The Missing Hour

Chapter 2

As the morning light filtered through the curtains, illuminating the remnants of her once orderly life, Julia Hartman sat at her kitchen table, the weight of uncertainty pressing heavily on her chest. Mark's absence was palpable in the silence, an absence that clawed at her insides like a relentless tide. It was as if the world had shifted on its axis, and she was left scrambling to regain her balance.

Determined to reclaim control, Julia rose from the table and made her way to Mark's home office, a place that had always felt like a sanctuary of productivity. She needed answers, and this was where she hoped to find them. The familiar scent of cedar and old books enveloped her as she stepped inside, a stark contrast to the chaos brewing in her mind.

Her eyes darted across the room, landing on the oak desk cluttered with papers and personal artifacts. A framed photograph of Mark's smile brought a bittersweet pang to her heart. She picked it up, her fingers tracing the outline of his face, recalling their last conversation—a mundane exchange that now felt like a distant memory.

In a corner of the desk, something caught her eye. A small, leather-bound journal lay partially hidden beneath a stack of documents. She hesitated for a moment, the thought of invading his private thoughts making her stomach churn, but her desire for clarity outweighed her trepidation. Julia took a deep breath, pulled the journal free, and opened it.

The pages were filled with Mark's neat handwriting, detailing his day-to-day activities and thoughts. As she read, her heart raced. There were entries about meetings she had never known about, people he had mentioned in passing, and cryptic notes that hinted at a life outside of the one they shared. One entry stood out, dated just a week before his disappearance:

"Meeting with someone from the past. It's time to face the truth."

Julia felt a chill creep down her spine. What truth? And who was this person? The uncertainty gnawed at her, each word a puzzle piece that seemed to fit into a much larger picture she couldn't yet see.

With her mind swirling in questions, Julia decided she needed to talk to someone who might know more about Mark's secretive behavior. She reached for her phone and dialed Eric, Mark's longtime friend. After a few rings, he picked up, his voice thick with sleep.

"Julia? What's up?"

"Eric, I need to talk to you," she said, her voice steady but urgent. "It's about Mark."

"Is everything okay?" he asked, concern evident in his tone.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I found his journal, and there are some things in it that don't add up."

Eric was silent for a moment, and Julia could practically hear the wheels turning in his mind. "Meet me at our usual spot. I'll be there in thirty."

As Julia hung up, a mix of dread and determination washed over her. She grabbed her coat and headed out the door, the chilly air hitting her like a cold slap. The café where they were meeting was a small, cozy place they frequented during their college days, a sanctuary filled with laughter and warmth. Now, it felt like a battleground.

When she arrived, Julia spotted Eric sitting in a corner booth, his brow furrowed in thought. He looked up as she approached, his expression shifting to one of concern.

"Hey," he said, gesturing for her to sit. "What did you find?"

Julia slid the journal across the table. "Read this."

As Eric scanned the pages, his expression morphed from curiosity to shock. "This... this is intense. Mark never mentioned any of this to me."

"Why would he keep these things from me?" Julia asked, her voice trembling. "What does he mean by 'facing the truth'?"