Antipodes

Prologue

Ellen didn't sleep for weeks now. She was always dreading his night calls. She didn't know who he was and she never heard his voice but she just felt like it was someone she knew, or someone who knew her. Or at least someone who knew something about her, he wouldn't bother else way. He? What if it was a woman? Either way, she felt constantly anxious, like something bad could happen at any moment. Something bad already happened. What could be worse than the loss of a child? 

Her husband was lying on the bed beside her, sleeping. He seemed less concerned by all of this. She wondered how he could sleep after all that happened. Something deep down inside her heart hoped that she would feel "normal" again but she was afraid. She was afraid to forget about him. The constant pain reminded her of him, of all the good things about him. And somewhat, she was comforted in her pain. She would never forget the day she heard the doorbell. She opened the door, saw the two man in their uniforms and she knew. She did not cry, she smiled because she already felt it coming.

The phone ringing on her bedside pulled her out of her thoughts. She rolled on her side and picked up quickly in order not to wake her husband. She decided to say nothing. He never said nothing so why would she? The silent contest lasted a few minutes when she began to hear a nervous breath. He was crying. He.

"I'm sorry", said the voice on the line and her eyes widened. "I'm so sorry", he repeated. She didn't know what to say, she just stayed there with her mouth half opened looking for words to keep him on the line.

"Who are you?", she whispered. But he hung up. She sighed and hang up the phone.

She then tried to sleep but she couldn't.  So she got up and went downstairs to the kitchen. She prepared a cup of tea and started reading her book -his book actually- where she left it. She got so absorbed by her reading that she did not hear the felted steps coming her way. 

"Honey", said the sleepy voice of her husband. She raised her head and closed the book not without bookmarking the pages with her index. 

"I'm sorry, did I wake you up?"

"Come back to sleep", he told her, not answering her question.

"I can't sleep", she smiled.

"He called again, didn't he? Should I call the police?" he asked.

"He said he was sorry".

"For what?"

"He didn't tell. He was... crying I believe. I feel like I know him", she added. Her husband sighed.

"You should really stop reading this book".

"I love it and it was Tyler's favourite", she said with a sad smile on her face.

"I know".

"The strongest of all warriors are these two - Time and Patience", she said quoting the book. "It was his favourite quote of all time. What a sad irony of fate !"