Chapter 6
The group of men froze in confusion.
“What do you mean? Didn’t a young woman move in here a month ago??
“She looked like this!”
They showed the neighbor a photo of me, but she shook her head, her denial sharp
“I know her. She’s the beautiful neighbor in the building next door. Ever since her husband passed away, I haven’t seen her around. Are you friends of hers?”
The men’s faces fell as realization dawned and they q
quickly pulled the neighbor aside to press for answers.
“What are you talking about? Her husband is alive and well! How could he be dead? Are you being paid to make up this story?”
They raised their voices, shouting at the neighbor’s door
Thinking I was hiding there, they attempted to barge in
The neighbor tried to stop them, but her resistance was no match for their determination.
“You guys really are something You don’t even know where your friend lives. You don’t care about the fact that her husband died. How ridiculous!”
The neighbor’s words rang out, but the men paid no head. Ignoring her attempts to pull them back, they tore through the house, searching every corner. When they found nothing, they called for a locksmith.
They were convinced I was still hiding in the house Sebastian had rented for me.
One of them grumbled bitterly to the neighbor, “I’ve never seen a woman so dramatic. If it wasn’t for Sebastian, I would’ve left long ago!” –
But the neighbor wasn’t having it.
“Are you sure you’re her friends?” she shot back. “I’m certain she never moved in. You should check her real home. What if something happened to her while she was alone?”
The neighbor squinted, then slapped his forehead in sudden realization.X
“The last time I saw her, she was sorting through new wedding items. I heard her husband died. It was so sad. Just looking at those photo albums and wedding pictures, you could tell they had such a strong bond. What a shame!”
The men fell silent, knowing how much I had treasured every moment with Sebastian.!
Even when he jokingly used a soda can pull tab as a ring. I’d cherished it like a priceless gem, storing it in a fancy box as though it were the most precious thing in the world.X
The moment the neighbor revealed that I had discarded over ten bags filled with memories of our time together, the men’s faces fell. A realization dawned upon them: something was terribly wrong.
Just as the locksmith arrived and quickly opened the door, the group rushed in, only to find the house as empty and lifeless as a forgotten dream.
Everything was just as they and Sebastian had left it. The lilies in the vase, once vibrant and full of life, now drooped, their petals withered and their fragrance long gone.
The musty, stale air hung thick in the room, the scent of neglect and stagnation seeping into the walls
The men stood frozen, their faces draining of color
Kenneth Johnson, the leader of the group, reached for his phone, dialing Sebastian without hesitation.
Sebastian, busy at the hotel checking the wedding venue, saw his phone buzzing uncontrollably. His eyelids twitched nervously, his stomach tightening with unease.”
Reluctantly, he answered the call.
“Sebastian, something’s wrong..”
Before Kenneth could finish, he was cut off.
“Spit! It’s a joyous day; speak auspicious words!
Kenneth, almost on the verge of tears, gathered his shaky courage
“Sebastian, Brianna never moved in. And… I heard from your neighbor that she threw away everything from your six years of love: photo albums, wedding pictures… everything!”