ONE LAST TIME

"Life goes on"(pt3)

It took me long enough to realise that a man was following me. I was panic stricken. I started walking towards a convenience store which seemed kilometers away. Everytime I took a step, I turned around only to learn that he was still behind me. 

I had lost all my hope when a masked man pulled me closer to him and pushed me against the wall. 

His sparkling blue eyes were incredibly charming, as mesmerizing as the sunrise, as deep as the ocean, and as dreamy as a starry night. My body grew warmer as I looked into his eyes, my heart started racing. "Are you okay? That man's gone now." he said with a soft voice. I felt safe in his embrace, I wanted to stay like this forever. As much as I enjoyed the feeling, I had to let go of him. Before I could snap out of my thoughts and thank him, I realized he wasn't there anymore. I looked everywhere for him but he was gone, just disappeared. 

That voice, that feeling, those eyes, everything was familiar. I just knew that it was him. Those features that I had committed to memory had materialized once more after years and years filled with trauma and longing, steeped in the sorrow that followed the news of his ultimate death. Now, however, as the scene that took place just seconds earlier replayed in my head, I couldn't help but feel this sort of inexplicable joy at the realization that my masked savior was none other than my long lost love, whom I believed to have died years ago. Could it be him? It had to be...

As I reveled in my newfound discovery, tears of joy rolled down my cheeks, leaving behind trails of the happy times we spent together.  

(Car horns)

"It must be Hannah," I said while wiping my tears. It was her, I got into the car and told her what had happened. I couldn't resist asking Hannah "It must've been him right?". She replied, " I don't know Emma but I don't think it's him".I needed her to say that it was him, I needed her to say that he was alive, I needed her to tell me that I would meet him once again, that everything would become normal once again. I was mad at her for telling the truth. I knew it was truth but I didn't want to accept it.  As soon as we got home, I rushed to my room and locked the door. I couldn't help but think of the memories I had with him. I slowly closed my teary eyes and eventually fell asleep. 

(The next morning)

I woke up to the sound of Hannah crying. Half- conscious, I ran to the door and tried opening it only to realize that I had locked it yesterday night!.  "She must have been worried," I said to myself. I quickly went out and apologized to Hannah for being such a jerk. "Don't you dare lock your room door again!". She cried. 

I promised her that I wouldn't do anything that would worry her again. "How about going shopping after today's hearing?" I asked her. "Of course, I'll be back from the office soon," replied Hannah. As I went into my room to freshen up, I realized that I didn't have that dream today. Though, this was a completely different feeling, I shrugged it off since the trial was today.

I quickly got ready and got to the court for the trial. I was as nervous as hell and what I learnt next wasn't really helping. The opposing lawyer was Lucas...my competitor in law school. He would always top all the exams while I came second. I was very jealous of him in law school, even by a 1/4th mark I would come second. It felt like it was meant to be.

"Hey! Emma!" screamed Lucas from a distance. I pretended not to hear anything and started walking away. Just when I thought I escaped, Camile introduced Lucas to me. Oh god this day couldn't get worse I said to myself as I shoot daggers at Camile, in return I got ignored. 
"Hey Emma, this is Mr Lucas, your opposing lawyer" said Camile.

"Emma?! It's been so long" exclaimed Lucas. Camile was surprised and asked us if we knew each other. I nodded and said "We went to the same law school". "Then I'll be a good friend and leave you guys to it," said Camile. I gave her a death stare, she simply ignored me!. "Hey Emma, how are you doing? I wasn't able to contact you after that tragic incident" he said. He shouldn't have brought that up. Lucas clearly was trying to start a conversation and I wasn't interested. "Ummm I'm sorry but I need to go and prepare for the case." I explained. There ended a super long, annoying and extremely boring conversation with Lucas. 

(In the courtroom)

 
Before the judge came in, I went to Mr Arthur and took him through the list of fundamental rights he had as the accused. Just as we got seated, the judge entered the court.
Attorney Lucas stood, walked up to the judge and said