Mind Games

Chapter 12 - Nick

Nick checked his phone again.

No response from her. To his calls or his texts. Neither was there any activity on her social media accounts.

He looked out of the cab window as it drove him back home.

He couldn't help feeling worried about her.

Usually, if she was pissed at him, she would rant until it was all out of her system. It wasn't like her to give him the silent treatment.

Besides, he hadn't done anything to piss her off. When she told him she wanted to end it she didn't sound angry. Just resigned.

No, he didn't want to end it.

He didn't know if he could give her the future she wanted, but he believed he would figure that out with her. If only she would respond.

On impulse, he decided to go to her apartment.

She didn't respond to the door.

He rang the bell again. Then knocked.

He couldn't hear a sound from within her apartment. Of course on any given day she would be at work at this hour. But he was beginning to wonder if she was sick.

Now the apprehension he felt about her grew.

He leaned his head against her door, seriously considering going to her office. That would be weird, but at least it would give him an idea of what had happened to her.

"Hey buddy. You looking for someone?"

He turned to see a guy of about twenty behind him, looking at him curiously. He twirled his apartment keys on his finger. Pointing at the adjacent door he said, "I live here."

Nick turned to him. "I'm looking for a friend who stays here. I've been trying to get in touch with her over the past week but she isn't responding and... well... I got worried... she could be sick... or something..."

He realised he was blabbing, and trailed off.

The young guy looked at him sympathetically. "So, you haven't heard?"

Nick frowned. "No... what...?"

"She committed suicide man. By the time the cops got here she was dead for a couple of days at least. In the bath tub. We could get the stink..." He looked away.

Nick felt a chill run through him. No, this couldn't be. She was always there for him. She couldn't be gone forever.

An inexplicable wave of loneliness washed over him.

And with it... was it regret? And guilt?

He could've made her life better. Made her happy. But he was selfish. He used her as and when he needed her.

He felt tears well up and he rapidly blinked them away.

Muttering a thanks to the guy, he walked away.

He felt numb as the cab pulled away and took him back home.

Home? What home?

The woman he called his wife, who he never really loved.

And the woman he loved... he never even admitted to himself that he loved her. He was such an asshole!

As the realisation of her death sunk in, with it grew a desperation that there was nothing he could do about it now. It was too late.

He wondered what made her do it. Was it him? Would she kill herself just for him?

Surely not. She was so much more practical than that. So much more intelligent than he ever was. So much more stronger than he ever could be.

So why would she do it?

He swiped at his eyes as the cab pulled up at his drive. He lugged his bags out and paid the driver, trying to compose himself.

His phone buzzed.

Amy: Welcome home, big guy. Let me see you later ;)

He ignored the message. He never did like Amy. Too intrusive. He had installed the app out of sheer boredom. He made a mental note to uninstall it later.

As he started to bend down to pick up his bags, he saw a woman get out of a car parked opposite his house.

Something about her made him look twice.

A vague memory of a picture came back to him. A display picture of her and Jenny.

Disquiet filled him as he watched Jenny's mom walk calmly towards him.

What was she doing here?

Had Jenny told her about him?

But what was she doing here anyway?

He threw a nervous glance back at his house, but didn't see his wife or son around.

He forced a polite smile on his face as he turned back to the woman.

Her face was blank. Her hands were buried deep in the pockets of her coat.

She stopped a few feet before him.

His smile wavered. He tried to say hello but the word wouldn't come out.

"You killed my daughter, you bastard." She said, viciously.

He opened his mouth in shock. He wanted to say something... anything... but he couldn't find the words.

The next few seconds zipped by in a flash.

When the shot rang out and slammed into him, he was too surprised to react.

As he crashed to the ground and the world blacked out, he heard Ryan scream, "Dad!!! No!!!!"