Chapter 1 - The Return
Some places carry the aroma of the past, and I could almost smell it as the familiar streets passed by. Rain water sliding down the window of my cab kept me occupied for most of my ride.
"Sir.....Sir, we have reached your destination."
An intruding voice broke my trance eventually and I realised that the cab driver had been speaking to me for the last couple of minutes.
A soft sigh escaped my lips while I remained seated at my spot. The driver glanced back with a puzzled look on his face while I looked towards the house and waited for a while.
The blaring sound of the horn forced me to get out of the cab while the temptation to go back to the airport lingered in my mind.
"My payment..."
That same voice caught my attention once again and I realised how weird I was being in front of a complete stranger. So to get rid of the awkward situation, I paid him the money quickly and once he was on his way, I walked slowly towards the house.
The house, the neatly trimmed grass in the porch, the familiar smell of food getting cooked in the kitchen inside..... everything about the place brought back numerous memories. My hand hesitated a couple of times before pressing the doorbell.
The silence that followed was perhaps the most uncomfortable I'd experienced in a long time. I glanced at my wrist watch and just as I took a step back, the door opened.
The lady standing in front of me was in her late 50s and her tired face suddenly found life again. She didn't waste any time in giving me a hug while tears brimmed in her eyes.
"Y...you are finally here."
Her soft, shivering voice made me embrace her tightly. The lady was none other than my mother...Sarah Warrington.
A minute later, I was inside the house and I couldn't help but look around like a small child visiting a new place. As my gaze moved around, it landed on the man sitting on an armchair.
Silence surrounded us for a couple of minutes before Sarah's voice brought an end to it.
"Go to your room Sam and freshen up. Lunch is ready."
The moment those words left her mouth, I was already walking towards the room. As the door shut behind me, Sarah let out a heavy sigh and then walked towards the man sitting on the armchair.
"John....you could have at least said something."
Seeing no response from him, Sarah placed her right hand on his shoulder.
"He has returned after such a long time. Let's not do this right now."
John stood up at last and turned towards her.
"Seven years....seven years he has stayed away." His low but deep voice echoed in the room.
"You know why..." Sarah muttered softly and it earned her a slow shake of the head from her husband.
John turned and walked towards his room while mumbling underneath his breath.
"Of course I know....all because of that woman..."
