Asher sat on a sofa taking out his usual diary. The brown leather shined as he wrote, his sleeves folded up to his elbows.
Dear Cindery,
I'm full of you even when I'm without you. You've no idea how desperate my eyes were to glance at you and admire your beauty. Though you think you're not beautiful but have you ever tried to look at yourself with my sight? You say, " Eyes can't lie." But have you ever tried to read mine? Or you're afraid of discovering something unusual. Although, you sometimes feel insecure about your light-brown complexion but you're indeed the brightest shining star in my life-and I hope you will.
From bottom of my heart,
words that are never enough,
My love-first and the last.
He closed the diary and put into the aside drawer, he stood up and begin viewing the files on table. Suddenly, the turbulent, gusty wind blew which forced the files on the table to flip their pages rapidly. Her features contorted into a grimace as her head thrashed against the cushion. Asher furrowed his brows and ran to close the glass windows.
She shouted, "No, No!" Asher knelt down and held her hands, rubbing them with warmth. The floor was covered with the papers. Her feet started thrashing and kicking, her face became red and vessels went green.
"Cindery, "I'm here. I need you," He wiped the perspiration repeating his words. Back forth, her eyes fluttered open as breathed heavily. He pressed a glass of water against her lips, she drank with her hands trembling, requiring his hand to help her. He wiped her drenched body; she rested her forehead against her fist and muttered.
"Again, it overcame you. No next time again. Are you listening?"
"Yes, I am" A naive voice replied
"May I ask... What happened?" He enquired.
"Not now," She took the towel from the cupboard and recoiled for the shower, seeking solace of the water. As she came out, the wet, sandalwood smell filled the air with infatuation. He took out the hairdryer and plugged it into the socket. She rested her head on his lap as he patted her hair dry.
He shook her hairs and combed, while drying them.
"You can sleep if you want... I won't be moving," He reassured.
"Humph," If you knew what I saw, she murmured more to herself than him, "you won't be able to sleep for weeks."
"Tell me, if you want. Or else whenever you're comfortable."
"I saw nothing but my own death" This came from the experience of her childhood. Her aunt tried to choke her to death.
She narrated, " I was sleeping. With all exhaustion, I couldn't know who's around. She blocked my breath with the pillow, until a sudden knock-on door saved my life." She waved her hand on her hairs, with her face distorted.
"I don't know who was it. Probably, someone from my wicked uncles circle but proved to life- saving for me"
"From that day on I had these dreams"
"Don't you try to forget?" He asked.
"Forget?" She smirked, "I can't forget things that I want to- may be never" He held her hands and approached her head with compassion.
"You know when we were away from each other, there wasn't a day passed without me seeing your number to call you. My ears agonised to hear your voice. I came up with an idea"
He pulled out his phone and played a recording of her voice from different pieces of memories.
"This made me feel you every day even when we were apart."
"So, you missed me? Didn't you?"
"We miss the people we forget, but you reside here," he pointed towards his left side of his chest.
"Essence of this was, although I can't be with you every time but if anyone's presence make you feel comfortable, then you should step towards them. Sometimes, comfort zones are essential for survival"
"Don't fret, dear! I am not so naive to die due to a mere dream I had for years. It's like home to me." He sighed as he knew she understood his point but is in denial phase.
The phone rang.
"Hello! Any updates?" Cindery asked. As she took the phone, Asher moved his ear closer to her mobile.
"I've found, from where the embezzlement of fund took place? They didn't even know how to hide the loop holes." Asher pulled her hand, to get the phone closer, their face on a distance less than few centimetres.
"Same, I've checked the documents you sent. It seemed like someone intentionally left the traces. Someone's knitting a big hole to trap us in. Come over, we'll discuss. we've got insights and clues."