A Love Lost Through Worlds

Chapter 1: Viewpoint-Charlotte Osborne

I looked over to see his face smiling back at me. If only I could even question whether this was real, I know it's just a dream. After that night, no one even knows whether he is alive or not. It's been 3 years, I should just give up hope but I want to believe he's still out there somewhere. As I sat up in bed and turned to the birds chirping at my windowsill I couldn't help but wonder where he would have gone. I have to stop thinking about this. I clenched my hair in fists and curled into a ball as memories of that night flooded into my head. Every time I think about this, those awful memories return. Let me ask you this: Have you ever watched the one you love...disappear? Flashes of his horrified face come into my mind. If only I could move in that moment, I could've saved him. The feeling of being frozen while he disappeared clawed at my heart. Why didn't I do anything then? I...I could've saved the one love, but I was frozen. Tears streamed down my face. The same dream every night, for 3 years, and the same crying routine every morning.

The buzzing of my alarm brought me back to reality. I sluggishly got out of bed and walked into the bathroom. I looked into the mirror at my tear-stained face and tried to force a smile. As I looked at the reflection of myself I thought, how awful. I can actually force myself to smile, why should I smile? I was frozen in fear while the one I love disappeared, I almost gave up on hope of his return, I attended his funeral. I looked away with disgust for my reflection. The steaming water running against my skin felt refreshing, I looked down at my wrists. Cuts. Right, I had done that last week. My mind keeps getting overtaken by feelings of guilt and regret, pushing me to do these things. I washed the skin on my wrists, careful to avoid irritating the wound. Reaching for the shampoo I saw the scar on my thigh, where a piece of rubble had hit me 3 years ago. 3 years ago... Why do I think of that time so often? It was when I lost him but...why else? Was there something I missed? I doubt it... I turned off the shower and exited the steaming bathroom.

I looked in the mirror after getting dressed. The cuts are covered, and so is the scar. Now just to smile and everything can be hidden. I felt the corners of my mouth drift upward as I forced a smile onto my face, it felt so wrong but I knew I had to push down all my feelings. I have to carry on and wait for his return.

My house keys jingled as I walked out of the door and locked my apartment. I waved for a cab once I got downstairs.

"Where to, miss?"

"The Oak Branch Bank Group on Whitney Boulevard please."

Looking out the window, I almost lost myself in thought again until the cab driver suddenly spoke up.

"We arrived, miss."

"Oh, thank you."

I took in a deep breath as I walked up to the building, knowing I was late. How am I going to avoid our boss this time?

"Hey Charlotte! In case your wondering how to deal with our boss, he's on a business trip this week."

"Wow, how did you know? I was just thinking that."

"No, I was just thinking of the exact thing until I saw this email."

She pulled up an email form our boss on her phone.

"Oh, I didn't see that this morning."

Silence.

Then I turned to her to see why she wasn't responding, only to see her staring upward in shock. I mean, I don't blame her, if I had seen that before her, I would've had the same reaction. We both stood there, shocked.