Invisible

Chapter One

Fallen leaves rustled on the empty concrete road as a black BMW sedan drove passed by. The late October wind blew softly against the trees beside the road, making it rain with orange crisps.

The dull and grey sky made the town dreary, if it wasn't for the people merrily walking on the sidewalks. A few gazes followed the car as it drove pass them. They knew it didn't belong in the town. Outsider.

Michael looked through the foggy window. Everything was just the same as before. The veins crawling up against the brick walls of the library was still there, only this time it was much higher than the last time Michael was here. The three yellow umbrellas outside the familiar Danny's Diner just across the street still stood above outdoor tables where customers sat, enjoying their steaming hot soup.

Michael stopped at a pedestrian lane in front of a school as a couple of middle school students in blue-and-white uniforms crossed, holding the straps of their backpacks. After all the students got to cross the street, Michael immediately stepped at the gas pedal and sped through the street.

After a few more stops and turns, Michael stopped the car in front of a huge white villa in a suburban area of the town near the White Lake. It has a huge porch at the front with a white wooden swing on one side and a blue glade roof. There were a few hanging plants on the porch, swaying as the cool wind blew. The curtains were drawn, making it impossible to peak inside.

A couple of maple trees stood between houses in its flaming glory while hundreds of aspen trees can be seen standing a few feet away at the back of the house. Their leaves turning to orange.

The car door opened and Michael stepped out. He stood at the front garden, staring at the villa. He remembered the last time he was here. It was last summer. Michael came with his parents to this humble town for vacation. His parents had purchased this simple house as summer house. His mother insisted to have a simple, relaxing summer escape from all the hectic business city life they have. And Michael was fine with it. His workaholic father wasn't too excited with the idea. But he went with it anyways.

It was supposed to be a quiet summer vacation. A time when Michael can finally take a break from his father's endless mentoring on the family's business, which he was supposed to inherit on his 25th birthday. Something he wasn't really interested in. But his father didn't seem to give him any other choice.

What he didn't know back then was that that vacation was going to change his life. But he made a choice. A terrible choice which ruined everything. A mistake that brought pain and suffering. And Michael regretted making that decision. But he had no choice back then.

Now he finally came back to try and fix everything. To ask for forgiveness. He didn’t know if he can and will ever fix back what he had broken. Or, perhaps, who he had broken.

He was a coward. And he still is. It was the very reason everything turned out how it was now. The reason why he had not gone straight to her house from the start. No matter how hard he denied it, he was afraid. Because deep down, he knew she wouldn't take him back. And at this point, he wasn't hoping for that anymore.

Michael pulled away from his flooding thoughts and focused on reality. He stepped up at the porch then fished out the brass key from his pocket and opened the front door. He flicked the switch on the side and huge crystal chandelier lit up above the staircase at the center of the foyer. He closed the door behind him and walked straight towards the living room. A smaller chandelier hung at the above a mahogany coffee table and a leather sofa in front of a large fireplace. On the side of the room was a floor-to-ceiling glass window, giving a perfect view of the frozen lake a few feet away from the villa. The entire lake was surrounded by trees of maple, aspen, and birch in shades of orange. From a far, they looked like flaming torches, contrasting against the coldness of the lake and the dullness of the grey sky and giving life to the dreary-looking town. It was the perfect background. Like an impeccable painting from a museum.

At the west side of the lake, a few roofs of the buildings in town could be seen between the flaming trees. In fact, it was how the town got its name.

Michael stood in front of the window. He placed his hands on his pockets and indulged on the glorious scenery in front of him. His memories continued flooding back into his mind.

It was a burning Tuesday morning. Michael took a walk around the lake, taking photographs of the scenery. It was his passion and hobby. His father thought it was a waste of time. All he wanted was for Michael to follow his footsteps. And he had been an obedient son to his father. But that day, he wanted to be himself. To do what he loved.

As he walked through the woods, savoring each blissful second. And at that moment, he suddenly heard a tune. It was beautiful and a bit melancholic. He slowly followed the music and saw her. She had her back to him as she sat on a blanket by the bank of the lake, playing the violin. She stopped midway, breaking the enchanting music, and flipped through the pages that sat beside her.

At that time, Michael's hands seemed to have a mind of its own. He only realized what he had done when the familiar click of his camera suddenly interrupted her music. She stopped and turned around to him in shock. Her shimmering raven hair flipped above her shoulders as her dark eyes stared at him filled with confusion and a little bit of irritation. Michael didn't know back then that this woman would have the power to change his life. And it all started that day.

"Michael,” a voice suddenly broke the silence. “You're here.”

Michael turned around and saw a stout middle-aged woman stand at the threshold. She was wearing a pale blue dress with white collar. She had her curly brown hair with hints of grey tied neatly into a bun at the back of her head. And a white apron was tied around her waist.

“Susan,” Michael walked up towards her and gave her a tight hug. “It's so good to see you.”

“You too, dear. It's been so long,” she replied. She loosened her hug and placed her palms on his cheek, turning his head from right to left. “You've changed so much. You're like a whole new different person.”

“What do you mean?" Michael asked.

“The car, clothes, the stoic look on your face. Perhaps, you're not becoming a new person. You're becoming like your father," she said.

“I'm nothing like my father," Michael uttered with a hint of bitterness in his tone.

“You're father is not as vile as you believe he is,” Susan said.

“I wish that was true,” Michael sighed. “Where is Andy?”

“He's out in the woodshed, fixing up some firewood before night falls. It gets extremely cold out here at this time. Now, go to your room and get some rest.”

“I don't think I can wait anymore. I should’ve gone there in the first place anyways,” Michael said.

“You’re visiting her?” Susan stared at him intently. There was worry and a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Will you be alright?”

Michael nodded.

“I have to do this,” he said.

“I understand,” Susan said in a soft and tender voice. “It must be hard for you all this time. Andy and I understood why you left and why you haven’t contacted nor came back. But her family didn’t. And neither did everyone else.”

Michael stood in silence with a heavy heart. He looked down to his feet as if in defeat. He didn’t know what to respond. But he knew what Susan said was true.

Susan looked at the boy in front of her. Her heart ached for him terribly as he looked at him standing in front of her, helpless and almost hopeless. She and Andy had only met Michael last year when his family bought the villa from the previous owners.

The young man she saw last summer was so different from the one she sees now. He remembered Michael as the young man with passion, carefree, and a wild spirit. He was so happy back then, especially when he met her. But a lot has happened. But now, all she could see was a broken man.

“Don’t worry,” Susan placed her hand on his shoulders and patted him gently. “Everything will be alright.”

Michael looked up to her with a glint in his eyes. He smiled weakly in response.

“Now, I’ll fix you up some food before you go.” Susan said before turning her heel and walking across the foyer and straight to the kitchen.

“Thank you, Susan,” Michael said as he followed her through the dining room and in to the kitchen.

Susan was cutting the crusts off the sandwich for Michael when the kitchen door suddenly opened. A tall man, wearing red checkered shirt and jeans, came in. He was holding a couple of firewood up to his chest.

“Michael,” the tall man said with a hint of shock in his voice.

“Andy,” Michael greeted back. He went up to him and grabbed a few firewood from him. Andy thanked him before leading him to the living room. They started settng up the fireplace.

“How are you?” Andy asked as he poked the burning wood in the fireplace.

“It’s been hard,” Michael said as he stared at the cackling fire in front of them. “But I’ll be okay.”

“Well, I’m just glad that you came back here,” Andy said. “But I’m not sure if Mrs. Beaufort will forget you yet. She was so hurt when you didn’t show up at the funeral.”

Michael turned and looked at Andy. Confusion was written all over his face.

“She said that they tried to contact you a thousand times. And I did tell her your situation with your father but it was still too painful for them. And if I was in their shoes, I’d probably be hurt too. I mean, you suddenly left Izzie without a word and then that happened--”

“Wait.” Michael’s heart was pounding so hard against his chest. His breathing became shallow and his throat went dry. “What do you mean? Who’s funeral? What happened?”

Andy stared at Michael for a very long time, as if trying to solve and impossible problem.

“You don’t know…”

“Know what?” Michael asked, standing up. His mind was in chaos. He couldn’t think straight. Andy stood up and looked at Michael with pity.

“Tell me!”

“I’m so sorry, Michael. I thought you knew,” Andy tried to walk up to Michael but he stepped back.

Michael couldn’t hold it any longer. Tears fell down his cheeks as he shook his head in denial.

Susan barged into the room, confused. “What happened?”

“Susan, tell me,” Michael turned to her. “Where is Izzie?”

Susan stood there in silence. Her eyes went wide as he stared at Michael.

“Michael, Izzie is dead.”