Epicenter

4. Gone, gone, gone

The earthquake took a little piece of every person with it. The people in New York seemed to be relieved. Most of them were reassured that the worst was gone. But the world works in strange ways. Just when you feel happy and think that bad times are gone, something so devious strikes, leaving you heart broken all over again. It's like a chain of events that govern every human's life. Bad times and good times, happiness and sadness, goodbyes and hellos.

The sun shone brightly the next day. The cover of clouds that overpowered the sky from the previous night disappeared all together. There was a strange, almost ominous calm hanging over New York. Almost like the calm before the approach of another storm.

Scarlet sat in the living room, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. Her heartbeat grew faster whenever she heard a car pull up in the street at the front. Her hopes rising again, for Dean. But each time they were shattered. Finally someone knocked at the door. Jumping up she ran to get the door. Somehow she was convinced that Dean would be standing outside. So when she found Andrew standing at the door, she couldn't hide the flash of disappointment on her face. Andrew on the other hand was too lost to notice any of that.

"I am sorry," he said looking at the ground.

"Andrew," Scarlet said softly. "For what?"

"I am sorry for not being there for you during this. I was so busy swimming in the waves of guilt and depression that I did not even consider how hard this must be on you. I did not even ask about Dean when I saw he was not there with you this morning," he still did not look up.

"Hey, I understand. And all this is not your fault. Come in first." Andrew headed in and stood across Scarlet.

"Look this is a hard time for both of us and the least we can do is stand beside each other," taking Andrew's hand.

"I know," he said vigilantly. "I just have so much guilt over Jen that it is impossible for me to think of anything else," he looked up now. Scarlet saw his blood shot eyes and his face drained of its colour. She knew that he had been crying all this while. She felt terribly bad for him. She felt so helpless at that moment. All she could do was go up to him and put her arms around her.

*

Veronica looked around the park she was at. Taking in all the destruction that surrounded her. Her husband's death was the only thing going through her mind, and all the destruction seemed so minimal to her loss. She moved her hand up to her neck, her hands clutching the pendant she wore. It was the shape of a broken heart. The shimmering gold reflected the rays of the sun. Memories of James came rushing back to her. The memories of their first date when James had gifted this piece to her. It was his way of being with her through everything. The other half of the heart was kept by James. Both of them vowed to each other to keep this with them at all times, as long as they were together. Now after ten years, Veronica still felt it was her most prized possession.

A faint rumble shook the bench she sat on, breaking her train of thoughts. Aware of what was coming she rushed to make her way out of the desolate park. Resounding thunder burst through the place and a blanket of black clouds roofed her. Soon after rain came pouring down. Veronica ran to get out of the park but the faint rumble now became violent making it impossible for her to move. The movement toppled the concrete benches and the trees started moving from its rooted position. The large fountain in between the park split in between and the water flowed out. The sprinklers lost their direction and blew water everywhere. The path she stood on shook vigorously and after some time it cracked, leaving Veronica trapped.

*

The commotion all around woke up Tessa from her sleep. Oblivious to everything around her, she opened her eyes. The white ceiling above her was the first thing she saw. She was dizzy from the hurt in her head and looked around to make sense out of the situation. Her hands moved towards her head and she felt band aid wrapped all around. Everyone around her were busy running about. She couldn't make out what was happening around her. The ground moved. She tried to stand up but the pipes taped to her hands held her back.