by Jason Wood
Augustus knew that something was not right and Sam was in danger. After initial salutations, the officer informed him that they had been watching his movements as they suspected that he will try to catch the woman on his own.
So Augustus was right and Sam was in danger.
Now we have seen you roam around with that woman. Tell me, Gus, is she the one you were looking for.
Yes, he replied. But she is not what I thought her to be. She is an innocent traveler and I had mistaken her for the murderer. I stole her diary and it is a proof that she is not a killer. It is her alibi.
It must have broken your heart because you had been chasing her for so long. Well, it is alright I guess.
Actually, it has fixed my broken heart. Augustus replied
How?
I have found the woman I have been looking for, he replied. I tried to find a criminal and I found someone extraordinary and special.
Have you fallen in love with her?
Yes.
Well good for you but what if she is the criminal. You never know with these people.
I know she is not and I am not being emotional, I have seen proves as well.
Good for you then, nightshade replied with a smile.
The name of Samantha Hurlock was cleared from the record of the London Police.
Chapter 12
A myriad of mystery
The night was dark that day, a little darker than usual, a shade of purple dark. The weather was pleasant. It was 7:45 PM when Augustus inspected his image in the mirror. A handsome man in his mid-forties stared back; black suit, white shirt, ginger hair nicely set back and blue eyes twinkling at the thought of seeing her.
He took the diary which he had saved despite Night shade’s persistence that it was evidence and went out of his room at the hotel. He had read the diary for so many times and each time had fallen even more in love with the writer. He drove towards her home at a greater speed than his usual pace and stopped only at a flower shop where he carefully chose flowers of light pink and white roses and lilies and had the shopkeeper make them into a beautiful bouquet. He knew she loved flowers.
At 8:15 PM he was standing in front of her doorstep. He had arrived fifteen minutes earlier than what was decided so he decided to wait. At about 8: 29 PM he knocked at the door, but there was no answer so he rang the doorbell. Nobody came even after that and he began to get worried. He started banging the door and made a great racket. Someone from the neighbors came out. It was an old lady.
He asked her about Sam.
She is gone, she replied.
What do you mean? He asked. I am talking about Samantha Hurlock, the woman who lived in this house, he said pointing towards the house.
I know who you are talking about, young man. Don’t try to be smart. She has gone back and she told me to give this letter to a man if he came asking for her. She did not mention that he would be a total jerk, though. With this, she handed him the letter and went inside her house.
Chapter 13
The letter
Dearest Augustus or G,
You knew who I was since the beginning, but the thing you did not know was that I also knew who you were.
That has settled a number of things. My name is cleared which is not a big deal because you had been planning this since a long time ago. You were not here to catch me but to save me. I love your disguises, though. It had been you all along. You thought I did not know anything, but I knew everything. It was you who mentioned Italy to me, you who introduced me to journal writing and you who had taught me to use my brain but unfortunately it was also you who had unknowingly made me feel too. I was numb once, but you taught me how a prick feels and how a rose smells. Everything is clear except one……
I am not sure about your feelings for me. You may be all mine or none at all. I am going away please only look for me if there is a reason otherwise don’t bother, you know very well I can survive mu own as well.
I am willing to give up myself to you if you are willing to handle me.
Love,
The dead girl you brought back to life.
Xoxo
Augustus was shocked. The flowers fell from his hands. He returned his home, dejected. The room closed behind him as he reached the basement. It was a dark room and the only source of light was a single bulb at the center. He switched on a button and the whole room was illuminated. He went to the depths of the room. There was a cupboard thee, he opened it and inside was a drawer from which he took a bag. He opened it and down fell a gray beard and a gray wig and spectacles.
Epilogue
Miles away from Augustus, in a developing country in Asia, a girl was dangling from the window of a taxi. She was wearing a head scarf and dark shades, her hair were not yellow anymore but black. A new life was ahead of her but still there was a void to be filled.
If it is meant for you, it will come to you, the voice of Augustus transformed as an old man rang in her years.
Let him feel the pain of not knowing, the pain of anticipation!
THE END
