Angela was in a different world since the day she learnt that her sister was missing all of a sudden. She ran up and down looking for her in the neighborhood but could not find her.She was inconsolable and no amount of soothing was able to restore her. Claire was her best friend, her confidant, her happiness and someone very important than just a mere sister. She tried to look for her phone but never found it. The grief and despondency increased even more when she tried to call her number and found that it did not go through.
It seemed like Claire went away with her appetite to eat. She felt sick and weary of crying. Her phone nor her television set was not in a position to be the right solace. In her world, even sitting and staring at the whole increased restlessness. Nothing made sense to her and she cursed whoever had caused that havoc in her life. In the midnight, after all the attempt to find Claire had failed ,she opted for the final solution. A solution that would at least grant her some hope and to help find Claire. She went out to the police station to report the incidence.
Without calling for any assistance, she got out of the gates of the Golden Oak Residency. Scary and dark night was not a deterrent to the police station. She blundered and walked in the darkness like a drunken man. Tears blurring her vision even further, she made humming sobs as she walked. Only a meagre of energy steadied her as she made her clumsily in the darkness.
" Help! Help please!" she cried deeply and desperately upon reaching the police station and seeing the officers at the reporting desk.
"She got lost! I don't know. She is no where to be seen. Help me officer! " she continued in protest.
The police found it difficult to calm her down and extract the relevant information for writing the statement. She finally was able to give them them what was required and by the information, the police were even more puzzled. One officer noted with concern, another case where a middle aged woman, was shot dead in a car not many metres away from the home of this madam. A casual and informal consensus was reached that the two criminal happenings , must have been performed by the same culprits. A more brutal abd intense search was initiated and the crew that was first investigating the murder case, was charged with the recent information.
Angela was not in a mood to understand the situation. By the time she was done with the station, and having been persuaded so much by the officers to let them take her back home, she finally gave in. Two constables and a female officer who was to drive, urge her to get into the Land Rover and drove back to her home.
Inside the car, Angela couldn't help creating pictures and situations of how her world had turned so cruel to her. She recalled how Angela always smiled to her during her worst moments. She remembered how she had warned her out of her love for her, to distance herself from the so called love from the vagabond Claire called Kelly. She remembered that day when she had regretted buying her the phone she was using. She wondered with a pang of bitterness in her, whether Kelly could be behind this. Why didn't Claire briefed her of her departure? Why did she failed to use her intelligence and instincts to stay way from such people as Kelly?
All these questions were brought to a halt when the vehicle braked just before the Golden Oak Residency. It's bright light beamed on the shinning wording on the gate and for a moment, She was reminded that she was back home. Angela did not want to believe he was going to stay alone this night. It was just some few hours before day break and she would have to know how and why Claire lost. She thought with a relief, that the next day was a weekend and she would have to stay instead of going to work.
"Remember to take care of yourself sister!" The female officer reminded with compassion.
" It's all taken care of. Don't worry. There was a case of murder within your neighborhood and we suspect that the suspect are responsible for the missing of your sister. With that we are fiercely behind the one who did it. " The one of the police police officers promised confidently. As the car tuned it's way back , the last officer assured. " Claire would be found okay!"
Angela did not know who to reply in particular but muttered a shattered " It's okay!" amidst her tears. She braced herself as she opened the gate into the estate. The gateman who wondered with fear, where she was going earlier on, was still there at his booth beside the gate. She quickly glanced at him without concern and marched towards the lighting in front of her house. She stood there for a moment before she made the decision to get into her house. She hoped that Claire had come back and was waiting for her inside the house.
Before she swung the door open , she was stopped by the gateman who had followed her and was calling her. She turned to look at him and was surprised when she saw him..
" Madam you have to go back at the gate." the man stated.
"To do what! I'm not in for that!" Angela retorted.
" You have a visitor ." The man continued.
" A visitor?" she wondered.
As she turned two more steps to towards the gateman, she saw what she did not expect. A man in a heavy black leather jacket and heavy denim trousers was advancing with in slow but steady steps behind the gateman. She freaked for a moment and wondered who that man was until he advanced closer into the lighting of the lights before her door. His face came into clarity and she did not struggle to ask who he was. It was George!
He had cold face that could not hide what was something between fear and remorse. He drew his hands together and interlocked fingers in front of him as though he was someone who wanted to ask for forgiveness . Angela could not tell what crept inside her. If it was an instinct that told her the obvious, she didn't understand. If it was an inevitable wrath within her , she still could not understand.
" What are you doing here this night?" She asked him while the gateman walked back to his work.
" I'm sorry!" he groaned in a low and dejected voice.
" I don't understand. Sorry for what?"
" For coming to your house this night."
" Okay what is it that brought you here then?" Angela went on with a big disappointment for having to stand him at this time when she was in great agony.
"Cool down my love. You mean you don't miss me?" George tried to sooth her overeating.
" Oh! Okay I missed you but didn't expect you at this time at my house George!" She returned in an irritated tone. She could feel a sense of overeating in herself. It hit her that he had reminded her that she was his love. She could feel that remorse building in herself. Forcing herself to acknowledge that she still loved him , she ushered him into the house." Come in my sweetheart!"
Contrary to other days, the couple did not hug this time. George sat on the far end of the sofa and Angela sat opposite to him in the another sofa. The lighting inside that house revealed what each of them was going through. Angela could see his cold eyes and a sign of coverted sorrow in him. She rightly could feel what was hidden in the masculine pretext. George also saw something unusual with Angela. Her eyes were bloodshot and had a slight inflammation around her eyelids. He too, sensed something was utterly wrong. She must have been crying. Despite all these , none of them gathered courage to ask what was getting out of the track.
George swallowed heavily and broke the instantaneous silence between them. "I came here but I did not find you. I went back to the gateman who told me you went out sobbing seriously. I have been at the gate waiting you and to my surprise ,you came with the police. What is all that?"
" So you pretend not to have learnt what is going on okay?" she blurted out in anger.
" Sorry ! Sorry My Angela. I did not meant to hurt you . Could you please explain to me please!"
" My sister Claire. She ..." she faltered and started crying uncomfortably. " She is lost. " she managed to complete her statement.
George was moved in his heart. He too could feel the pain. He stood up crossed the table between them and neared her. He buried her head into his chest as he mollified her calmly. " It's okay! It's Okay! We will find her."
" My sister! My dear sister George!" she whispered still in his chest. George could feel her warm tears wetting his shirt for the small spot that he had not buttoned his jacket. He wondered if he should just tell her the truth or it was too early for this kind of her emotional state. He thought it wise to consider the latter option and decided to keep it to himself.
He made her rise up and took her with care to her bedroom with saying a word. "You're going back at this night?" She was concerned when George closed the bedroom door behind her. " It's not right to sleep intimately today. I'm not going back." George told her .
" But why and where are you going to sleep." she continued with more and more concern and almost ignoring her miseries.
"I won't sleep. I would just stay up in the living room till morning . It's just about day break!" George assured as he closed the door softly.