Talescope Vol. 1

PreDestiny

The atmosphere became heavier, as it started to rain. Dr. Griffin warily looked at Charlotte and asked, "But why? I have seen you earlier watching the same video multiple times, whenever you met me while getting out for the market or taking out the trash."

Charlotte: "I think I have the freedom of watching or doing whatever I want."

Dr. Griffin: "Sure it is, child. But–"

Charlotte: "Doctor, I respect you a lot. But you are not my father, so don't try to act like one. Kindly leave."

Her words shocked Dr. Griffin. While moving towards the doorway, despairingly, he looked upon her.

Dr. Griffin: "I think I know why this video seems so important to you. This technology, PreDestiny, would help you to relive your memories with your husband in your mind. And if I am not wrong, you are amongst the first people to pre-book it."

Dr. Griffin took a deep breath.

"I met your husband a few times. He was a very nice man, cheerful and responsible. But, child, he is no more here, and he won't return. Using this technology will not bring him back–"

Charlotte: "How do you know what it feels like to suffer the loss of a loved one? You live alone, and have no family with you. How would you know what it feels to lose someone?"

Saying this, Charlotte took her phone and the car keys and proceeded towards the doorway. But to her surprise, Dr. Griffin stopped and stood still as he was about to step out, with his back facing Charlotte.

Charlotte: "Doctor, kindly—"

Dr. Griffin: "I was in my clinic."

Charlotte: "What?"

Dr. Griffin: "Doing regular checkups of my patients, when I received his call."

Charlotte was confused.

Dr. Griffin: "At first I thought that it was a bad joke. But no, it wasn't. I wished it was. I took my car and rushed towards the location. But till I reached it, everything was over. My Elizabeth left me, forever. They told me that a truck collided with her cab and..."

Charlotte was stunned to hear this. It seemed that within a minute, the whole atmosphere of her house had changed. A frigid wind from somewhere blew over her face. She felt that Dr. Griffin's voice was getting heavier, as he spoke.

"I was just standing there, with no strength in me. I don't even remember how long I stood there. Maybe someone there knew me who informed me, I don't know...It was New Year's Eve and we were about to go on a vacation to our native house for a few days, to spend the new year with the family. How lovely it would have been, if not..."

Charlotte: "Your...your wife?"

Dr. Griffin slowly turned around and looked at her. She noticed a slight glimmer in his eyes.

Charlotte: "Oh, I am so sorry. I didn't know it. I am sorry, sir."

Meekly smiling at her, Dr. Griffin said, "It's okay."

Charlotte felt as if within this one moment, all her knowledge about Dr. Griffin's character had completely changed; from knowing him as a lonely old man to someone who lived his life like a journey.

"Every moment scared me when I realized that she is no more beside me, she will never be. Sometimes I thought, what if I could have reached there a little bit earlier, what if she never went out that day, what if she didn't book that particular cab, what if...These 'what ifs' terrified me every moment. The fact that being a doctor myself, I couldn't save my own wife. As days passed, slowly her absence started to haunt me. Wherever I went, it felt like I wasn't being myself, that I was incomplete and I had to live my life like this forever. We didn't have a child, so I was all alone by myself. Some people showed sympathy, some showed support, but all of those were useless to me, as I only wanted her. I knew that could not happen, but still, you know, even the strongest materials have a breaking point, and I was just a mere human. Every day felt like a burden, every night felt like a curse. But I had to go on because I had so many responsibilities. Still, without her, I felt hopeless. I didn't want to feel her absence, so I found a way to cure it."

Charlotte was engagingly listening to him.

[page 4]