Memories of Dawn's Shadows

The soft morning light peered through the white satin curtains, the warm March sun gave his tan naked body a light kiss. His ripped body and dominant height splayed across the king-sized bed near the bay window, he ran his hand on the space beside him before prying his eyes open. He gave a light groan and propped himself up, scanning his room. She’s gone, she’s always gone before daylight; she used to leave him notes but stopped after that one eventful night where they almost got caught. “ This is what you get for being a kept man,” he thought to himself. He reached for his cigarette sitting idly on the nightstand and lit it up using the Zippo lighter his lover gave him the day after his birthday, it was two months ago. Niccolo Carmine Marchetti III is known to be one of the best young lawyers in the country. He came of German -Italian descent, his mother died while giving birth to him, and he was the youngest boy of the Marchetti clan up until his father remarried when he was in the 8th grade. His stepmother was also a widow and have children on her own, three boys and a girl. He’s the kind of person that even if he belongs to one of the richest clans in the country, and he can vibe with everyone from different walks of life. A philanthropist with a handful of foundations protecting human rights at the age of twenty-eight; he has the face that can stop a hungry lion in its tracks, his eyes are like the perfect summer sky that can speak kindness and depth, His lips are almost moist, red, and tender from the habit of biting and licking them. His smile can keep one’s heart captive. He is a handsome man, but this baffled Hunter as to why he agreed to be someone’s kept man, Hunter is his best friend since preschool; they know each other pretty well from the tips of their hair to the tips of their toes. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and took a long drag of his menthol cigarette. He couldn’t stop thinking about what happened the night before, they made wild and passionate love. The kind where it not only burns your skin but also your mind and soul, the way how she moved her body like the gentle waves of a calm ocean when he placed her on top of him. She rarely stays the night with him, and it was one of those times when his lover and her husband fought, he gave her another black eye; bigger this time. She took her kids and left them at a friend’s house before taking the cab to his place. She couldn’t risk driving her car to get there, because it was easy to recognize, being the wife of the world’s most renowned businessman. The effects of the chemicals of his cigarette calmed his nerve, he looked at his swollen knuckles and remembered that he punched the wall when she told him why her husband gave her a black eye. The politician brought home a high-end escort and asked her to join their escapade, but she refused and that’s where the beating started. Their relationship had been going on for almost a decade, no one else knows about them except Hunter and Magda his smart-mouthed house cleaner that became close to him. Poppy, that’s the nickname he gave her; she’s a golden child; a quadruple threat even. She’s the epitome of every guy’s dream girl, has the smarts, body, looks, and talent that can make every man salivate. They met each other in school and were in the same organization. They were both born as natural leaders and were known as the dynamic duo of the school. All events that were handled by them, never fail because they thoroughly planned everything out and as their member’s opinions before putting it to work. Poppy was his only girlfriend, while he is one of her many boyfriends. She is the type that knows what she wants, and won’t stop until she gets it. He was deep in thought and kept memorizing her face when his phone rang, his secretary called him that his schedule is clear for today. He sighed relief and laid back on his bed as he took another drag of his cigarette. His sheets smelled like her, and it’s his favorite perfume of hers; Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin. It is what he always craves, the scent that lingers on her nape. Haunting and tragic, he may be his only girlfriend but he’s been with different women sexually as well but only her can make him transport to an inevitable depth where it makes him at peace with himself. He took one last drag and stubbed it out on his empty crystal ashtray on the nightstand. He fished for his boxers laying on his wooden floor, and lazily wore them. He debated over visiting his mother’s grave or visiting his father but he chose the former since it’s been a long time since he visited her and he has many things to tell her including what happened last night. He stood up and made his bed, before flinging his towel over his shoulder and making his way to the bathroom. He was about to take a shower when he heard someone banging on his door and by its sound, he already knew who it was. It was Magda. He quickly exited his bathroom, because Magda does not like to wait. He widely opened his door and greeted her while attempting to hug her but she pushed him aside and gave him an earful “ What took you so long? I’ve been waiting here for almost ten minutes now.” her tone was irritated, she sniffed the air like a hunting dog “She slept here last night, didn’t she? What did her damned husband do this time?” her voice grimly mocking. “How’d you know, and try lowering your voice, I don’t want the whole building to know about this” his voice was slightly irritated as he closed and locked the door behind him, Magda made her way to the pristine kitchen and took a seat on the kitchen island near the sink. He was the one who styled the interior of his penthouse, and he chose modern interior design. He disappeared into his room and went back holding his pack of cigarettes and lighter, he offered Magda one and she gratefully took one from his hand and lit it after watching him light his. There was silence for a while until Magda decided to break it. “ It’s not that I’m trying to interfere with your personal life, but why do you choose to stay even if you know that you’re having an affair with a married woman? You know that it is wrong, in the eyes of society and the eyes of God. Many young, decent, single women are throwing themselves at your feet but your eyes are only for her, Yes, you slept with most of them and made them feel validated but you choose to give that married woman every sinew of your body including your soul.” Magda’s voice was stern yet motherly. She’s been his cleaner since he was in the 7th grade, and they have a love-hate relationship but she became one of his mother figures. She’s a single mother of three, her husband left her and their children for an old gay rich man. Niccolo asked his father to help her put her children through school and all of them are now established young professionals in their own chosen fields. He wanted her to retire early but she chose to stay with him since she knows that he badly needed her. She doesn’t have any problems with Niccolo since he’s a neat freak, all she does is hang around his place and clean from time to time. They both finished their cigarettes and stubbed them on the sink before throwing them in the trash bin. Magda noticed the sadness in his eyes “I am willing to go through hell for her.” His tone was serious, “ Anyways, I am hungry. Order some food for us, my wallet and phone are in the bedroom.”He gave Magda a reassuring smile when he saw her worried look and made his way to the bathroom. He let the cold water awaken his body. It cascaded down like the first spring rain of the year. His eyes were closed, letting himself be vulnerable to the gentle kisses pouring from the showerhead up above. He always liked to stay longer in the shower especially in the mornings since it gives him more time to ponder things. When he got out, Magda was already eating, he got dressed quickly and joined her in having breakfast. When they finished he gave her a light peck on the cheek and left for the parking lot where his car was parked. Niccolo placed the bouquet of purple lilies on top of his mother’s granite gravestone, he slowly picked up the debris surrounding it before wiping the glossy finished surface with his handkerchief. He unfolded the handkerchief on the ground and sat on it, whispered a little prayer into the wind hoping that those will be brought up to heaven for his mother to hear. His dad kept his mother’s pictures in a special room in his dad’s house and only he, his father, and Magda are only allowed to enter that room on the left-wing adjacent to his old nursery. His mother’s beauty was the like of Grace Kelly’s features, elegant and delicate with a swan-like neck but her soul shined the most. She had a heart for people who were considered the vulnerable sectors of society. He smiled to himself while telling his mother the daily things going on in his life, he adapted this from his father since he grew up watching him talk to her as if she was alive. The thought of her being alive pained him, as he was being haunted by what-ifs and what-could-have-been. The day was perfect, it sun shone with a gentle bright accompanied by a clean crisp breeze filled with the aroma of spring flowers. He stood up when his phone dinged. He looked at the screen and saw the notification that it was Hunter, he invited Niccolo to have lunch with him and his fiancé at the café bistro the three of them owned. Hunter and his fiancé are both architects, he chose to come out to Niccolo three years ago. He was the one who helped Hunter get on his feet after his parents shunned him from their family for being gay. Niccolo was also the one who introduced the two together on his twenty-fifth birthday, and since then they were inseparable. He bid his mother goodbye, blew her a kiss, got into his car, and drove off to meet his friends. It took him thirty minutes to get to their meeting place, he was greeted by a young freckle-faced valet with hair the color of fire during a cold autumn night. It was brushed haphazardly giving him a slobby look, he smiled at him and handed him his car keys to be parked in his favorite spot. The boy obliged and drove his car with a careful speed. He walked towards the Al Fresco area to where the couple was seated, Hunter’s arm was rested on the backrest of Aaron’s chair. The two were busy looking at a wedding magazine and were exchanging ideas. He greeted them cheerily while giving them a light tap on the arm and took a seat across from them. He wore his dark aviator sunglasses and took out a cigarette from its case and started smoking. Hunter is just an inch shorter than Niccolo, he has the features of a perfectly carved greek god and was equipped with a sardonic sense of humor; his fiancé Aaron was not bad looking himself; in fact, the three of them became everyone’s dream guy ----- they were once featured in a fashion magazine as one of the best looking and well dressed young men of the century. Hunter watched him take deep drags of the chemical-filled stick and gestured for the server to bring out what they’ve ordered, he knows exactly the favorite food of the most important men in his life. He gave Aaron a look to give him and Niccolo some privacy, without second thoughts Aaron stood up, gave his forehead a light kiss, and went inside the bistro to read more wedding magazines. Aaron does not know about Poppy and Niccolo’s affair, he never bothered Hunter to talk about it since he respected Niccolo’s privacy. Niccolo stared ahead behind Hunter’s head watching the young valet park a black Chevrolet beside a dusty Model S Tesla, the cigarette dangling in between his pointer and middle finger. “You were with her last night again?’ asked Hunter. He gave his best friend a somber look and gave him a slight nod. “ What were you thinking? You are only giving her a chance to take you for granted, she is just using you for her convenience because she knows that you’ll follow her around like a lap dog.” Niccolo didn’t like his tone, but he got used to it. Hunter never liked Poppy from the moment that he met her while they were still in school, but ever since then he never grew tired of instilling that their affair is wrong since day one. Hunter’s eyes stared hard at Niccolo, his eyes did not move from his. “ Why do you have to be so serious all of a sudden? I thought you wanted to meet me for lunch? For a second, I thought you wanted to have lunch with me?” Niccolo chuckled softly. The server came to their table bringing the food that Hunter ordered previously before Niccolo came, they thanked her as Niccolo reached a folded hundred dollar bill in her hand. Aaron followed after and sat down beside Hunter, giving him a peck on the lips, “ Why does the both of you look serious? What were you talking about? It seems that it looks very important, seeing Hunter’s look is a dead giveaway. That’s the look he always gives me whenever an unknown number pops on my screen.” said Aaron, Hunter gently pinched his side and the three of them laughed together. Niccolo took a sip of his mint iced tea and looked at the two lovers across from him. Aaron lovingly wiped the corner of Hunter’s eyes. Niccolo took the last drag of his cigarette, this time blowing the exhale upwards. “ Let’s eat.” Niccolo stubbed out his cigarette and took a fry from his plate and dipped it in the sour cream that was his dad’s recipe. Hunter ordered a mint iced tea for their beverage, a steak and fries platter for Niccolo, and a vegan-friendly platter for him and Aaron. The three ate their lunch and exchanged work-related stories before moving to the couple’s wedding plans. They wanted Niccolo to be the best man and he happily accepted the offer, weeks ago they planned on setting up a date with him and Aaron’s cousin who is taking her Ph.D. at Harvard but he politely declined because he only has his eyes for Poppy. He wanted to sleep with her but he respected his friendship with Aaron. The three finished their lunch, “ I got this.” Said Aaron, he stood up and disappeared inside the café bistro to pay their bill. He quickly came back and took a seat. They both watched Niccolo’s six-foot four-figure move down the gravel path toward the valet podium to get his car keys, they saw him hand the young valet a tip and got inside his blue Chevrolet Camaro and drove off. “ What’s with him today? There’s a vibe in him that’s telling me he is not in a good place right now. “ Aaron asked, Hunter, was silent for a moment “ I don’t even know.” He lied. “ I am guessing that he has secrets and those are starting to haunt him but I don’t know. He’s your best friend, you know him better than I do.” Aaron added. Hunter drained his mint iced tea placing the glass on a wooden coaster, “ Exactly” he muttered under his breath and rested his head on Aaron’s shoulder and intertwined their fingers together, enjoying the comforting silence between them. Niccolo droved to the metropolitan area, where yuppies often hung out during their lunch break. Attractive trend-setters littered the city but she can spot Poppy’s delicate features from the crowd. He saw a spot near the waterfront promenade. He steered his car on the spot and turned off the engine. He saw her, jogging down the promenade in her athletic wear and sunglasses to hide her black. Even without makeup, she looks beautiful and almost perfect. Her natural plush bosoms jiggled up and down as she jogged. He knew that this was her only outlet to show her frustrations aside from sleeping with him of course. He loved watching her from afar, he wanted to show the world how much she means to him but she was the one who refuses to let other people know about him. She stopped jogging and took deep breaths. He decided to have a quick chat with her but when he got out of his car, a tall athletic-looking man in his forties showed up, holding an expensive bouquet and a teal box containing diamond jewelry. That was Maxwell, Poppy’s husband. He is a known womanizer and fathered many children, Poppy was an intern at his company, and did the best that he can to seduce her. She was smitten by his looks which can put George Clooney’s looks to shame, she became his mistress before he filed for a divorce from his original wife. Niccolo tried to stop but she was headstrong and was madly in love with Maxwell. His heart ached when he saw him kiss her and wooed her to come home to which she instantly obliged, he felt defeated, he retreated to his car and sped off. He slapped the steering wheel and tears welled up in his eyes. Niccolo arrived at his penthouse around evening. He spent the rest of the afternoon driving around to clear his head of what he saw earlier this afternoon. He could not fathom the idea of her putting up with his bullshit. The man was vile, his soul is as black as tar; if it only were up to him, he would take her away from all the chaos the world they’re living in has to offer. He drifted towards the balcony, overlooking the fast and chaotic city life. The lights from below reminded him of the visible constellations in the clear night sky, guiding each weary traveler on their way home. The evening has already cast its dark gown, reminding everyone that they have survived the taskful day. Magda was already gone, when he arrived home. She left him a hearty dinner in the refrigerator for him to heat up, but he was tired physically and mentally. He slumped down on his white polyester sofa and retrieved his last cigarette from its pack, and lit it. He turned on his widescreen plasma tv and surfed for his favorite channel. He took a long drag of his cigarette and exhaled slowly, which once again calmed his nerves. He stared blankly stared at the television, while his mind wandered off to the very thought of her. He quickly went back to reality when his cellphone rang. He pressed the answer button, it was Hunter’s voice on the other line, his voice was shaky and unintelligible. He was breaking down, “ Hunter, tell me what is wrong?’ Niccolo’s voice was calm and comforting. Hunter expressed that Aaron got involved in a hit-and-run accident. His car was badly hit and crashed against a tree, he is fighting for his life in the hospital. Niccolo’s heart raced and told Hunter that he was on his way to the hospital, he made sure that his cigarette was extinguished and hurried his way to the hospital where Aaron was admitted. The hospital was on the other side of the city, it will take him thirty minutes to get there. He put on his hazard lights and blasted his car horn while driving to make his trip quicker, he made a few shortcuts to avoid the city’s traffic. It was already rush hour. He parked his car in the almost full parking lot and ran his way to the emergency room. He stopped running when he saw Hunter’s hunched figure with his back against the wall, face buried in his hands visibly shaking. He walked slowly toward his best friend and placed a hand on his shoulder, Hunter looked up and broke down more when he saw Niccolo’s worried expression. Niccolo got on his knees and gave him a tight hug, “ How is Aaron doing?” Hunter sniffled and took a deep breath “ Aaron’s gone, he expired ten minutes ago.” Hunter broke away from his embrace, “ He’s only sleeping, right? right? He’s only pranking us, like the typical prankster that he is.” Hunter said wearily, trying to convince himself that it is not real. A middle-aged orderly appeared from the corner, Niccolo estimated that he’s been awake for more than a day or two judging the black circles under his eyes, and his tired look. “ The patient is already in the morgue,” he said stoically before walking down the hospital’s white and sterile hallway. The announcement made Hunter fall to his knees and bawled his eyes out, screaming Aaron’s name over and over. It’s the first that Niccolo saw Hunter’s reaction, he had never even seen him cry when his grandmother died. He was used to Hunter’s life of the party, golden retriever energy. His heart pitied his best friend, he does not know what to do except be there for him. He pulled Hunter in for a tight hug and let him cry on his shoulder while gently stroking his back. Hunter’s tears drenched his shirt, but he did not pay any mind to it. He can feel Hunter slowly loosening up, and his cries become softer and quieter. How can the world be so unfair? How can they make you happy ---- at peace, and by just a blink of an eye, those emotions quickly turn to grief. It was thirty past one a.m. when they were driving back to Niccolo’s penthouse, they stopped by the pub they frequented back in college to have a few beers to calm the nerves. Hunter’s eyes were the evidence of unconditional love being told through tears. The car ride was silent, and the patrons heard about what happened. The news does travel fast, they expressed condolences but Hunter was still in denial and politely refused to talk about the incident. They took a seat in the cubicle near the window to watch a few people pass by. Alistair, the bartender, and owner of the pub drifted from behind the bar counter holding a bucket of beer, gently placing it on the middle of the table. He’s already in his mid-sixties but still has the energy of a twenty-year-old bachelor, he was also their father figure given his wisdom and discipline, one can spot that he was in the marines. He told them stories about Vietnam and how he never regretted fighting for his country.” It’s on the house.” Alistair said while taking a seat beside Niccolo, “ How are you holding up, buddy?” his voice was full of concern as he slowly reached for Hunter’s hand and gave it a light squeeze. Hunter stiffly turned his head towards Alistair’s as tears started to stream down from his eyes. Niccolo twisted the caps from the beers and handed them the bottles before taking a few swigs from his. “You may be in the darkest part of your life right now, but let that darkest embrace you because that is the only way for you to see the light. Find comfort in it and listen to its gentle lullaby for you to hear.” Alistair gave him a slight smile and gently stroked his head. Hunter forced a smile and downed his beer, Alistair announced to his patrons that he will be closing early than usual and ordered his employees to bring some more beer, and to clean up and lock the front door. He wanted to focus on comforting Hunter, he was never married yet he treated his young patrons like his own children; most especially Hunter and Niccolo because they were the ones who talked sense into him when he had a drug problem. These two were the reasons why he decided to be clean, he owes his life to them. Hunter’s nerves calmed down, and he was laughing and crying at the same time. Alistair decided to cut him from drinking while Niccolo stopped drinking at two bottles, one death is enough and he does not want the saying that death comes in threes to come true. He was helped by Alistair in bringing Hunter back to his car and made sure that he securely placed the seatbelt on him. He gave Alistair a side hug and bid him goodnight, the older man watched them drive away. Niccolo drove back to his penthouse, Hunter fell asleep during the car ride, he was known to be a heavy sleeper especially when he’s drunk, he was strong enough to fireman carry Hunter, he closed and locked the door behind them, and gently placed Hunter on his king-sized bed and took off Hunter’s shoes and socks. He walked back to his kitchen area and went to one of his dark-stained pine cabinets, took out his pack of cigarettes, and fished his back pocket for his lighter. He took his lit cigarette to the balcony and looked down at the cityscape. He finished his cigarettes and stubbed them out on the metal railing of his balcony and threw it in his trash bin. He closed the glass sliding door and drew his drapes, he made his way to the mahogany floor and switched on the tv on screen a movie starring Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. He placed his keys, phone, and lighter on top of his clean laminated coffee table ---- Niccolo stripped off his clothes folded them, and placed them inside his laundry basket. He went through pristine brown and white modern styled bathroom, he turned on the shower full blast and shampooed his hair with Old Spice---- the suds slowly siding on his back. He was already too tired, too many things happened today. Too many things kept running back and forth in his mind, the death of Aaron, Hunter’s situation, and his situation with Poppy. He reached for his towel and climbed off the shower. He made his way through the wooden floors to his bedroom to put on his boxers and got some pillows because he was going to sleep in the living room. He laid down on his sofa and was about to drift off to sleep when his phone notified him to charge it. He lazily got up and lifted the phone and saw seventy-five messages and thirty missed calls under the same name Poppy. He quickly got up and charged his phone, he read the messages asking him about his whereabouts and she needs him badly. He tried calling her a few times but she was not answering, he tried calling her once again and she answered, they both agreed that she will be coming over. Her voice was sweet and gentle, making him weak in his knees. She will be taking the cab again to go to his place, it gave him butterflies that this was the first time they will see each other twice in a row. He wondered what made her want to see him again, and he can not wait to see her again. Niccolo made his way through the kitchen and heated the dinner that Magda had prepared for him. He patiently waited for her, the people who knew about their affair were right. He is indeed a lovesick puppy dog, he worshipped every inch of her body and he was never ashamed of that. She notified him that she had arrived and will be taking the elevator, he waited for her near the door until he heard a soft gentle knock.