Raymond Mark: Season 2

Chapter 43: Moving On

PART 1: WHENCE HE CAME

Raymond had avoided being at his home for about three months. But here he was standing at the door of his old home. As Katie's dad was coming home from Paris, Raymond thought it would be best to come to his home and leave Katie's dad's room. Katie insisted on making arrangements, but Raymond decided to leave. It was about to happen one day or another.

Raymond did not know how long it took for him to open the door. Katie was with him so he would not feel lonely. Katie was very patient, she did not say anything to disturb Raymond's spontaneous recovery. She knew Raymond's mind was flooded with all those memories of the neighborhood. He played a lot with his friend Emma and his younger brother Patrick.

When Raymond finally opened the door, Katie offered him her hand to grab and said,

"I am with you."

"I know," said Raymond, gladly taking Katie's hand with a smile.

They both walked in together. Raymond found the place the same as it was before the night he left. It was cleaned and well maintained obviously as Master Owens used the place.

He slowly walked through every inch of the house; touching the couch on which he watched TV, sitting on the chair he studied on and looking outside through his bedroom window where Emma lived. That house was owned by someone else now, as they sold it when they left for Los Angeles.

The pictures of his childhood and recent memories made him nostalgic beyond his imagination. When he was about to break, Katie hugged him. Raymond's wet eyes rained on her shirt as she soothed his back. Katie could not even imagine how hard it was for Raymond to lose everyone he loved on a single evening.

PART 2: FORGIVENESS

Raymond was sitting on the stairs of Katie's home. His mind was thinking of his past three months. Mr. Brown came and sat beside him to bring Raymond back to reality.

"Daydreaming?" asked Mr. Brown.

"You could say that," Raymond replied with a smile. "So, is your packing done for the flight?"

Katie's dad was only in the city for a week. He had to move back to Paris for his work. He had only come to meet Katie. Raymond had seen Mr. Brown in the vision when he saw Katie's past. He did not look much different now. He was a little older and more sophisticated now. He had been earning well for quite some time and the family was quite stable.

"Yeah, all done," said Mr. Brown with regret, "I thought I'd be staying longer with my daughter, but work comes up like a tide."

"There is nothing to regret, Mr. Brown," said Raymond, "we are leaving for Elemental World tonight anyway. Katie must have forgotten to tell you."

"Oh, that's why she said last night that she can't come to see me off," Mr. Brown scratched his chin.

"I believe," said Raymond, "Katie thinks it worries you that she is going to a place where her life is at risk. That's why she does not talk about the Elemental World that much in front of you."

"It's okay," said Mr. Brown.

Surely, this was not an answer Raymond had expected from any father in the world. His question-marked face asked for more information, and Mr. Brown smiled and said.

"It's obvious that I am worried about her, but there shouldn't be any reason for her to stop. She can do whatever she wants. I know she is happier over there than she was here, her face has it every time she talks about this Elemental Earth. I don't want to snatch it away from her.

"I wasn't able to give much to her when she was young, now I don't want my worries to stop her from happiness. I trust you and Master Owens, you guys won't let anything happen to my daughter."