up a scenic, north-facing, excellent feng shui plot for people of East Asian descent, but also undertook government-funded burial projects.
By the time Hawk arrived at Calvin Cemetery, it was already nine in the morning.
After checking the documents Hawk handed over, the cemetery gatekeeper just looked curiously at the golf bag on Hawk's back but didn't inspect anything, letting Hawk pass through.
Calvin Cemetery is very large, after all, it spans two boroughs.
Hawk, who had been here many times and was very familiar with the place, walked along the cemetery path for about fifteen minutes before arriving at a small tombstone.
A photo was attached to the tombstone, showing a sweet-smiling little girl.
Her name was on it.
Anya.
1995.5.20-2009.9.10
Hawk took off the golf bag containing the five alien weapons from his back and placed it casually to the side. Then he squatted in front of the tombstone, carefully placing the takeout bags filled with various foods onto the small platform in front of the tombstone. Then he looked up at the sweet-smiling photo on the tombstone.
He didn't speak, just watched quietly, and then, looking at the smiling face in the photo, a faint smile slowly appeared on his own face.
A happy smile that he only showed when he first saw the photo on his bedside table after waking up in the morning.
After a while.
Hawk took out his phone from his pocket, which he had turned off because he didn't want to be disturbed today, and placed it aside. Then he turned around, leaned against the tombstone behind him, and looked at the scenery in front of him.
If one were to zoom out, they would find that Hawk's figure seemed to be leaning against the photo on the tombstone, both of their gazes looking in the same direction, as if admiring the scenery together.
If one were to zoom out even further.
Midtown High School.
"Gwen, do you know where Hawk went?"
"Uh…"
Gwen, who was about to put her backpack into her locker and go to class, was slightly startled by the call from her counselor, Mrs. Snow.
"Didn't he ask for leave from you?"
"I know, but I just received a call from New York University; they're coming to the school today."
"…For Hawk?"
"Yes, but I can't reach Hawk. God, when he didn't have a phone, it was fine if I couldn't reach him, but now he has a phone, and it's turned off."
Mrs. Snow said somewhat speechlessly over the phone, it was worse than not having a phone.
"I thought he might have told you, so do you know where he went?"
"Uh…"
Gwen hesitated slightly.
She probably knew where Hawk was today, but she wasn't sure if Hawk wanted her to know that she knew.
"The people from New York University are coming today to finalize the list. It would be a great pity if Hawk doesn't come today."
"Alright."
Hearing this, Gwen thought that Hawk was indeed preparing for New York University, and then hearing that Hawk might miss this opportunity if he didn't come today, she no longer hesitated and nodded, "Mrs. Snow, I'll go find Hawk now, but I might need to ask for leave."
Mrs. Snow breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
"No problem."
After hanging up the phone, Mrs. Snow couldn't help but shake her head, and then, as if she thought of something, she couldn't help but let out a laugh.
Sure enough.
It had to be Gwen.
On the other side, after hanging up the phone, Gwen put her books back into the locker, took out her backpack, closed the locker door, and then went to the parking lot, got into her yellow corolla, started the car, and left the school.
Gwen drove straight towards Calvin Cemetery.
When she arrived at the cemetery gate, parked her car, found the gatekeeper, and explained her purpose.
The cemetery gatekeeper cooperated by opening the gate.
Gwen, who also seemed very familiar with the place, followed the path. After reaching a corner and turning it, Hawk, who was not far away, with one leg stretched out and one knee bent, his left hand resting on his knee, leaning against a tombstone, came into her view.
Hawk, who was clearing his mind, heard the footsteps gradually approaching from a distance, focused his gaze, and turned his head to look at Gwen, who was cautiously walking towards him from not far away.
Gwen, seeing Hawk smile after he noticed her, couldn't help but feel relieved inside, and then walked over.
She didn't immediately state her purpose for coming to find Hawk. Instead, her gaze fell upon the tombstone, at the girl who was identical to the one in the photo she found on Hawk's bedside table. Then she glanced at Hawk, who was leaning nearby, and said softly, "Can you tell me about her?"
Hawk smiled slightly, looked sideways at the photo on the tombstone, his eyes gentle.
"Anya."
"My…"
"Sister!"
"…"
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