Artificial Tears

Chapter 33

I better do some more investigating around the girl with the future dreams, who she really is, is still mostly a mystery to me. Strangely enough I can't find any social media accounts, not even a record that shows where or when she was born. No family address, just totally nothing. It's almost as if she never even existed and vanished like some kind of ghost.

Did I really ever speak to her at all?

Have I really tried to help her?

It feels like the only proof of her existence is the call she made to me that saved itself on my phone.

Anyway I should visit the people who know her best, her friends, the ones she lives with. Surely they should know more about her than I do?

I quickly search for the address, I luckily still have saved up somewhere and tell my car it has to drive there.

While I enjoy the soft zooming of the car I find myself sinking back into old memories again.

It will be his birthday soon.

How old will he be?

23, if I'm correct.

How would he spend his day? If he is still alive at all...

Will he be held captive somewhere still?

Or maybe he is free, if he is, would he treat himself to some cake? Does he even remember the date?

Would he be surrounded by loved ones?

If things were different, I would visit the place where he lives. I would come arriving with the biggest and most precious gift. Then as he finally opened the door, I would give him a hug and never let go again.

Then what about me now?

What will happen when I die?

Will someone be there? At my funeral? Someone that would cry for me?

Not Rose and probably not Johnny.

Maybe some of my colleagues, but outside of work I don't really interact with others or let people get too close to me anymore. I just can't... the wounds feel too deep, like with just a touch they could open up again and hurt me just as much as back then.

Well I don't matter anyway, this case matters. Johnny matters. Nothing else.

Finally the car pulls me out of my dark thoughts telling me in a cheery voice that we have arrived at my destination.

I get out, the door locks behind me automatically and I leave to go to the right apartment building, where Edith's friends are. Even if they're not here I will leave a message, one so that they can get in touch with me by themselves.

As I enter with my police badge, otherwise you won't be able to enter, I can take either the stairs or the elevator.

I pick the stairs, I should move a bit more anyway.

The apartment is on the third floor, so it's quite the climb. With my body getting older, I decide that on the way back, I will probably take the elevator.

I press the doorbell and I can hear the ringing sound from inside the apartment.

I wait for a bit.

1 minute.

2 minutes.

3 minutes.

I ring again and as I'm about to give up, the door opens and a girl appears.