A mysterious yet familiar silhouette of a man came into view as my steps quickened. Funnily, a peculiar eagerness to be held in his arms swept over me.
"I should have known that you were toying with me ever since the beginning..."
My hastened pace came to a halt as another person caught my eye. A woman, who was holding a conversation with that mysterious man.
"Do you want to know the truth?"
"The truth? All this time, you have kept your marriage from me and yet you're asking if I might want to know the truth?"
"What is truth, Nick? Do you know what it means to me? No, never will I believe in you. I would be a fool if I were to place my trust in you once more."
An unknowing ache crept into my soul as I continued to listen into their conversation. I felt the rush of her emotions. The pain of brokenness and betrayal hit me like a train. As the longing to console her grew immensely, my footsteps started steering towards her direction.
Suddenly, the scene shifted.
"I am in love with you, Abbey. And it all started with you catching my attention ever since that close encounter in the market. Since then, I have had eyes for no one except you."
Abbey?
That name stirred evocative feelings, yet it felt as if there was a barrier withholding the memories that threatened to be unleashed.
"For goodness sake, there are plenty of fishes in the sea. Why settle for one?"
I turned round to locate the other voice, one that sounded older and deeper.
Why settle for a man that betrayed you for his family."
"Wake up, Abbey! He has never loved you."
"You were just a pawn for him to uphold his family name!"
Tears broke through as I experienced her sorrow and spirit crushed by the weight of bewilderment and betrayal.
"Go ahead, Nicholas! You wouldn't want to keep your bride waiting, do you?"
The raw emotions of agony in her eyes and expression that was contorted in torment spoke to me as she forced herself to stand strong while bidding farewell to her lover.
"Then can you promise me something too, Abbey."
This time, the man that was now before me, spoke in a soft and affectionate voice, breaking the dam that withheld my memories. The features that I knew all too well, one that could be recognized with just a mere touch.
"Anything."
I found myself replying, having no control over my speech.
"Promise me that you will forgive me no matter what happens."
No. Please don't leave me again.
"I promise."
No.
I covered my mouth, that was not what I wanted to say.
"I love you."
He turned away and began walking in the opposite direction.
Adrenaline coursed through my veins, sending me off into a sprint as I struggled to get ahold of his sleeves. Despite much effort, the distance between us only seemed to grow wider and farther.
"Nicholas!" I shouted, I tried to propel my legs to move even faster than it already was. Instead, like sand, I found myself slowly sinking into the ground.
"Nicholas! Come back, please! Come back to me!" I cried out. Upon seeing his soon to be disappearing silhouette, I channeled the strength from my arms to pull my feet up. But it was all for naught.
With my body now submerged into the ground, I choked back on my tears, struggling to shout the last words; words that I regretted not telling him when I had the chance. But before I could even convey how I felt, the rising sand muffled my cries, and that the last thing I saw was the disappearance of his figure.
Plummeting down into a void where darkness only intensifies, the pressure from when my back hit the ground sent a jolt to my brain.
"AHHH!" My eyes flew open as I pushed into a sitting position; finding myself situated in the comfort of my bedroom. Clutching onto my pajamas, I attempted to steady the accelerated puffs and pants while I searched for the time.
2.07am.
Sighing, I plopped back down on the mattress, with an arm resting against my forehead as I gazed at the ceiling, watching the shadows dance in a seemingly eerie manner that provided a sense of comfort to me.
"I miss you..." A drop of tear escaped unknowingly as I once again, succumb to slumber.
***
"Ava, wake up! You are going to be late for work!"
"Mmmm" I hummed, reluctantly opening my eyes, only to find the alarm clock staring straight at me.
8.30.
I've still got time.
I closed my eyes once more, only to find myself reopening them again.
"SHOOT!!!" I scrambled to get out of bed and into the shower, not having the slightest care that I have forgotten to switch the heater on. With a shivering body, I quickly donned my working attire before dashing into the kitchen to grab a piece of toast lying gloriously on the table.
"Why didn't you wake me up sooner?" I mumbled with the toast still between my teeth as I fished for my shoes before slipping into them.
"I did," my mom replied with a dead-eyed glare, which prompted me to display a sheepish smile.
"Right, sorry mom." Reaching for the coat, I blew a kiss to her way, "see you later!"
What can I say? I am a mummy's girl.
"Wait! Hold up!" I shouted for the bus, swallowing the last bit of crust while dashing in a relentless pursuit towards the bus stop. By the time I boarded, I felt as if I had just accomplished a triathlon, having a few years of my life taken away from me as I struggled to catch my breath. Looking down at my watch, panic began to rose.
Only 15 minutes left.
When I finally reached my stop, I darted across the road toward the business district, squeezing through the crowd as I attempted to reach my office. Glancing down at my watch only made me increase the speed that I was going when I saw that there was only 5 minutes left.
"AH! I'm so sorry!" The contents in the folder spilled all over the ground, earning a few shoe marks from rushing passersby.
This is seriously not my day at all.
"Please, let me help you." Without looking at the person I bumped into, I knelt to gather the pieces of paper that had fallen out of his briefcase before handing it over to him. With my head still down, I too, quickly gathered my stack of papers.
"I see that you're still the same."
That voice.
Quickly, I turned around, only to see that the person whom I had bumped into was gone. I hastily searched the surroundings, pushing through the bodies of people drenched in morning sweat, disappointed to be greeted by an endless crowd that stretched as far as the eye could see. The sudden image of him popped into my head. However, knowing that that would be impossible, I quickly brushed it away.
Must be my imagination.
With the remaining three minutes, I made a final dash to the building before collapsing on the chair.
"Safe!" Panting heavily, I took large gulps of water, steadying my breathing to bring my heart rate back to normal. During this buffer period, thoughts from the events that took place five years ago started flooding back to me like it was only yesterday. Though we were never meant to be, the feelings we shared were still buried deep in my heart. But that's all in the past now, he is long gone.
Up till this day, I was often plagued with the question as to why that woman would send me back in time. Often, I wished that I could see her again. I needed answers as to why she made me suffer when she clearly knew what I had already been through.
I guess that will always remain as a mystery to me.
"Ava! Have you finished the drawings?"
"Yes!" I reached for the file of notes that was previously scattered and handed it over to the supervisor, Ms. Paisley. Being a single woman in her late thirties, Ms. Paisely was one that you would call the ideal model for most woman; or it could possibly just be me. She was beautiful, rich, and independent. The only downside that I could identify from these six months was her lack in possessing a sense of humor. There has never been a moment when I had seen her smile.
"What's this?" she flipped through the papers, "this has nothing do with the project we have at hand."
"What are you talking about? These are my drawings." I took the papers into my hands and went through each sheet; only to find a few drawings of mine meshed between the unknown documents. Continuing the act of fumbling through the sheets, I came across a name written in bold at the bottom of the page.
Nathan Atlas Crosby
"You have got to be kidding me." I exasperated, mentally facepalming myself.
I'm never waking up late again.
But then again...that name sounds vividly familiar.
"So? Whose documents are these?"
"Uhm... I bumped into someone on the way here. His documents must have been mixed with mine." The face of my supervisor turned into a darker shade, "bu-but don't worry, I know his name. There, Nathan Atlas Crosby." I pointed the name to her, with hopes in letting her know that I've got everything under control.
"Well then, better get going. I'm sure that poor fellow must too, be worried sick."