Connecting

Chapter 36

The sea producing small waves, the sand getting slightly wet, the sun setting that seems like the sea is eating it up. Melissa stared as the sun slowly set and darkness engulfing her alone soul in the middle of the beach. Arms crossed, face furrowed, and lips in a thin line, she sighed. A lot of things are in her mind, she doesn't know what to do or say. Just a few days ago, she was very happy and then suddenly he will call and say offensive words and threaten her. It has been two days since he called and Chris doesn't know anything, he keeps asking but would eventually stop when he sees worry, fear, sadness, and nervousness in Melissa's eyes. Melissa looked up and saw no stars she sighed once again and thought, "I only have a day before we fly back home, I don't know what to do. What should I do, dad?" Tears started streaming down her face.

Chris was looking for her. Then he saw her golden blonde hair at the middle of the beach, looking up the sky. He knows he should give her some space but he doesn't know why and from where. He wants to protect her, he wants to be with her and to love her. He walked slowly to go near her but he didn't went near enough to be able to hear if she is saying anything. They stayed that way for a few minutes.

Chris spoke loudly, "It's getting cold. I think we should go inside." Melissa wiped her eyes before looking back and nodded without saying a word. Once they are inside the room, Chris offered a cup of tea.

Melissa looked at the cup with question in her face, but still took it. Chris shrugged and said, "You don't drink coffee but I figured maybe tea is better than coffee."

Melissa nodded and muttered a, "Thank you."

The night was silent for the both of them, unlike any other night they've spent. Chris is moving around the room, fixing some stuff because they only have tomorrow and tomorrow night, they will be flying back home and go back to work. Melissa was just sitting near the window, still looking up the sky.

Chris couldn't handle not talking anymore so he started talking, "The sky doesn't have stars but don't you think it's still pretty nice in this place?"

"It is," Melissa finally spoke, looking at Chris who is now looking at her. Her eyes are puffy, Chris noticed, but he didn't say anything about it. "But stars are what I look forward every night. They give life and light to the dark skies." Chris knew she has a different meaning for that.

Chris nodded and took a sit near her. "Like the people we lost?" Melissa looked at him and smiled weakly.

"Like the people we lost." Melissa replied and looked back at the sky. "Who did you lose, Chris?"

"I've lost a lot, too," Chris said with a sad smile on his face. "Some, not really, they are still here, but not here in this world for me. My ex-girlfriend that I loved, the one who left me. My grandfather, who left me when I was a child. A child who didn't know he won't come back. He's my idol, I grew up with him and he taught me things and gave me advices when I was still little. I won't be Chris without him."

Melissa looked at him with sad eyes. "I'm sorry," she placed the cup on top of the table and looked at her hands. "The stars... I imagine that they are the people that I love who are gone now. I look up every night, praying to see the stars and smile at them and... just talk to them as if they are here with me. During tough days, I go out and wait for the stars to show up, then I'll talk to them and ask for advices. Unfortunately, there are days that they don't show up.\

Chris looked at her and grabbed her hands and placed them on the table then place his on top of her's. "Even if there are no stars tonight, you can still talk to them, anytime. You can talk to them through prayers," Chris smiled, hoping she would look at him, which she did. "Then, if you are comfortable enough, if you just need to, I am here. I will always listen to whatever it is."

Melissa sighed. She should tell Chris. "I.. I don't know how to say this but... the one who called the other day... that was Blake," Chris was surprised at first but then angry. Before he was able to say anything, Melissa stopped him. "Let me talk first, please. So, he called and talked to me... he said some mean, offensive words, I'm not surprised though. Only this time, he threaten me. He told me to stop investigating him and trying to arrest him. He told me to stop you and the whole team, the whole department or else..."

Chris is listening intently to her. "Or else...?" He asked.

Melissa sighed and looked down. "Or else he will keep calling me and remind me of the days that he hurts me. He will call me during a specific time that when we were together, he would come over to just hurt me. If I don't stop..." Melissa looked up to Chris with tears in her eyes. Chris's heart broke at the sight. "If I don't stop, he will look for me and hurt me like how he did before." Melissa broke. She cried on Chris's shoulder.

Chris just rubbed her back, not knowing what to do. "Hey, it's okay. We will find a way, he won't be able to hurt you again. He won't be able to talk to you again, I won't let him."

Melissa is bawling, she doesn't want to be treated the way she was treated before. She doesn't want to be reminded of the days that she was treated that day, those days that she was helpless, those days that she was at the hands of the maddest man in the world.

She cried herself to sleep that night, Chris couldn't do anything but to show his presence and try to comfort her in any way that he can. Before he sleep, he whispered on Melissa's ears. "I will never let him hurt you again. I will never let anyone hurt you. From now on, I will be the one protecting you, no one can hurt you, Melissa. You've been hurt too much and for too long. I love you. I want you to be happy."