I woke up with a huge headache in the morning. Then I came to know this is not my usual morning. Then my phone beside me started ringing. I picked it up
'Hi Harlow'
'Hello '
'I am your boxing coach Mr. Walt . I noticed that you and Gemma didn't attend class yesterday and today . can I know why?'
Then it came crashing down to me. Yesterday Gemma's disappearance- Mrs. Jones. that's the reason I woke up in Gemma's room.
'Harlow Harlow are you there?'
'Sorry , yes Mr. Walt I am here. Actually, Gemma is missing since yesterday morning .Please if out find anything helpful please contact me.'
'OH, you poor soul. Stay strong we will find her. Don't worry.'
'Yes Mr. Walt . I'll talk to you later.'
I cut the phone and got ready to go the police station. I got dressed in a blue hoodie and jeans. I went to the police station. Everything about my lifestyle reminds me of Gemma .The car , the apartment even small things remind me of her. I drove to the police station and spotted Mrs. Jones in there. I went to her
"Mrs. Jones did you find anything about Gemma?" I asked her.
"Didn't she return yet? " Mrs. Jones asked .
"no" I said with tears in my eyes.
"Do you have her photo?" Mrs. Jones asked.
I showed her Gemma's photo from my phone . she took my phone and gave to a man and said 'check it'. She asked me to sit in a chair. She sat beside me.
"Listen Harlow we will give you an apartment to shift into. You will be safe there. You need to move out of your house first . if you stay there you will be always sad remembering Gemma .So, I myself will find you a good neighborhood."
No no this is not right she is speaking like Gemma will never return again. I'm sure she will. I know she will come back . I told Mrs. Jones about the note and she nodded her head. The man who took my phone came back and said 'yes mam' to Mrs. Jones . she looked towards me and spoke
"Harlow please think of me as your mother and please do what I say . I am going to come with you now to your apartment and ill help you pack. You are going to shift to the apartment I chose for you ok?"
If it was any other person I wouldn't have accepted the offer. But Mrs. Jones really treated me like her daughter .
"What if Gemma comes back and couldn't find me?" I asked Mrs. Jones .
She looked at me with her blue orbs pity dropping from them and said " I am sure she is will consult the police if she couldn't find you"
Mrs. Jones made a new hope rise in me . Gemma will surely come back and we will meet again . with that new found hope I went home and packed each of mine and Gemma's belongings . I went out taking a last look at my apartment remembering all the memories I had with Gemma there.
I went with Mrs. Jones and she showed me another apartment which is kind of similar to my old one but more luxurious. I turned towards Mrs. Jones and spoke
" I don't think I can afford this"
She smiled at me and said "I have paid the rent for a year you don't have to worry about that."
To say that I was shocked would be an understatement .
"You don't have to do this Mrs. Jones "
" I want to" she said.
That made me want to hug her. I ran towards her and hugged her tight and cried hard. Not because of Gemma because of the affection she is showing towards me. After I had calmed down she told me
"You have amazing neighbors on the left you have Ivy she is almost same age as you. She works at the software company as the project manager. On the right you have Phoebe who is like a bit older than you but she is an amazing company. I live in the end of the street .if you need anything don't hesitate to come. If you need any advice you know where to find me my husband jones is a very good listener."
I saw the twinkle in her eyes when she was talking about her husband. I want that kind of love but I am very poor at making friends love is out of the topic.
"Thank you Mrs. Jones " I said
"And Harlow I need you to quit the job at the café . I spoke to the librarian he could use a hand in the library . the library is right Infront of your apartment and timings and pay are the same as café ones"
"You are doing a lot to me Mrs. Jones . I don't know how to repay you"
"You don't have to" she said and got of the door.
I was confused . why is Mrs. Jones doing all this for me? And how the hell did she know about my timings and pay at the café. The only convincing explanation is that she is a cop she might have done some research on me. I kept on wondering if I had taken right decision or not. The job at the library sounds good I love books. I am more than happy to work at the library . coming to my neighbors I need some time before I start socializing again. I need to concentrate on something to get my mind of Gemma. I thin studies might be the perfect distraction. But first I need to start unpacking. I started unpacking and I kept all my belongings in my room and all Gemma's belongings in another room . the thought if living alone is giving me chills. I need to start my boxing practice again . the house is huge . it has 4 bedrooms and a living room and a kitchen along with 3 balconies. I turned one room as my bedroom and one as Gemma's . one room is made as my study room and other is left like that. I thought of making it as a guest room but why the waste of time when no guests visits? I am going to start a new life again but it feels different this time.