LOVE BEYOND TIME

EMILY FOSTER The rain falls softly as if the sky is crying along with me. I am in a cemetery, a place I visit every year. In front of me, a gravestone stands, marked by time. The name Audrey Miller Foster is written in elegant letters, with the dates: 11/19/1968–02/08/2019. I crouch down, feeling the dampness of the wet grass on my pants, and place a bouquet of fresh flowers on the stone. "I miss you, Mom.", I whisper, feeling the longing tighten my heart. I blink, unable to stop looking at my mother's name, wishing it wasn't there. The raindrops fall harder, and I open my umbrella. I always find it hard to function on this day; it’s a tradition to honor my mother's memory. The rain continues to fall, mixing with the tears I don’t want to let escape. "You will always be in my heart, I love you..." After a final look, I stand up and walk out of the cemetery. The streets are almost deserted, and the melancholy of the rain reflects my state of mind. I lift my head, able to see the gray sky, and hearing the sound of water trickling down the sidewalks makes everything feel even sadder. As I pass a corner, an old library catches my attention. The soft light emanating from within seems welcoming. I hesitate for a moment but decide to enter. I have always loved books; they are an escape, a refuge for my emotions. The library is almost empty, except for a few tables and shelves filled with volumes that seem to tell forgotten stories. I begin to explore the aisles, running my hands along the spines of the books. My eyes fixate on titles related to my work. I picked up two books on forensic techniques, feeling a bit lighter. However, something on the other side of the shelf catches my attention. An old book with a worn cover seems to almost call my name. "The Legend of the Moon and Blood." The intriguing title piques my curiosity, and a strange sensation begins to grow within me. I hesitate, but I don’t pick up the book. Instead, I sit down at a table, open my bag, and take out my mother’s journal. Looking at the yellowed pages, my eyes fill with tears. It’s one of the few ways I can feel close to her. I begin to read, absorbing the words that describe moments from my childhood, laughter, and advice. Time passes quickly, and before I realize it, the people around me start to leave. I glance at my phone and see that closing time is approaching. With a sigh, I dry my eyes and put the journal back in my bag. I walk towards the exit, looking at the shelves of books around me. I feel at home here. But before I can continue walking, I hear a sound that makes me turn my head and look at the wooden floor. A book has fallen to the ground. As I bend down to pick it up, I’m surprised to see that it’s the same old book I saw before. "Another person would say this is crazy, but you seem to be calling me...", I murmur, touching the cover. My curiosity grows, and I decide to leaf through its pages, admiring the ancient handwriting. The impulse to take the book home is strong, so I register the book I’m taking and tuck it into my bag before leaving the library. The streets are darker now, and the rain falls heavily. I press the umbrella against my body, feeling a bit safer, but a strange sensation accompanies me. It’s as if someone is watching me. I look back, but I see no one. I walk faster, my heart pounding in my chest, and the insecurity grows with each step. Finally, I arrived at the house that once belonged to my mother. As soon as I step inside, I take a sip of wine, trying to push away the sadness. The kitchen is silent, except for the sound of the rain hitting the windows. I place the glass on the table and look at the book I brought with me. "The Legend of the Moon and Blood.", I whisper. The title seems promising—a promise of adventure and fantasy, something I need in my life. With a sip of wine for courage, I decided to open the book. The handwriting appears to have been written with a quill, with each letter carefully crafted. I wonder how many years this book must be now after all this time. As I begin to read, I am transported to a world where the moon shines brightly and fantastic beings inhabit the night. But something inside me makes me think that these beings are not just fantastic. "The moon is bright like a rare jewel, its beauty is intriguing and surreal. However, it always disappears in a few hours, and the night seems safe, but cold-blooded beings are always nearby to bring danger to those born of the moon..." I pause for a moment; the name "Lupus Nocturna" intrigues me. "The night-born were called Lupus Nocturna due to their strong abilities and being the protectors of the night." I feel a chill run down my spine as I repeat the name aloud. It’s as if the very name echoes in my mind, resonating with something I can’t comprehend. I lift my head, looking out the window and seeing my reflection. The rain continues to fall, but something makes me blink. A shadow passes behind me. I turn quickly, but there’s no one here. I stifle a scream, placing my hand over my chest. The fright causes me to knock the wine glass over, shattering the glass on the floor. "I think that’s enough wine and fantasy for today.", I murmur, trying to regain my composure. But when I look back at the window, something catches my attention. Near a tree in the garden, something watches me. Blinking my eyes, I feel the fear grow inside me. Without thinking, I run out of the house, but everything is quiet. Only the rain and wind fill the air. The phone rings, and I rush to answer, my mind still confused by the strange sensation that accompanies me. "Emily?", the voice on the other end, is familiar. My friend, Paul, always worried about me, especially on this day. "Hi, Paul. Sorry, I was... busy.", I say, trying to stay calm at this moment. "Are you okay? Did something happen?" His concern is evident, and I sigh, trying to push away the sense of panic that envelops me. "It’s just... a difficult day for me.", my voice wavers, and I feel the tears threatening to return. "Emily, I know today is a very important date for you, and you decided not to work today, but I need your help and I wouldn’t be calling if it weren’t extremely urgent." "What happened, Paul?", I ask, looking out the kitchen window and seeing that the night is dark outside the house. "A horrible and confusing crime happened inside a house downtown, and I need you to analyze the crime scene, Emily." "Paul, there’s a reason I chose not to go to work today." "I know, and I’m so sorry. But the case is too strange, and the police are already here, but if you can’t do it, that’s okay." I close my eyes, sighing at the thought that work is calling me now. I decided not to work today because being at home makes me feel closer to my mother. "Emily?" "Why me? Isn’t there another forensic geneticist available for the case? It’s late, and you know I don’t work at night." "I’ve never seen a case like this, and I’m calling you because you’re the best at your job; we need you, Emily." "Okay, I’m on my way." I look at the book in front of me and the bottle of wine beside it. I blink my eyes, remembering that I shouldn’t be driving at night with alcohol in my system. But I don’t feel drunk, and I only had a glass, and I’m sure I can do this. "You’re going to need to wait for me...", I whisper, touching the cover of the book before cleaning the broken glass on the kitchen floor. The engine roars as I turn the key, but my hands tremble on the steering wheel. Paul would only have called me if it were urgent. I start driving down the wet streets, listening to the sound of the rain falling outside. The journey to the location is long and winding. The surrounding darkness seems denser than usual, and the sound of the rain blends with my thoughts. The GPS indicates that the location is still far away. With every minute I keep driving, I can’t shake the images of my mother’s car accident from my mind. We should have been together at that moment, but I didn’t go with her. She died alone while I suffered here. I thought that the second I received the news of her death, everything in my life would be destroyed; she was everything to me. A notification on my phone catches my attention for a moment. A new message from Paul. I try to reach it, but the phone slips to the floor of the car. I quickly bend down to pick it up, and when I look back at the road, I see a figure standing in front of me. Panic floods my mind, and I swerve the wheel hard to avoid hitting them. The car skids across the road, and I scream as I lose control. I feel a sharp jolt as the car hits something and rolls over several times. Everything spins around me, and my body slams against the seat. I gasp for air, and pain shoots through my body. I close my eyes, feeling blood dripping from my head, and then everything goes black.