Klempner - Twenty-Six Years Ago

She’s gone.

What now?

I stare out of the window of the apartment I bought for her, overlooking the harbour with its yachts and pleasure boats, ice-cream kiosks and artsy-craftsy shops. Sunshine glints outside on the water, gleams on fresh paint, blue and white, and on polished timber decks, then spills into the room. But there’s no warmth in it. Tugging my jacket around me, I hiss as pain stabs through my hand. Gashed flesh swollen and heated, seeps blood.

I should dress it…

Later…

I thought I had it.

I thought I had her.

I really did.

It’s so cold.

Walking through to the kitchen, I limp a little where my ankle twisted as I fell…

Would he really have run me down?

… then clumsily, working with one hand, I make coffee, splashing in a hefty measure of whiskey, then more until the cup teeters on overflowing.

You had me fooled, Larry. You really had me going. When you left, I was coming to see you… and then I saw them…

Returning with the drink to stand in the scant heat of the sunshine, I watch holidaymakers and tourists going about their moronic activities. Hot alcohol and caffeine sear a trail down my throat but still, there’s no warmth inside me.

She was coming to see me…

Coming to say she’d be with me…

Shivering, I drain the dregs.

Bitter as bile, churning and toxic, regret wells up inside me…

Enfolds me in its harsh embrace…

Overwhelms me…

There’s not enough air. Pain draws a band around my chest, tighter; ever tighter.

Dropping to my knees, I cover my face.

Hide from the world…

Is this all there is?

Hide from myself…

She ran to him…

and

Conners...

flickers; a flame fanning up to burn hot and

… Lighting the darkness.

draw one deep lungful after another, sucking at the air until my head clears and I'm able to stand. Using the window ledge to support myself, I pull myself upright again, plunging hands white with cold into my

against them; small, cold

?

I pull out the strange object. A butterfly dangles from its chain,

How…?

?

?

which strains and pops to dangle from my

fingers

She was wearing it.

His gift…

lances through me, waking me, making me feel alive

Conners.

*****

James

his hand. Richard and Beth sit in silence,

we

“I’m going to drive across there tomorrow and see what the area looks like. I don’t want a repeat of last time; going all

not planning on knocking on the

be right. But I want to check at least that there’s a door

“Fair enough.”

*****

Michael

A classic city edge…

the address. Written in a careful hand, printed capitals, it is quite clear. This is

looks occupied. No lights are on and there is no sign of movement, but paintwork is fresh and clean; floral

can bring her

*****

Charlotte

of the car with me. Michael leans back against the vehicle, arms folded, legs

downstairs window; movement inside, shapes silhouetted against

move. My feet drag. My heart

Enough already…

smartly on

What if she answers?

Will I recognise her?

she know

of a turning lock, the clunk

thirty. He’s good-looking in an unremarkable

looking for Michelle? Is she

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