A Lost Lover

The night was dark, thunder clapping, lightning illuminating brief flashes in the sky and making the streets look like galaxies of stars. I must’ve spent a hundred nights in this restaurant. Eating alone in this dim romantic space. For some odd reason I always find comfort in these leather booths that smell of darkness. Maybe I was a regular here in a different lifetime before everything went sideways. I was sipping on my red wine, gazing out of the window and watching the raindrops pound the pavement when the auburn haired siren walked by. Her hips were swaying with promises only she could keep. There was an elegance and grace that filled the air around her. She rounded the corner and left my line of sight as I realized she was the only one who would ever be the keeper of my heart. A moment of panic set in until I realized she was crossing the threshold of the restaurant. She glanced up while shaking her umbrella out and our eyes locked for a moment. All I wanted to do was dive into their depths never to be found again. She made her way towards me as my heart tried to explode out of my chest while small beads of sweat formed on my brow. Should I speak, what could I possibly say to halt her in her tracks and make her stay with me forever? She walked by me and the air was filled with the sweetest hints of jasmine. It was so familiar but so new. As if I had fallen in love with that scent before but that would be impossible, I’d never met her before. My thoughts were racing, filled with a longing and desire only she could create. I glanced down at my watch and realized how late it was, I needed to go now. In my haste to climb out of the booth I didn’t realize she was walking by again. I slammed into her, nearly knocking her over. My instincts kicked in and I reached out to grab her. My hands almost knew exactly where her curves moved. I started to mumble my apologies. I look into her crystal eyes and ask, “Are you ok?” Her laughter bubbles up from her long throat as she says “Of course I am!” I wanted to kiss those ruby lips, instead I said “My apologies for slamming into you that way. Please let me make it up to you. Join me for a drink?” She smiled and replied “I would, but I’ve got a long day tomorrow and from the looks of it, you were heading out yourself.” “Oh you’re absolutely correct, I hope I may see you again sometime soon?” With a flick of her hair she responded “Only if the fates allow it.” I kissed her hand and she walked away, disappearing into the night leaving nothing behind but the sweet scent of jasmine lingering in the air. It has been six months since that night. Fall has taken over the city, turning all the was green into beautiful shades of red and orange. I often find myself walking by the river, searching for the smell of jasmine and auburn hair. Avoiding my own home has become an addiction, which is why I didn’t notice that my door was cracked open when I returned from one of my walks. I walked in to see a man and a woman seeming as if they were robbing me. I dropped everything in my hands ready to spring into action. “Sir, at last you have returned.” The accent was clearly British and he was acting as if we were long lost friends. “Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?!” “‘‘Tis I sir, Butler.” The words coming out as if I should have known who this man was. Then it hit me, the smell of jasmine. I looked at him with a look of utter confusion on my face. “Sir, Matilda and I let ourselves in. It seems as though you don’t spend much time here so we thought we’d tidy up and Matilda is brewing your favorite mint tea.” Panic was rising in my veins. “How do you know me? Why does it smell like jasmine in here? Where did you come from?” Butler walked towards me in a very passive way. I was starting to feel crazy. “Sir, let me explain. Matilda and I were yours and mistresses employees from before your accident. We wanted to stay behind with you, but she needed us more. We ensured that you had the best possible care before we left.” I knew what accident he was talking about. I have no true recollection of it, or my life before it. Everything I know was information I was given by doctors and nurses. I was a firefighter. I fell from the fourth floor of a burning building. I had no family history and I wasn’t expected to live. I broke about half my bones and the meeting between my head and the pavement caused my amnesia. All anyone knew was my home address. The address of the apartment I was standing in now. When I finally recovered enough to come home, I found a notebook with a bank card and account number. A letter explaining that everything I needed was taken care of. Looking at Butler a million questions rolled through my mind. They all started to tumble out at once. “Who is this mistress? Why didn’t anyone know I had help? Why did you all leave me? What is happening? Why are you back now?” Just then a It’s been two years since I’ve seen my mystery woman on that rainy night, and I’m sick without her, can’t even walk past the local flower because the smell of jasmine in the air makes me flash back to that night. I remember stopping by that small restaurant for weeks with hopes of running into her again, since then the place we met on the dreary night closed. Clearly God is taunting me, she is taunting me. Shortly after our encounter I started finding little red puzzle pieces, in the most random of places. One tucked into the door handle of my truck. One hanging off the tree outside of my front door. All I have is a few puzzle pieces with letters on the back of them. Returning home after a long day of work, one of the worse possible days ever, approach my door from a distance, noticing a red envelope with a wax seal, with the same sweet scent, a hint of jasmine from before. Opening it, and it reads Tomorrow night, 8pm with a logo of The Little Dragon. Chuckling to my self, a tattoo polar? The next night I arrived at 8pm to a closed building.. But another envelope.. And it reads Thanks for being a good sport with a kiss sealing the note.. Looking around thinking that’s it? Come on this can’t be it… As I turned to walk away I noticed that flashlight wedged between the door handle and frame, picking it up and tuning it on, oh it’s a black light, pointing it at the door, nothing, the ground nothing, chuckling to myself, thinking there have to be something here, rounding the corner of the shop shining it at the wall I noticed two more puzzle pieces, Yes victory! Wait where’s my phone? Fumbling around my pockets, no no no I know it’s here! Ok found it, pointing the light back at the wall to take a picture, ok got it, but what does it all mean? return home walking into my apartment building, I smell her, following the lingering scent to my door, opening it I noticed a trail of rose petals leading down my hall next to a candle lit trail. Approaching my bed there’s another note, come to the bathroom and relax, quickly searching my apartment no ones here? A thousand questions flooded my thoughts. Walking into the bathroom a hot bath, with another note, relax you’ve had a long day, get some rest, see you tomorrow.. Excited and creeped out, I climb in the tub to review her notes and puzzle pieces what are you trying to tell me?.. See you tomorrow? Two weeks passes and still no her, until one night walking by the tattoo polar the owner was standing outside smoking. Stop the car I shouted. Crossing the street he sees me and starts laughing, as I get closer he starts, you poor soul you, his voice was deep, big Viking of a guy, you’re looking for her isn’t you? Yes I answered in a rush, good luck, last time I seen her she was at a bar down on 6th and broadway. Perfect I thought, as I turned to walk away his giant hand landed on my shoulder, good luck my friend, if you catch the fox, take heed, be careful. Thanks I answered .. Approaching the bar, I can tell that she’s been there recently because the smells of her linger. For weeks I continued to sneak around and no luck, until one night, that faithful night, I walked in and there she was laying on a piano single jazz, sticking to the shadows I made my way around the room to get a better look at her. At last I found her, for the next couple weeks I went in at the same time, until one night she wasn’t there. But left behind another puzzle piece, with an address (air strip) to an angry Matilda. Mistress takes her privacy very seriously, she yelled as I got closer to the jet. Where are we going I yelled back, Morocco!! She answered. Pausing in my steps? Night of my life. (Theatro Marrakech) night club (event le Grand Bazaar) I hear it’s the biggest party any one could attend in a lifetime. Entering the club Matilda held up a dark purple card, I thought was strange, but it got us through the line a lot quicker. It was one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen, there were colored smoke everywhere! A puff of blue smoke off in the distance caught my attention, as the smoke cleared there she was beautiful as the summer day! In what felt like slow motion I went to approach her, Matilda stepped out in front of me. Wha? Before you say anything do you know who she is? Asked Matilda sternly. No I’ve only been looking for her since that rainy night in May, where we ran into each other in the restaurant I was having dinner. The most amazing night of my life.. She doesn’t like being looked for or found. Why can’t I talk to her again I asked. I only want to buy her dinner, see her smile, that’s all I want. Wait here! Said Matilda don’t move!! As she worked her way across the room I can see the exchange of words from across the room. But I couldn’t tell if it was a good or bad thing, next thing I knew the butler were beside me telling me to follow him. As we got outside I asked what was going on, he replied it will all make since in the morning. Lets go get you settled in for the night, but I couldn’t sleep, each passing minute felt like an hour, this possibly could be the longest night of my life. The next morning breakfast is under the moroccan sky, as the sun slowly rises, sinning through the city, highlighting all the wonderful colors that makes this this place such a fantasy to visit. Standing on top of the hill under the pergola watching the sun, as Matilda and the Butler approaches leading their mistress as I fidget as they get closer and closer to the table. As she and I have a seat, Matilda and the Butler starts to walk away. Standing quick I asked are you all going to join us? Matilda responded as she walked away enjoy your breakfast. At last it was just me and her, my mystery woman, woman of my dreams. So, can I finally have your name? I asked, as she smiled. You really don’t know my name do you? You have no idea who I am? She stood and turned around lifting her shirt slightly revealing a tattoo just below her ribs, dropping my fork, quickly standing to my feet snatching my shirt up what’s going on? What does it mean? I have the same thing in the exact same place!! I can tell that this was of some importance, dropping my shirt, I slowly rounded the table to approach her. She looked up at me, and said I knew things would be different as a tear rolled from her eye, doctors said things would be different and to give you time. Time? Time for what? What happened to me? I said frantically. She turned and said I’m sorry I can’t do this, please no I said gently please don’t go. I have to she replied as I went to reach for her a helicopter cleared the ridge. As I turned to look back at her she was gone, without a trace, as if she was never there. Looking down there were a note, and it read for more answers go to. What? Go where? Flipping the card there’s nothing there! Go where? Slamming my hands and card on the table out of frustration, spilling the wine, soaking the card revealing the logo of the tattoo shop I’ve once visited before looking for her. Retuning home from Morocco, thinking about what I’m going to say or ask Victor once I reached The Little Dragon. I asked have he seen her? What do you know? He stated telling me a story of a fire fighter who lived in the build, I moved Into, he was this local home town hero, until one fire his oxygen failed, and he fell five story’s off the fire escape. His wife was away on business at the time of the accident. But years before his accident he met his wife at a hospital that he was checking on a patient at, as I recall it he turned the corner and they just kinda slammed into one another and have been together since. As we stood there smoking I asked whatever happened to the firefighters? He replied he lost his memory, only thing he really remembered was how to get home. Home is always the last place to go, you know what they say? Home is where the heart is. Staring at him, I’m starting to see why were friends. Hours past and night have fallen on the both of us, I began to head home, walking by the place where I first saw her face, looking through the tented window, like living that night all over again. As I approach my apartment building, head up the stairs, stopping at the mailbox to get my mail that have piled up over the time of my absence. Turning the key to unlock my door, it creeps open, and I smell food. Walking in expecting Matilda or the Butler but there were no one there. But a note that states eat and sleep well, two puzzle pieces but they were different, smaller then the last ones, but they look familiar, I’ve put this puzzle together before.