shadows

1 - 03

First came the packing. All of her things filled up three large suitcases. Clearly distinguished. One for the travels. Two to be donated. She went down to the building secretary, also the owner of her apartment. He was home. And greeted her with a smile.

“I’m leaving,” Emilia said, passing him the key to the apartment. “Something came up,” she explained. “A job. Far away. I must go immediately. I wanted to thank you in person, for how kind you have been. For everything. For the greatest apartment in the world. And for the low rent. I know I have been difficult at times. I am sorry for every one of those times. And thank you so much more for bearing with me even during those times. I will really miss you. Also, I have one last request. This,” she pointed to the suitcase by her side, “is all I am taking. There are two more in the apartment. Could you please donate them. I know how much that would mean. I’ve been there.”

He nodded. She smiled. Waved. And left. She was gone before he could wrap his head around what just happened. He rushed down after her. He saw her getting into the taxi. And by when he reached the gate, she was gone. He had known her for three years. A family friend had introduced her. She needed an apartment. Like she said, she hadn’t been the easiest person all the time. But he liked her. She never troubled him or any other neighbours. She dealt with the problems herself, in her apartment. The most disturbance she caused was a party just the faintest bit too loud. He would definitely miss her. He went up to her apartment. It was tidied up. And the two suitcases were sitting in the middle of the hall. He shook his head, unsure of his own feelings. It was all too sudden. And reached for his phone.

Emilia was happy in the back of the taxi. She drove straight to the airport. Paid the fare with the widest smile, and the most gracious thank you for the driver. And went straight to the ticketing counters.

She had no destination in mind. Which made her the easiest customer to service. And also the most complicated. She stared at the many counters, each for a different airlines. Walked to one at random. Smiled at the pretty woman at the counter.

“I want a first class ticket on the first plane flying out. Anywhere I can get a visa on arrival. It’s an unplanned trip. A present to myself. A surprise is exactly what I am looking for.”

The woman’s surprise was short-lived, much to Emilia’s surprise. The ease with which her request was accepted seemed to prove that she wasn’t the only one driven by such madness.

Ten minutes later, she was walking in, a ticket in hand. The plane would lift off in two hours. The flight was seventeen hours long. The destination, the capital of a country far enough away. A country she had only heard the name of owing to its popularity for its neutrality in the world politics and its high place among tourist destinations.

This was her first time flying. And it was going to be first class. She was sure to have a happy experience. And that made her happy. Not just for herself. Even more for the little guy.

She finished checking in. She found a travel book that had so much to teach her about where she was going. It made for the perfect companion while she waited by the gate.

-

Emma wanted to rush back home. She didn’t like the last hour one bit. She didn’t want to think about the meeting ever again. Unfortunately, it was all she could think about. She couldn’t get that woman out of her head as she sat in the back of the car.

The driver knew better than to disturb her.

When she saw that woman leave the cafe, she felt the impulse so very strongly. She had to give in. “Follow her,” she ordered. “Keep out of sight. As much as you can.”

And she followed to the woman’s apartment building. Where she waited. For some reason, she felt like that woman meant her words. That woman was definitely not appearing before her husband again. That woman was far too eager about the money, and didn’t care about anything else. It was as if that woman was leaving the city, going away. She had to confirm this.

She didn’t wait long. She saw that woman walk out of the building with a suitcase. Get into a taxi. And head straight to the airport.

“Follow her,” she commanded her driver. “See where she is going.”

The driver nodded. Parked the car. And left. Returned not long after. Wearing a look of confusion. He hid nothing.

“She bought a ticket out of the country on the first flight out. The strange thing though is that she didn’t seem to know where she was going. She asked for a first class ticket on the earliest plane flying out of the country.”

“She really left?” Emma murmured. “Go home,” she told the driver. And as the car headed home, she sat lost in her head. It was all too strange. That woman. That meeting that went much too calmly. That woman agreeing to everything. Taking the money. And really leaving. Something was amiss. And she couldn’t figure it out, however hard she tried. There was just that feeling she couldn’t get rid of, that she was missing something that was right in front of her eyes. Something absolutely important.

As they drove in through the gates of the Greene mansion, Emma had had enough. “Whatever,” she murmured, with a frown. “I won’t care. It’s over anyway. She’s gone. It’s up to Evan to make it up to me now.”

She threw that woman out of her mind.

She wasn’t smiling. She was usually warm. The servants liked her more than they feared her. But since the last few days, she hadn’t smiled. And the fear overwhelmed the servants. They put on their best. And steered clear. She was happy with that too. She needed some quiet time.

A week ago, she learned of the affair. And she hated Evan. Even more because of how little an effort he made at hiding it. He didn’t seem to have even prepared an excuse. It was as if he knew he would be discovered. And he was ready to accept whatever punishment she gave him. More importantly, he seemed absolutely ready to end the affair. She had trouble wrapping her head around it. That wasn’t how husbands behaved when cheating. She was sure that woman would be more to expectations.

Unfortunately, that woman was stranger. Having got rid of that woman, she was now ready to face her husband.

She sat in her room, quiet. Fuming. Until Evan returned from work. The moment he walked in, he saw her. One look was all it took. He shut the door. Walked over to her side. Knelt.

“You know,” he said. “I am sorry.”

“I know,” she agreed. “You should be sorry. It is over.”

“It is,” he agreed, readily.

“I have met her,” she continued.

“Emilia?” He asked.

“This will be the last time her name will be mentioned in this home,” she said calmly. Her calm voice was far more affecting than a stern voice. “I met her. I asked her to leave. I gave her money. She took it. She left. I followed her to the airport. She got onto a flight. And left the country. She truly left.”

She was staring at him for an explanation. All she saw was confusion.

“What,” he started to say. Paused. Read the question on her face. Shook his head. “I don’t understand. She wasn’t like that. I don’t think you want to know how it happened.”

“I don’t,” she said.

He nodded. “Okay. I won’t talk about it. I guarantee, it will never happen again.”

“It won’t,” she agreed.

“I will have to work really hard to make it up to you, won’t I?” He asked.

“You will,” she agreed.

“Okay. Whatever it takes. She wasn’t like that. She wouldn’t just leave. She wouldn’t hang on either. Did she ask for money? Did she give a number?”

She shook her head. “No. She asked me to write whatever I chose to on the cheque. As if asking me to put a number on your worth. Ingenious. She took the cheque. Deposited it immediately. Went home. Packed. And flew away. She truly intended to leave.”

“I don’t know. It’s all too strange.”

The couple stared at each other. They had known each other for so long. They knew what the other was thinking from staring into the other’s eyes. And right now, neither wanted to dwell on that woman.

That woman was the past.

Now, and the future starting now, was about them. Evan and Emma Greene. And about how he was going to make it up to her.