FOREST OF THE LOST

PART TEN

15.

Five days, five whole days, gone in an instant more or less. Terrance's wanderings down to the town park for him took no more than three quarters of an hour, there and back. For Mary, she hadn't seen him in five days and with how they had been getting on with each other since their first meeting, she feared the worst to the extent that police broke into his home to ensure something bad hadn't happened to him within that new home of his.

Boarding, dead bolts and police tape unfortunately replaced the presence of his front door. That can be fixed so that is not a problem. Not just missing two or three hours but five days, this is a big jump, a big leap in time, and yeah, it is a problem. Terrence can however be glad of the fact that he has someone to look out for him, still the events of what are only a few days for him and a week and a few days in actuality, is worrying to say the least.

Since police have been called out, they require a statement from Terrence regarding his whereabouts and as to why he was 'missing' for five days. Yeah, he is an adult, and he can go and do whatever he wants whenever he wants within reason, though some sort of reasoning to explain recent events would still be nice. What could he tell them other than the truth while stating that his mental health could be behind what is happening to him? In all honesty, he more than feels that what he is experiencing is real. Sure, he doesn't feel any kind of wear and tear that being missing for five days would bring. He isn't tired, isn't hurt, so what the hell?

A suggestion has been made that he should seek out professional help, and a caution is also offered as Terrence is informed that a severe storm is forecast to occur over the next couple of days. Once details are sorted with police and so on, Terrence invites Mary for coffee down at the town café. She readies herself as he organizes repair work to his door.

'So' she says as Mary and Terence take the same seats in the café that they had the last time they were there. 'You only went to the park, and you were gone five days?'

'Yeah, ... no. I don't know. If anyone other than me knows that there is something not right with that place that would be you. I left you after returning from our excursions then went for a walk and what was forty-five minutes for me was five days from your perspective.'

'Yeah well, it is crazy, and I am the queen of crazy. I believe you, so what now?'

'Prepare for this storm I guess, and be thankful I'm not being locked away somewhere for my own safety.'

'If I were to go and spend the next couple of days with family, see out the storm with them, will you be alright?'

'Of course, I will. I won't do anything silly; I promise.'

'Good ... I believe you.'

'I'll be fine and don't worry if phone networks go down and we aren't able to reach each other. I will be home waiting until the storm passes, and I'll be there until you arrive back.'

'Are things alright with us ... as in what we got up to on our way home the other day?'

'Yeah, I hope so. Things are good my end, apart from going missing that is' Terrence reaches for and holds one of Mary's hands knowing what the word 'missing' means to her and half thinking that their get together may not have been a wise move.

'My brother ... could he be missing to ... time? What could that mean from here on in?'

'We don't know ... for right now, it'll have to be safety first ...'

Coffee is downed; 'see you soon' and 'goodbyes' are swapped. Mary then begins to make her way to stay with family and Terrence goes storm prep shopping. It is safe to say that for the rest of the day, Terrence finds it more than a little difficult to think of anything else other than the park, Mary, and the upcoming storm ... probably all in that order too.