Prologue
It was around 2 am, the sky was completely dark and it was wet everywhere. The roads were empty and the lights of every house were switched off while for some the light poured through the thick curtains. Who is awake at this time? I thought to myself.
Only a few street lamps were working and out of those few, some of them were flickering. It was pouring heavily; I was drenched and shivering. I had no umbrella or a raincoat with me. I walked as fast and as carefully as possible. The path was slippery and water poured through my worn out shoes, making it uncomfortable to walk in and my feet wet.
I hugged the file as close to me as possible, trying to save it in every way I could. It was the only thing that I could save now. There was nothing I could do about the rest.
I walked on the path which was on the other side of the road, away from the houses.
All of a sudden, I heard a loud click and a door of the house somewhere in front opened and I stopped dead on my tracks. I could see the bright lights from inside the house which was ten times brighter than the good for nothing street lights.
Then came a moving figure, a silhouette of a guy walking out of the house with a bag on his shoulder. It looked like he was searching for something outside on the streets. He then walked down and was about to sit on his bike.
I hoped he couldn’t see me. But the next thing I knew, is head turned towards me and the light from the house fell on his face. I was dumbfound. The eyes... I had seen them before. His face was like something out of a fictional book.
Before I could think about anything else, he broke into a run. He was running... towards me! I turned and ran as fast as I could, away from him.
I forgot about the rain, the darkness but not the file. I held it and ran without thinking, just followed my feet to wherever they were taking me. I could hear his steps following me. My hair was down, my rubber-band must have fallen off. It felt uncomfortable as my long dark hair stuck to the back of my top.
I kept running taking a right or left whenever I could. I lost track of everything. I was suddenly met with a dead-end. In front of me stood a big brick wall. I came to a halt and skid and avoided hitting the wall by a few inches, I was out of breath and tried to regain it. I couldn’t hear his steps now.
I turned to go back but then there was something blocking my way. I was startled and was about to scream, but a hand covered my mouth. I slowly opened my eyes and saw him! The rain was hitting my eyelashes. I admired his face and again I saw his eyes. They looked so familiar and they were staring right back at mine.
I suddenly got conscious and looked away and had no idea why I was smiling. He removed his hand and was smiling himself and suddenly got serious. He hurriedly took off his coat and put it around me. I then realised how cold I was actually feeling since I could feel the warmth now. I hugged the coat tighter along with the file. His eyes landed on it and removed his bag from his shoulder and handed it to me.
I slowly reached my hand out to take it and safely kept my file in the empty backpack.
I looked back up to thank him but before I could say anything, he asked in a low and deep voice, “Who are you?” I was mesmerised by the voice, it was somewhat soothing.
I shook that thought out of my head. I shouldn’t think like that, I can’t. He looked at me expectantly, waiting for an answer. I couldn’t trust anyone.
“I’m Natasha”, I lied. He looked at me understandingly, as if he knew I’m lying and the reason behind it. A shiver went down my spine.
He then turned and started to walk away and I just stood there trying to process everything. He then looked back and moved his head giving me a signal to follow him. I jogged up to him and walked by his side, quietly.
He walked with confidence, looking like he knew where he was going which surprised me. How could anyone possibly remember the path? The only thing I remember was rain,darkness and running amidst all of it.
The rain had slowed down a bit and we kept walking through city in the darkness. I had no idea who I was with, where I was going and what I was getting myself into.
The light poured into the room through the windows. The curtains were pulled back and I just lay there in a stranger’s bed lazily staring up at the ceiling. It felt awkward to have stayed the night here. And then it struck me...
I hurriedly sat up and swiftly turned my head to the side and I ended up hurting my neck. Phew! The file was kept right there on the nightstand right where I left it. I picked up the file to check if everything was there.
I opened it and flipped through its contents quickly.
I stopped when I saw the picture, I picked it up and stared at it. I could feel tears build-up in my eyes and my throat started to hurt. I heard distant footsteps and swiftly shut the file.
That is when I noticed how beautiful the room was. The sunlight added to its beauty. The walls were plain white except for the one behind the bed, it was painted royal blue.
My eyes shifted to the door, and there he was standing in the doorway giving me an intense stare.
I couldn’t help but stare back. He was gorgeous and at that thought I immediately scolded myself to have thought that. I am not supposed to. I cannot.
“Hey”, I whispered hoping he heard it because I was not able to find my voice at the moment.
“Good morning.” He replied, one could hear his voice filled with happiness and joy. What could probably be the source of his happiness? I felt a twinge of envy for all the happiness he was filled with. I had not felt that in a while and I hated being like this.
I missed the old me, who was so happy and care-free.
I was brought out thought bubble when I felt the bed dip beside me and I noticed he was seated so close to me that I could smell his lemon shower gel.
He looked at me a bit... disappointed? My face must have given away my confusion as he said “I had said good morning but someone didn’t wish me back.”
“Oh! I’m sorry, good morning.” I said quickly and utterly embarrassed.
He burst out laughing and said between his laughs, “Oh my... I was joking! It’s fine”
I just shook my head not understanding what was so funny but a smile made its way to my lips anyway. He’s such an idiot, I thought to myself.
“What was that? I couldn’t quite hear you.” He said. I realised I must have said it aloud.
It was my turn to laugh this time, and said “Absolutely nothing.”
