Last Photograph

Chapter 3: A part of her past

Note: Italicized texts are flashbacks.

California, U.S.A.

     It was around 8 in the evening, Halley was browsing Instagram through her phone when her iPad rang.

     *FaceTime - Tita Audrey calling*

     "Hi, tita Auds!" She greeted then looked at the time. "Good Aftie! It must be afternoon there in Manila."

     "Yup, I just came home from work. Where's your papa?" Audrey asked searching her room through the phone.

     "He's still on his meeting po."

     "By this time? Until 8 lang working hours niya ah." Audrey couldn't help but raise her left eyebrow. "Meeting ba yan talaga or date?"

     'Without a doubt, tita ko nga siya' Halley said on the back of her mind as she chuckled.

     "Meeting tita, he let me read his convo with their client. And besides, he still has a shift at the hospital after."

     "So he'll come home late? Do you have someone with you there?"

     "All by myself but it's fine tita, I'm used to it. And also, house is fully secured, you know papa."

     "Be careful still okay, lock your doors always." Audrey reminded her. "Anyway, I just call to check up on you."

"Is that Scoob and Vany I see in your back tita?" Halley's eyes widened.

"Yes, wait." She then called the dogs. "Say hi to Halley!"

"Hi! Omg, they're big nah! I miss them so much."

"They miss you too, Hal," Audrey said in a suddenly serious tone. "Ano, no plans on coming back here padin? We miss your visit."

"Tita naman."

"It's been 5 years since you last went here."

"I'm all fine here tita, ayoko na pong may maalala pa. It's not easy to deal with those."

     "Yeah coz' you're fighting it, why don't you just let it. Malay mo you just have to let those flashes in your mind then maalala mo na."

     "What's the point of knowing, tita? It's all in the past. Whatever it is, ayoko na pong maalala pa."
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London, England

     Tricia woke up searching the bed and then noticed an empty space beside her, the room was dim but she tried looking for the time.

     "Greg?" She called few times and was hoping that Greg will emerge from somewhere.

     But no answer.

     She eventually stood up then wear her light silk robe before making her way outside, where can you be at this time?

     On her way down, she noticed the lights coming from Greg's office and so she headed towards it.

     Knocking on the door first before carefully opening it.