Sane And Sanity

Part 7 : Surprise , Surprise

It was exactly seven o’clock in the evening when I finally collapsed on my bed. It took me an hour to find the bus and another hour to get home. It was dreadful and exhausting. However, overall it wasn’t such a bad day. I did learn a lot about each patient. The whole processing and organizing gave me the motivation to continue reading and analyzing with full attention.  Doctor Sulphan looked over my work and nodded in acceptance. Well yes I did expect at least some kind of compliment since it was like my first day of work and all, but the end it didn’t matter as long as I was satisfied with my result.

It was quiet at home, as always. For once I am glad that it is. I took a long shower feeling my muscles instantly relax at every drop of hot water. I decided to award myself with a special meal. When I say special , I do mean cheesy steamy pizza.  I laughed at my choice of meal. I wrapped myself with my favorite blanket, turned on the television and attacked the pizza. It was almost like heaven.

I was half way through the show, when I heard desperate knocking on door. For a second, I froze. I knew it weren’t my parents since we all have keys and I defiantly remember that I wasn’t expecting any especially at this time. It was very odd. I grabbed my phone turned on every light in the house and approached the door. As I leaned towards it, I heard a shrieking
sound as if someone was crying. I opened slowly and my eyes bulged out.

“Valiy, what the hell? You scared me to death “

Before I could continue, she grabbed me by my hand and took me inside.

“He …he “her tears kept running down her beautiful face and her eyes were so red as if she cried for years

“Valiy, what’s wrong? Tell me! “I practically shouted. I could feel my heart in my throat. She kept staring at me as if begging to figure it out on my own.

“Sweetie, please tell me. I am here for you what’s wrong?” I almost whispered the last part. It seemed forever until she spoke again this time with coherent words.

“Vladimir, didn’t…didn’t “she paused, took a breath and continued “he didn’t come home last night “

It took me a whole minute to process this information. What does she mean he didn’t come home? Vladimir always informed Valiy about his plant and whereabouts. It was unlikely for him not to come home at the end of the day. I had so many questions, but somewhere deep inside knowing the answers frightened me.

I clutched her hand and dragged her to my room. She kept crying and sobbing nonstop. I kept watching, trying to calm her, assure her, but nothing was stopping her tears from flowing. After what seemed like decades, Valiy spoke quietly with no emotion in her voice. It was unlike her. Valiy is the loudest person that I knew. She was like a firework or more likely like a musical parade in stormy and sad days. Seeing this side of her pinned my heart with ache.

“He didn’t come home last night. “ I waited for to continue patiently.

“He texted me yesterday around two o’clock in the evening telling me that he is running late and he won’t make it for lunch”. Her tear dropped as she recalled. She dropped her head and the pillow and continued.

“I told him it was not a big deal and I would see him in the evening. By the time it was eight pm, I knew something was wrong. I called him, left voice messaged but no response. I thought he was the lab, so I called his secretary, but she said he never showed up at the lab that day “

There goes another tear and this was more prominent than the other tears. Because this one, this particular one came from her heart.

I hugged her with every nerve fiber in my body. I gave her a little squeeze on the shoulder encouraging her to continue with the story.

“I knew something was wrong. It was so unlike him. He never misses a day of not being in the lab. It was strange. I called again and again, yet no reply. Eventually, I threw the phone out of anger; that’s why I didn’t call you and now I am here “

There was a moment of silence. What was I supposed to say? Vladimir was a good guy. He would never do such a thing to Valiy. He loved her. In addition, he was a very good friend to me. There were times where I felt like he was my older brother.  Something has to been done. I grabbed my phone only knowing one thing to do, before I could dial the number, Valiy asked with broken voice.

“Who are you calling? “

“The police, who else; It’s been like 24 hours. It’s a missing person case report. They know what to do. “ I spoke with confidence .

“No, Adeline, we are not going to call the police. “

“Why not? Are you crazy! Your fiancé is missing. We have to do something “I stood up feeling my blood slowly heating up. Did she hit her head on the way up here?

“ No, you don’t understand. We cannot call the police. “ she emphasized on the word cannot.

“Why not? “now this was intriguing .

“Because there are some things I cannot explain right now, but you have to promise you wont call he cops. “

“What kind of things? “No I was wrong this is not intriguing, this is outrageous. A person is missing and she doesn’t want to contact help. What am I missing here? I am guessing a lot.

“Just things; okay, don’t ask a lot of questions. It won’t do you any good. “Her brown eyes were pleading me not to ask any further. I am not sure if it was my imagination or not; however, it seemed like she was afraid of something aside from Vladimir being missing. This was all so strange even for me. I usually don’t let go of such cryptic statements, yet the way she said it, made me want to stop questioning her any further. Apparently, she forgot my determination; I will get the answers one way or another.

I sighed with desperation, thinking of what to do next.

“Then what are we going to do? Vladimir is like my brother Valiy. I want to help. I will do everything I can to find him. You have to understand. You are not the only who is hurting here. I am in pain too. So, please let’s call for help before it’s too late”

She brushed her fingers nervously along her hair with every stroke her fingers trembled with fear. I could almost hear her heart beat with every deep breath that she inhales. It was quiet in my room no one made any sound. The only sound was the ticking off the clock. With every tick, with every beat of our hearts, we knew that time is passing by. We must do something, anything.

“I think I know who we should call “I was happy to her say that. There was hope. There was a chance .

“Adeline, call Edmund “was the last thing that Valiy said before she fell into sleep. Call who again?