This Means Love!

Chapter 1: Part 5

Jason arrived at Freddy’s house, and a sense of unease washed over him. The place looked ancient, almost as if it had been forgotten by time itself. The paint was peeling from the walls, and the garden out front was overgrown with weeds. The house had an aura of desolation, and Jason found himself wondering if anyone could really live there.

He stepped up to the door and pressed the doorbell. The chime echoed inside, hollow and lonely. When no one answered, he rang the bell again, more hesitantly this time. Minutes ticked by, and just as he was about to give up, he heard slow, deliberate footsteps approaching. He stood up straight, bracing himself.

The door creaked open, and Anna appeared in the doorway. She was wearing a plain, loose dress, and her eyes were dark and empty, holding no trace of the grief or anguish he had expected to see. Jason opened his mouth to speak, trying to find the right words.

“Hello, I’m—” he began, but she cut him off, her voice flat and almost mechanical.

“I know who you are,” she said, her tone devoid of warmth. Her eyes fixed on him, unwavering, and Jason felt a chill run down his spine. The coldness in her voice and the sharpness of her gaze were unsettling.

He swallowed hard, trying to mask his discomfort. “I… I just wanted to come by and pay my respects. To offer my condolences,” he managed to say, choosing his words carefully.

Anna’s lips curled into something that almost resembled a bitter smile. “Condolences?” she echoed, her voice edged with a strange detachment. “Why would you do that? It wasn’t your wife’s mistake. Freddy caused the damage, not her.”

Jason was taken aback by her directness. He paused, gathering his thoughts. “I know that,” he said softly. “But I believe it’s still humane to show grief, even if the person who passed away brought harm. Whether the pain was physical, mental, or emotional, it doesn’t change the fact that he was… a person.”

Anna didn’t respond. Her expression remained empty, her eyes cold and unreadable. Jason felt a wave of confusion and unease. Her behavior didn’t make sense. There was no sign of sorrow, no trace of the heartache that usually accompanied loss. It was as if she had severed herself from feeling entirely.

The silence stretched between them, and Jason realized that there was nothing more he could say. He cleared his throat, feeling awkward and out of place. “I should go now,” he said, stepping back. “I’m sorry for intruding.”

Anna didn’t move, her face still devoid of any expression. She simply watched him, her gaze following him as he turned and walked away. Jason felt her eyes on his back long after he left the house, the unsettling encounter leaving a heavy weight in his chest.