The Man In A Fedora

Chapter 24: Never Really Over

12/23/2019

"I'm waiting for you in my office. Don't be late."

An unexpected message from Norman appeared on my screen.
It wasn't the best place to have a meeting.
And him using the text message to inform me about it was unusual.
Not that I hated the location but I just was not feeling it. That place was not our sacred oasis, and I thought Norman could understand that.
I tried to call him to ask about it but no one answered. The only way of finding it out was to go visit him.
And so I tied my shoelaces and got out of the apartment.
I checked the clock before I left.
It was around 7 P.M.
I didn't know he worked till night.
His door was already opened when I got there.
I prayed it wouldn't end up being some of those cliche ass surprises where they cover the room with candles and roses.

But the view that I saw when I pushed
the door open was terrifying

"What happened?!" I asked, with a terrified look on my face. I looked at Norman's body lying on the floor.

Wiping away the blood that's streaming down his lips
"Fedora guy, I think he's back." he said.

My whole world turned black for a second. It felt like a bullet right into the heart. I had so much to think of that I didn't know what to think.

Walking closer to him
"What? How?" I said. My words gained their own free will for a moment and I let them out.

"He came here. He looked just like the man you had described." Norman said,picking his shattered glasses up from the ground.

I lost the control of my entire body.
I didn't know how to feel.
My emotions were in a war.
My legs started to shake so much that I gave up and fell to my knees.
And I reached out to Norman's face.
It wasn't covered with blood but his lower lip was bleeding and it was swollen.

Stuttering terribly
"D- did he do that to you?" I asked.

He nodded.
Looking at him I could see he wasn't in a serious physical pain but his pride was hurt.

Harold wouldn't do that.
He would never interfere with time.
Or, would he?
I wasn't so sure anymore.
Maybe I couldn't see who he really was.

I grabbed a napkin from my handbag and
"Where did he go?" I asked, trying to hide the sour-happy face that kept appearing on my face.

Part of me was excited and happy to have him back but the other part was angry, pissed and disappointed.

Locking his eyes on mine
"I- I don't know." he said. They were filled with disappointment and sadness.

I moved the napkin closer to his lips and tried to clean the blood.
My tears started to drop on his shirt as I leaned forward to do it.

Wiping my tears away
"Why are you crying?" he asked.

Grabbing his hand to put it down
"You should know better than I." I said.
Then I sat right next to him.
"Tell me what happened."

Twenty minutes ago

Norman walked back to his office to pack his stuff up before he leaves.
He could see a man waiting for him inside,sitting on his office chair backwards.

"Excuse me. I don't remember another appointment today. Who are you?" he said, walking inside.

The office chair turned around, revealing the person sitting on it.

Norman froze for a second,the man seemed familiar. Especially the oldfashion fedora on top of his head.
He got chills all over his body.