Echoes of Yesterday

Part 10 - Threads of Suspension

As we walked through the front door of the resort, Eric stepped ahead and, with a slight bow, gestured toward me. "You first, madam," he said, his voice smooth and confident. I could feel a blush threatening to rise, but I quickly stifled it, offering him a small, awkward smile as I stepped inside.

Before I could even process the warmth of the place, I heard Maya's startled voice echoing from another room.

"Daisy!" she shouted her tone a mix of surprise and alarm.

I rushed toward her, finding her staring down at the floor, pointing at something with wide eyes. The paintings. The ones we'd made when we were 15. They were now lying on the ground, the glass frames shattered, and the open window nearby was likely the cause.

"My heart..." Maya said, her voice breaking a little as she knelt down, gingerly picking up one of the pieces. "The frame is broken," she whispered sadly.

I knelt beside her, feeling the same pang of sadness. Those drawings were a part of us, a piece of our shared history, and seeing them like this hurt. The carefree summer days when we spent hours painting at the resort now felt so far away.

Eric walked in, fashionably late as always. He looked down at us, his expression softening as he saw the mess.

"I can fix that, ladies," he said, stepping toward us. "By the way, how long has it been since you both were here?"

Maya and I exchanged a glance, her eyebrow raising in a silent conversation. "About a year," I said, and Maya nodded.

"Ah, so that's why you wanted to come back after so long," Eric said, as though putting the pieces together.

Maya and I looked at each other again, our silent conversation continuing. We both knew the real reason for being here wasn't just a simple visit to the resort. We needed to talk to Eric about that night at the bar.

Maya gave me an expectant look, silently telling me to ask him. But I was too nervous—what if he didn't remember? What if he did? I gave her a pleading look in return, shaking my head ever so slightly.

Eric caught on to our wordless exchange, smirking. "Ladies, may I ask what's going on between you two? Is this some secret code I'm not in on?"

Maya rolled her eyes, grabbed his hand, and led him into the living room, with me trailing behind. As we sat down, she didn't waste any time.

"So, Eric," she began, her tone casual but her eyes serious. "You said you gave your jacket to a girl that night at the bar, right?"

He blinked, his expression turning puzzled. "Which night?"

"The night at the bar, a few days ago," Maya clarified, her tone sharpening slightly.

"Oh, that," Eric said, leaning back and trying to recall. "Yeah, I remember. What about it?"

Maya's gaze narrowed as she leaned in. "Who was the girl?"

Eric looked genuinely confused for a second, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't really know her," he admitted. "She was sitting at the bar, shivering, and I could see water dripping from her dress. She looked miserable, so I gave her my jacket. Why?"

I froze, remembering how I had felt that night—the cold, the wet clothes, and the sudden warmth of the jacket.

Maya wasn't letting him off that easy. "So you just dropped your jacket on some random girl?"Eric shrugged. "Yeah, I saw her shivering. I couldn't just leave her there like that. It felt... wrong."

There was something about the way he said it—so sincere, so understanding. I could see how much he cared, even for a stranger. That side of him was new to me. I couldn't help but feel my heart soften a little.

Maya sighed. "Well, did she at least thank you?"

Maya crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at Eric. "Well, did she at least thank you?"

Eric shook his head slightly, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "I don't think she did," he said, pausing for a second. "Actually... I didn't really see her face. I rushed out of the bar right after giving her the jacket."

I blinked in surprise. "Wait, you didn't see her face?"

Eric leaned back, rubbing his chin. "Yeah, I had to take an important call. It was getting too noisy in there, so I headed out the back. I don't think she saw me either."

He glanced between us, his brow furrowing. "I didn't really think much of it. She looked cold, and I just acted without really expecting anything in return."

Maya and I exchanged another look. It was strange—Eric had given his jacket to a girl he didn't even see, and then just disappeared? Something didn't add up, but I couldn't tell if it was because of the situation itself or if it was my own nervousness clouding my judgment.

"So, you just left?" Maya asked, her voice slightly incredulous. "Didn't you think to check on her later?"

Eric shrugged. "No, not really. I assumed she'd be fine with the jacket. The call was urgent, and by the time I was done, I didn't see her again." He looked genuinely perplexed by our line of questioning.

Maya sat back, pursing her lips. "Weird."

Eric looked at her, confused. "Why are you so interested in this? Is something wrong?"

Maya glanced at me, giving me a subtle nod, silently asking if I wanted to push further. I hesitated, unsure of what to say next. Eric's explanation seemed genuine, and yet... something still felt off.