chapter 1

“I came back for you. But nobody knew where you went”
He pleads. It’s ridiculous, after all these years he was now in front of me. His wind swept hair, his tall six foot frame, those startling eyes; it was like yesterday, he was still the same. But I wasn’t. I sigh and finally look up at him; only to find his eyes piercing me, scrutinizing every details of my profile. He inched closer, trying to cup my face with his hands. I close my eyes. God, I used to love it when he did that.
“Maya..” He looked at me. Pleading understanding. Advancing further that I could smell his Aqua di Gio.
“Don’t touch me!” I finally found my voice. He looked startled. He paused, looks helplessly at me and then backtracked. His hand hung loosely at his sides. He tried to say something. But seem to think better of it and just shock his head as if in trance.
I looked at him again, thinking hard of what to say to someone whom I dream of every night, who never leaves my waking thoughts for almost eight years now.
“I am sorry.”
He blurted. I am sorry?? How dare him! How can he just barge in into my life now and say he was sorry?? How could he possibly think that sorry was enough, or even justifiably ‘adequate’ to make up for everything that he put me through. If he thinks I could forgive him after all these years, then he was greatly mistaken. Rage spread like fire through my vein. Unconsciously I shook my head, bit my lip so hard that I drawn blood.
” Do you really think an ‘I am sorry ‘would be enough?”
I look at him and calmly asked him that question. I could feel my hands shock and my body tremble with the effort. He seems to feel the rage I feel inside.
With one swift movement he pulls me into his arms. He was so sudden I can’t think. Without even thinking I leaned on him for support.
“Oh God,” I heard him whisper. And he tightens his arms around me, as if never wanting to let me go, and then without knowing why, I cried. I cried so hard I thought my heart would break. He cares my hair, whispering soothing words, shushing me, saying everything will be all right now.
Memories dance in front of me. Everything he did, everything he said came crashing down like flood. How can everything be all right now that I had lost everything I cared about? Voice of reason kicked in and I looked up at him. He had his eyes closed. There were tears at the corners of his eyes. He let them fall. They glitter like tiny beads of pearl. He opens his eyes and looks at me. There’s so much pain in them. I hesitated. But I pull myself away and wipe my tears dry. It’s too late now. I heard my heart says. I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.
“No. you are eight years too late” I said those words to him without betraying a flicker of emotion. And then I walk away. Leaving him shock and confuse. Leaving him the way I had found him