The Aftermath

Chapter 11

The Statue of Liberty stands as a magnificent and iconic symbol, a colossal embodiment of liberty and freedom. Rising gracefully from the heart of New York Harbor, this colossal sculpture is an enduring testament to hope and opportunity.

I gazed upon her, as a symbol of Freedom. She embodied the essence of freedom itself, both grand and sometimes seemingly unattainable. In her left hand, she held a tablet inscribed with the date "July 4, 1776" in Roman numerals – America's Independence Day. One of her feet stood firmly upon broken chains. She wasn't as colossal as depicted in movies, but the energy emanating from this place was otherworldly. She was a free woman, unburdened by all. Her mind is an observation deck rather than a dwelling for thoughts of a man. Her majesty and resilience bestowed upon her a unique strength, the Power of Freedom. It was a power I yearned for, freedom from my complex thoughts and freedom from people. Yet, the turmoil within me persisted.

Questions filled my mind. How would my conversation with Alex unfold? How would it all conclude, and how would I continue my business? Charlie was by my side, and I didn't want him to suspect anything about Alex and me. About 'us.' How warmly that word sounded. I was torn between the desire to reach out to Alex, to express the feelings in my heart, and the understanding that our paths might not align. How could I find equilibrium? I needed to talk to him, to lay bare my emotions, but not now. I wasn't ready, I'll think about it later.

Lost in thoughts, I inadvertently lost sight of Charlie. When I scanned the surroundings, he was nowhere to be found. Just as I was about to call out to him, I heard his voice.

"Jennifer," he exclaimed joyfully. "You're like a child, I can't leave you alone for a minute, or you disappear into your thoughts."

I smiled, a bit flustered. "I'm sorry, Charlie, I didn't mean to..."

We stood side by side, gazing at the bay, and then I heard a male voice.

"Charlie? Buddy! It's been ages!"

"Eddie! Incredible! I can't believe we're running into each other like this. How have you been?" Charlie replied. "Jennifer, meet Eddie, my university friend, whom I've told you about. He's also Alex Rocks' brother, by the way."

Alex's brother? What an incredible stroke of luck, or perhaps something more. Could Alex be intentionally orchestrating this? My mind teetered on paranoia. 

"Pleased to meet you, Eddie," I said, extending my hand.

"Likewise," Eddie replied, drawing our attention to the girl by his side. "Meet Linda, my fiancée. She accepted my proposal just a week ago."

Linda displayed a charming ring on her finger, and she seemed amiable.

"Nice to meet you," Linda smiled. "I'm from Canada, and despite my time in America, I've never visited the Statue of Liberty. We thought it was time to rectify that."

We decided to head to the nearest pub, the Dead Rabbit, where they served food all day. It was a fitting name for a place offering such delicious fare. Inside, it exuded coziness, and being an Irish pub, it felt like home. There weren't many people there, which was perfect. We chose a table near the entrance and waited for the menus.

And then, in the midst of our gathering, the melody of Eddie's phone broke the pleasant chatter. He swiftly apologized and answered the call, discreetly signaling that it would be for a moment.

"Yes, I'm here," Eddie spoke into the phone. "Linda and I are at the Dead Rabbit, and you won't believe who we've just met – Charlie, my old classmate from Dublin! He's here on a business trip with his girlfriend. The coincidence is simply astonishing. I'll fill you in later as we agreed. Right, right, I can give you the documents."