The Woman in the Letter

PART 7

Four days later

It was the last day of March. The weather was so hot and I took off my jacket to take a short walk after work. Sunny weather always has a positive effect on me, but this time I felt more comfortable and lighter. For some reason, I was sure that Paul would not meet me anymore. I did not hear anything about him since I last saw him four days ago. But I felt that the issue was closed and I would not face it again. But I did not know where the source of this comfort came from.

But, I was worried about Him. That day, when I left him, he stood so helpless that it seemed to me that he would stay there until the end. I could do nothing but watch the life of a man I had destroyed.

I got out of the elevator and went down the stairs. When I put the key in, I saw that the door of our house is opened.

Something is happening.

I quickly opened the door and went inside. The door to our home has never been open since I was a child. One day when my mother picked up my older sister from school and came home from kindergarten, a thief broke into the house. They took some valuables and a small amount of money that my family had saved. But what disturbed my mother the most was the theft of a souvenir ring from my grandmother. More than that, it was another question that had plagued my mother for months. "If only the children were at home"

Since that day, there have been 3 golden rules in our house. The door must be checked every time, the gas line must never be left open, and everyone in the house must know the emergency number by heart. Even my mother often asked us for emergency numbers and checked to see if we had forgotten.

I went to the living room and saw my mother arguing with Mrs. Sophie. When she saw me, my mother stopped talking immediately, like she did not want me to hear what she is talking about. Her face was red and her hands slightly shivering. Paul's mother's face was sweat.

"Natalie, go to your room. Don't worry" said my mother.

Without saying anything to her, I looked at Paul's mother "Mrs. Sophie..Why are you here?" I asked.

"My daughter" wiped the tears from her cheeks with the palm of her right hand. "Let's sit down and talk"

"My daughter has nothing to say" my mother had already decided without considering my idea. As Always...

Sophie looked at me did not give any reaction to my mother. She was waiting for me to sit next to the chair. I looked at her like I was begging her to forgive me for a mistake. Or was I ready to beg him to forgive me ?! "Doing this only makes things worse" I said slowly.

She touched my left arm softly "Sit down," she whispered.

I sat in a chair without taking my eyes off her.

"Paul is not the same person anymore," She said the sentence calmly but with such emphasis. For his mother, it was quite a logical reason for me to return to his son. It seems that mothers are all the same. Everyone puts their child at the center of the world. "We haven't heard a word from Paul for the last two days. He does not leave his home all day. Barely he comes to our house only when we insist. He does not come to the company or anywhere else. Sometimes he goes out at night, then goes to his room with a bottle of drink in his hand" Mrs. Sophie's eyes were shining because of tears. "I have never seen Paul so helpless. He .. He loves you very much, Natalie. Don't do that to him"

"My daughter is not doing anything. Don't you understand?" my mother interrupted. "Everyone that night, even you and your husband saw what your son did to my daughter"

Mrs. Sophie stood up. "I accept the huge mistake my son did. But it was a wrong reaction. it was not a planned act. When Natalie said she doesn't want to marry him he lost himself. Paul lost control that night. I have never denied this "

My mother laughed "Oh! So Paul was nervous. Do you hear what you are saying? Your son's anger does not justify what he did" As my mother spoke, her voice grew louder. "The only mistake Natalie made was making a quick decision. But, now I think that She was not quick, she was late about leaving Paul. Thus revealed the true face of your son. I can't even imagine what would happen if Natalie would marry to him? Would your son get angry one night and attack my daughter? What if we don't have anyone to help him this time? What would you say if he killed my daughter? What would be your argument., Would you say Paul is a little nervous again? "

"My son will never harm Natalie"

"Your son tried to strangle me," I said.

Mrs. Sophie was shaken. She looked at me. I got up, but this time I did not dare to look her in the eyes.

"Don't say that" Sophie said "Paul never harmed anyone in his life"

I took off the red silk scarf around my neck. When Mrs. Sophie looked at the greens around my neck, I saw that the emotions on her face were slowly disappearing.

I said quietly, "Then you didn't know your son well."

There was no longer a mother begging for mercy, but a stubborn woman standing next to her son. She looked at the marks on my neck and said, "The marks on your neck will be gone. But what about the marks you left on my son?' She took his bag from the sofa and walked out of the house. My mother and I were still looking at each other when we heard the door slam.