Forbidden

Ch-59

6th Oct, 2023.

KIERA

I was sitting alone in my studio with the ticket to the exhibition in front of me. Everyone's advices came flashing to me.

"If you are so quick to judge things in the beginning, no matter whom you meet and what kind of love they offer, you won't receive it."

"Wear the thickest armor you can afford. Then it's one or the other. Either it crushes you or you take it off."

"It's not like my soulmate will come up to me and say, 'Hi, I am your soulmate.' If I want someone, he is my soulmate."

"But if someone changed, and if it was because of someone else, that's an amazing thing. Thank you for showing in front of Caleb."

All of the voices echoed and I tried to stop. It was like the universe was forcing me to try again. And even I felt I should try again. I tried to call Caleb but it was unreachable. It was already night. And the gallery was probably about to close. It wouldn't do any difference whether I went or not. But I had to give one last try. I ran with my purse to the car and drove as fast as I could. It was already 9:55. The gallery was suppose to close at ten. I parked my car and ran towards the gallery. Everyone was leaving, I was the only one going inside. The entire gallery was empty. All the portrait were of couples in nice sceneric places. I went till the end of the gallery. But Caleb wasn't here.

Kiera: Fuck our timings. They are never right. 

There was booklet on the floor. I picked it up. It had an interview written of Caleb.

"What's your favorite photo you have taken so far?"

"The self-portrait photo. My principle of only taking photos I loved applied to myself too. So I had never taken a photo of myself before. Come to think of it.. I have never loved truly myself. When I was ready, I took the picture."

I turned the pages. Each page had a different line. My tears kept falling.

"I met someone."

"I got more love than I deserved."

"A photographer's point of view is like a filter, so his photos show his emotions."

"For a photographer eyes are everything."

At the end of the booklet was the self portrait. Caleb was holding a camera and looking into another one. Where was this in the gallery? I looked around. On the corner, under big lights, was his self portrait, beaming. Under the portrait there was box, where it was written, "Everything good in my life was a coincidence. Everything bad in my life was timing."

I cried, the breath escaping my body as if I were being punched again and again in the stomach. The pain I felt was pure agony. Time slowed to a crawl and then very quickly everything came to an end. My mind went blank and I became aware of nothing but my own anguish. I let go of him. I could have hold on a little further. I could have said him my issues. He loved me and I left him. And now he is gone. A horrific pain crowded behind my chest, protruding through my ribcage and erupting into sobs that rivalled the storm raging outside. The booklet in my hands became soggy.

Caleb: Did I... make you cry again?

Kiera: What the fuck is your problem? Why did you not answer my call?

Caleb: I left my phone here. I came to find it, but I found you.

He had a smile in face. 

Kiera: Don't smile.

Caleb: I'm sorry. I was happy to see you. I guess you are not happy. I made you cry again.

Kiera: Right. I hate you! You are awful.