HIDING BEHIND THE SHADOWS

Chapter 9 - Sorry

“How long would you like me to stay with you” asked Harry

“You can come back to town tomorrow… I’ll be fine here…” I said

“Hoping that one day she showed up here and start things over…” said Harry. I just looked at him thinking the possibilities of her showing up here.  Nobody know where Jessie is… as a matter of fact news about her having wed to Daniel Drake a millionaire and a brilliant doctor who owns a lot of hospital  in San Diego and around the states was very strong around town.

Some say she had an accident while she ran away home and was hauled by the car who bumped her and brought to the hospital and was never seen again after that. While some say her stepmother Emily sold her to a billionaire customer at the bar she’s working.  But whatever really happened no one knows.  O God, I must be crazy to keep my hopes up after seven years…

“you must have some sleep… and sort things what to do tomorrow, maybe gardening, fix the kitchen sink and the fence on the back” he said smiling. I guess he’s just trying to ease the tension between us.  “I will leave early in the morning to pick my mom from her night duty at the factory…” said Harry “unless you need some help” he added

“No thanks… I’ll be fine. The shadows will watch over me…” I said smiling back at him.

“Seriously? “ Harry laugh at my words “I guess it settled then, by the way just in case you want to know, the campsite is about 5 miles from here. There will be night patrols in the area, they might drop here sometime, as they usually do” he said

“Aaron if by chance Jessie come back, will you do me a favor?” asked Harry

“Yes what is it?” I answered

“Please ask her to forgive me for not helping her years ago…” Harry spoke face down looking at his feet, I was confused “I was afraid her stepmother will hurt my mother then, as she used to tell us she will kill anyone that comes in between Jessie and her.” Harry added

“Why would that be?” I asked him

“As I have said, after Jessie’s father died, she went to live with Nana while her stepmom basically spending all of his father’s wealth thru her vices. The business Jessie’s father had built went bankrupt and sold his assets to sustain her” I clenched my fists at Harry’s words “When there was nothing left, she left and went to work in a bar in the next town while Jessie works at the local minimart as cashier. One night while Jessie home asleep her stepmom arrived with bunch of guys with him, they smell of drugs and alcohol… they barged into their home, a few minutes later… We heard shouting and clashing of things around the house. I saw Jessie running on the streets for help.” Tears starts to build up on Harry’s eyes, he paused and released a deep sigh “I went outside to help Jessie but her Emily followed behind her holding a gun pointing out on me… Jessie stayed away from me and kept on running. I have seen in her eyes how helpless she felt during that time.  But she ran along to the highway until we heard a loud bang that crashes on the streets.  Nobody dares to go out and checked what happened. All we know is that we have not seen Jessie after that… I felt sorry for myself for not helping a friend in need.” He added.  “will you ask her to forgive me Aaron? Sir?”

“Okay…” I said sadly. He stands up patted my shoulders and bid goodnight settled himself on the couch and drifted off to sleep.  “Thanks Harry” I stand up heading to the bedroom. 

I sat by the edge of the bed, trying to process everything that Harry told me.  The last time I saw her, it was her 17th birthday, where we spend the night on this cottage.  The bed then was made wood covered with a cushion and a thin mattress we found in the storage.  I still remembered how she smiled when I tease her, kissing her lips and stopping in the middle of a deepened kiss by looking at her eyes closed.

She would punch me on my chest and bit my lips. Then we would laugh out hard never caring who heard us.  We danced with only us humming our favorite song.  We tickle each other until we were both breathless.  And in the end, we spend the night making love. Holding each other, whispering sweet nothings.  I can still feel how her silky soft skin reacts in my touch, how she whimpers when I touched her sensitive parts.  How she tried not to cry my name when we both ride our highs.  How she would grab me and push me closer to her when she wanted more…

I closed my eyes, feeling the numbness in my chest. My body starts to aches in so much pain and helplessness. All I could hope for this time, wherever she is I hope she will or she can forgive me for what I did and that time could give us the chance to start over…

When I again I heard footsteps… the same footsteps I heard seven years ago my body is too weak to stand up and check on it, must be playing in my head.  I pay no attention to it, I throw myself to bed and drifted off to sleep.