A Break Apart

CHAPTER 39. Peace

Talk to him. When do you plan on talking to him? You should talk to him. Talk to him. Talk to him—was all that kept ringing in my head since it was the only thing everyone kept saying to me.

"Ouch!" I quickly dropped the knife.
Mum left the meat she was washing in the sink and rushed over to the island where I stood.

"What happened?" she asked.

I turned to her, holding out my thumb that now had a cut spilling out blood.

"Let me see." She took the injured hand in hers.

"Ow." I winced when she touched it. "Careful."

"Oh, dear. What were you thinking? Follow me." She walked out of the kitchen and I strolled behind her, sucking the wound like a vampire.

I sat on her bed while she opened her wardrobe and took out a first aid kit, which she then brought over. She cleaned up the injury and dressed it nicely with a bandage, and then she got up from the bed to put the kit back in her wardrobe.

"Can I borrow your car?" I asked.

She paused midway, then turned to me with a suspicious look. "And where to?"

"It's about William," I started, and her face lit up on hearing his name. "I think I'm ready to talk to him."

"Wow, finally!" She hurried back to the bed, put the kit on the floor and gave me a tight hug.

"Hey!" I put my injured hand away to avoid more damage, and she pulled away, smiling helplessly.

"So... the car keys?" I said.

"It's on the vanity," she replied in a hurry.

"Thanks, Mummy." I hugged her briefly, with the unaffected arm, and then I went for the keys.

"Wish me luck," I said after I grabbed it, heading for the door.

She chuckled. "You don't need luck, honey."

I turned around with a smile. "Thanks. See you soon."

"Take care, dear."

"I will!" I stepped out and closed her door.

                             ××××

I got out of the car, took a deep breath and walked to his front door. After hesitating a few times, I knocked. No response came. I knocked again. Still nothing.

"Hello," I called, and no one answered. I then held the door knob, twisted, pushed, and discovered that it was locked. "Oh," I said, disappointed.

The gym was my second option, so I walked back to the car. I wouldn't have been so clueless and stressing so much over his whereabouts if his phone wasn't switched off. I kept trying his line while I drove, getting the same response from the robotic voice at the other end. My stomach churned from the negative thoughts that started to creep inside my mind.

My hope was crushed yet again when I entered the gym. I heaved a sigh and walked to a guy who was helping out a lady with a workout machine.

"Uh, excuse me," I said.

He turned around. "Good day, ma'am."

"Sorry..." I looked over his shoulder at the lady whose session I had just interrupted.

"No problem." She smiled, not minding at all.

"How may I help you?" the muscled guy asked, and I focused on him.

"Oh, sorry. Pardon my manners. Good day. Uh, I'm here to see William," I said, hoping to hear anything other than the obvious fact of his absence in the gym.