To Infinity and Beyond

The Call

Mark's POV

She lied to me, but why?
I hope everything was okay with her?
Did she not feel comfortable enough to confide in me? Why couldn't she tell me whatever the truth was? Where was she if not at work?

It were wee hours of the morning, and I had been battling my dilemmas ever since I visited Alice at the hospital yesterday. The fact that she lied to me in plain cold words had been tearing my sanity piece by piece.

The moment the city rose from its slumber and the birds chirped in their full glory, I quickly went through my morning routine and dropped Mia at school. Rather than going to my office, as a reflux, I took a detour to Alice's apartment instead. I had to see her and talk it out.

I parked in her driveway and rushed through the main gate of her building. My palms were sweaty, and my veins spiked in anticipation. I didn't realise when the elevator beeped at her floor, and absent-mindedly, I just rushed out, only to bump into a figure.

"Hey, watch your step!" exclaimed a guy, who was roughly in his mid-thirties, dressed immaculately in grey pants and a white polo shirt. He immediately kneeled to pick up what looked like a set of files that dropped from his hand due to my sudden intrusion.

"I am sorry I was rushing and didn't see you coming." I attempted to help him gather his things, but he was quick and hastily got up. He gave me a firm piercing look and then acknowledged my apology with a friendly nod.

"Be careful, buddy." He patted my shoulder and entered the elevator without another word. He didn't look like anyone familiar. Without thinking much, I just paced to Alice's apartment and gave a gentle knock at her door.

She opened the door almost immediately, but the moment she saw me, her face lost all its colour.

"Umm..hey Alice!" Even when I shouldn't have, her sudden reaction made me feel guilty. I shouldn't have come unannounced.

"Hey Mark.. umm, sorry, I wasn't expecting you. Come on in." She stepped aside and nervously welcomed me inside.

"Have a seat. Umm, I will be back in a minute." She grabbed her laptop that was laying on the sofa and rushed to her bedroom. Call it my paranoia, but something felt odd about her behaviour today. She usually always hugged me and greeted me warmly whenever she met me, unlike today. While waiting for her, I went to the kitchen to help myself with a glass of water. I quenched my dry throat, and before I turned to head out, there next to the sink, I saw two finished coffee mugs. Did she have company this early in the morning?

With a whirlwind of mixed emotions stirring in the pit of my stomach, I reluctantly headed back and sat on the couch in her living room. Minutes later, Alice joined me. She looked composed now.

"Hey.. sorry, Mark. I just had some things to do. Good Morning!" She scooted closer to me and gave me a soft peck on my cheeks.

"Good Morning Alice. Umm... I was heading to the office but then thought to see you, so I took a detour. Did you happen to have company? Right now?" I asked nervously.

"Company? Of course not. What made you think that?" She let out a meek giggle. Is she lying again? Damn! Is this how it's going to be now? Will I end up suspecting everything she said? Get a grip, Mark. Stop overthinking. I was so lost in my thoughts. I forgot Alice was waiting for me to respond.

"No, I just asked... you looked kind of busy. How's work? You seemed very occupied when I called yesterday?"

"Umm... yes I am having busy days. Hope it will all get better soon." She gave me a genuine smile.