by Yarro Rai
Why is it that the unsaid words always affect us more? Why is it that we remember incomplete stories? Why is the empty canvas almost as important as a painting?
Tragedy is the orgasm of love. And when love is rejected, betrayed, lost, and left behind, we change the spelling of love and start calling it life instead. And life must go on.
***
After completing the diary, Stella wiped her eyes, took out a cigarette, and lit it with shaking fingers.
“Latif, I lied you about Johnny’s diary. I bought the diary from a street thug named Edi.”
“You mean Johnny's friend?”
“Yes, him. But at that time, I didn’t knew that he had been friends with Johnny. I was looking for some news, then suddenly Edi comes to me and says that he had exactly what I wanted. Then he mentioned Esther's name, and I was a little suspicious since we had all heard the rumors that she was having an affair with someone. He said that the owner of the diary wanted to reveal the truth, and that is wasn't what everyone was thinking.
"I was cynical about the authentication, but then he asked for just a bottle of booze in exchange. I thought to myself: it's only a matter of a few bucks. So why not give it a try? I agreed and told the boss that I was pursing the Esther case and would give breaking news that will shake the city. I think my boss leaked the news and ...” She took a deep puff.
“Then Katherine called me and really wanted to know what was in the diary. Was I writing something revealing? She wanted to know everything and offered me a good amount. Thank God I resisted. Then even Mr. Brad contacted me and he offered me a good sum for the diary.”
“But why?”
“Don’t you remember what Johnny and Esther had promised each other? That they would both keep a diary and not show it to each other until they were older?”
“So that means that Esther doesn’t know that it was her father who sexually abused Johnny?”
“Yes. And that’s why Mr. Brad was concerned. Giving this diary to Katherine isn’t a great idea. That’s why he even told me to destroy it, but I wanted to know what was in it. Esther has already tried committing suicide two times after Johnny's death, and he was afraid that if Katherine got her hands on the diary, she could do some pretty good damage.”
Latif rubbed his chin with his thumb.
“So if you decide to sell the diary to Mr. Brad, what you will tell the boss? He expects shocking news from us. What you will say?”
“As I told you, Mr. Brad is giving me a good amount for this diary. And besides, I don’t want Esther to hurt herself. Yeah, I'm a selfish bitch, but playing with someone's life is not what I do.”
The door bell rang.
“It must be him.”
Stella walked to the door while Latif looked at the diary for the last time.
She brought Mr. Brad into her living room.
“Hello, Mr. Brad,” Latif moved his hand forward for a handshake.
“So, let’s make this quick.” Mr. Brad opened his briefcase.
“Yeah, I know you're busy man. Esther must be emotionally devastated. By the way, how is she now?” Stella asked and sat down on the couch. Mr. Brad remained standing.
“She's...Well, she's still very fragile. Since she's young, it makes it much worse. She thinks it’s because of her that Johnny died. She thinks it was her responsibility to keep him out of the corporate politics. Thank God her uncle is there. If it wouldn’t be for him, I don’t think Esther would still be alive. But now, since his health is also declining, I'm afraid for what will happen.”
“How about keeping bodyguards with her?”
“Yes, we're doing our best, but sometimes she just gets out of our hands and we can’t even force her to do anything. That's the worst part.”
There was silence in the room. Everybody was feeling for Esther.
“Well, here's your check. Thank you for your support.” Mr. Brad handed the check to Stella, but she refused.
“No, no. Please. I'm just glad that it’s in safe hands.”
“Please, I insist. If it wasn't for you, then this would have never been possible. You don’t know how much you have done.”
Latif quickly took the check.
“Thank you, sir.”
Stella handed him the diary. Mr. Brad looked at it and paged through, lost in thought.
“Mr. Brad? Sir?” Stella called to him a few times, waking him up from his deep thoughts. He looked up.
“So what will you do with it?”
“I was thinking of destroying it, but now I think I'll take out the unnecessary parts and give it back to her. Maybe it'll help her to come back to normal. We can just hope."
He stood up.
"I have to go now. Once again, thank you. Without you, this couldn’t have been possible.” They shook hands and led him out the door.
“So, Stella, what's my cut in that?” Latif asked her as she watched Mr. Brad get into his car.
***
Latif woke up to find Stella working on her laptop.
“Have mercy on yourself, it’s Sunday. By the way, what are you doing?” He rubbed his eyes, yawning.
“I was writing article on Esther, but then I felt like reading Johnny's diary again. So I'm reading it now. It’s a good thing we saved a file for us.”
“Okay, whatever. Do you want coffee?”
“Sure”
Latif went to the kitchen while Stella read Johnny's last diary entry on her laptop.
***
Johnny's Diary
Betrayal and disappointment everywhere. I never thought that I could conspire against Esther, but it happened. I saw her bleeding as they took her away. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. Why did I do it?
But that’s not important. What's important is that I came to know about Katherine and her relationship with Esther. She must have known that I was searching for Esther's father the whole time, but she didn’t tell me. I was so angry I decided to confront her.
I quietly snuck into her house. I heard giggling and laughter, so I quietly moved along the hall towards the sound.
I couldn't believe what I saw.
Katherine and Mr. Brad were kissing s each other while laughing uncontrollably. I quietly listened to their conversation, my heard pounding.
“So she never asked your first name? Dumb girl,” Katherine laughed.
“Never. Always 'Mr. Brad.' Plus, she was too busy diddling her eyes at Johnny, I think our plan worked very well.”
I was so shocked by what I was hearing that I didn't notice when the maid walked around the corner and spotted me. She screamed.
“Who’s there?” Katherine stood up from the sofa.
“There's a man hiding there! He's wearing a flat hat and carrying a gun!” She screeched.
“Oh, I know who he is. Come on out, Johnny,” Katherine said sweetly.
How did she know? Had she been expecting me?
I came out and stood before them. Katherine told her maid to leave.
“I can’t believe you. She trusted you!” I spat at Mr. Brad.
“There are so many things you won’t believe, darling,” Katherine said with a sickly sweet tone.
“But why would you betray her?”
“The thing is, my friend, that I was never with her. I was always with my wife Katherine.”
“Oh, yes. Don’t look so surprised, darling. You have helped us to achieve this. If you wouldn’t have come that night looking for Esther's father, I would have never come up with this master plan. I knew you were talking about her father because I knew his secret. Why do you think that even after terminating me he brought me back? Because I threatened to expose his big secret! So I was back in the business, but you know I wanted more. So I worked with the board members and started to deal under the table. Profit for everyone. But Esther's parents learned about this, and the company was standing on the verge of breakdown. So I had to do what I had do to. Sadly, it created some bad publicity. Our share price was getting so low th
at people weren't taking us seriously. We had to bring Esther into it whether we wanted to or not, just to get sympathy back on our side. Luckily the girl was so damn stupid, because it helped us to keep working behind her back. She knew nothing about the company or about the business, which is where my secret husband came into play. And of course, you were also a huge part of our plan." She smiled wickedly. "You were the distraction we needed just as a great magician needs a distraction. And your role was perfect. We manipulated you to manipulate her. And now look what you've done.”
My hands started shaking.
“Fuck you! Fuck you both! I'm going to tell her!” I started to turn to run from the room.
“Really? But how? Esther is dead.”
I stopped dead in my tracks.
“What are you talking about?”
“Clearly you don’t listen to the news or read a newspaper.”
Katherine threw the newspaper down onto the table.
The headline read: Assassination Strikes Again and was accompanied by photo of Esther.
Katherine's mocking laugh echoed through my mind. How could I be so stupid?
My breath was getting more bitter every moment. I felt like the whole world was on fire and I was taking its heat. Now there was no Esther, no peace, no one that could take me into her arms and say I love you. I had conspired against her. I had killed her. I killed her. There was nothing left here for me but the same streets filled with garbage piles, stray dogs, drugs...nothing left for me.
Esther had wanted me to keep a diary, so here is my last entry. Tonight, I will put a bullet straight through my heart and will end this.
Esther, I'm coming.
***
Stella couldn't believe what she had read. She called Latif into the room.
He came slowly, as if he had been stung. His eyes were wide.
“What happened? Why are you walking like that?” She asked.
Latif sighed, looked directly at Stella, and then handed her the newspaper.
Stella took the newspaper and held it up. There was a large photo of Esther on the front page with a huge heading.
City Princess Commits Suicide
***
So, what do you think?
I don’t know how you feeling right now but I would like to know. Tell me your disappointments, tell me your high points. What were you thinking in the middle of a story? The imaginative characters you saw during reading and the place you walked with them. Tell me everything. As, I am building another palace of words.
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About the Author
Yarro rai the youngest whack of his family. Who barely escaped the family tradition of joining the Army. And now pays the price by receiving cold stares from his family turning towards imagination and words for the relief. He is the author of dark poetry series which started on 2013 the latest instalment is Dark Romeo. When he is not writing he is blogging sometimes too straight, too truthful. Strong female characters, intrigues him and is currently writing a series Rare Girl and her journal. Acts out his character to record the reaction from his friend and strangers. Looking at the night sky and photography are the extent of his personality.
Poetry in the book is inspired by this book Dark Romeo
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