Gently into the good night

Chapter 25- Found One Of The Seven

Two weeks and five days later....

"You did a great job today. Well sadly we have to close down the restaurant" Curt says and my heart practically sinks like the titanic. Now that I got a job it's slipping out my of hand. Everyone gasps in terror around me and I freeze. Curt looks shocked and I don't know why he wasn't anticipating this reaction from the staff. We practically lost out jobs which idiot would be happy.

"Oh dear, I don't mean it's closing down forever because of debts. I mean we have to renovate the appearance and the presentation of the restaurants according to our reviews .We talked about this in last week's meeting. It will take two weeks so for these two weeks you are all given freedom from hell's kitchen." He says and chuckles "do not worry, you'll get your full pay at the end of month. Thank you for being such a great staff. Now you may dismiss. See you all on the 31st of this month" Curt says and passes on the final details.

I pick up my bag and leave, its 9PM as I step out of the back door of the restaurant and enter the dark alley that leads to the main street which I have to cross and walk about two kilometres to reach home. I am still working double shifts as I have nothing better to do with my life right now. My life seems so aimless and the only thing I am truly waiting for is Chris to come back. I feel antsy at the thought of life at the moment so I avoid thinking about it.

"Amelia" I hear Steven's voice and I turn around.

"Yes?" I ask

"You'll be coming tomorrow right?"

"Where?" I ask raising my eye brow.

"For dinner, don't you remember?" he asks.

Actually I forgot. Oops.

"Of course, I didn't forget. I was just a little confused. Well, never mind" I say shaking my head.

"My wife is really looking forward to see you. I told her a lot about you" he says with a grin

"Wow and what did you tell her about me?" I ask

"You remind me a lot of my sister Annie. We were very close, she was my wife's best friend that's how we met actually"

"Oh where is Annie now? I would like to meet her now that you mentioned" I say grinning.

"Oh she passes away six years back. She died in a car accident actually." He says. His voice is hoarse and in deep grief. I feel bad for asking.

"I am so sorry. I didn't know"

"No that's all right. It was just so sudden and I feel responsible for it even now. I told her something stupid and she got mad. I yelled at her and she said she will leave the house and she left and I let her go." He says and pauses "two hours later I got a call from the hospital and they said it was fatal and she did not survive. It's so weird that the people who are with you this moment disappear forever in the next moment"

I don't know how to react this moment. My body feels numb and the memories rush back in, of Paul and I. He must be thinking the same right now, that I died, that I am no more. I can feel Steven's loss at a more intense level. I have lost my entire family. My nerves are tense and my lips are pulled in, I am staring wide eyed at him in disbelief at how real everything seems. I am so infinitesimal compared to the sea of cosmos balls and universes that exist.

I still exist but how can I exist my family to know it or even believe it. I don't know why i still believe that they will come back and a peripeteia will occur out of the blue. Sudden realisation hits and I feel terrified.

"Don't have to look so petrified. I am sorry I got so uhm... sentimental. Anyways do come tomorrow. Goodnight" he says and walks the opposite direction to my house.