04 May 2022
05:00 AM
The alarm clock on Matthew's bedside table rang and then it was immediately silenced, a finger on a button and the silence and the calm were restored.
Matthew awoke from a short and dreamless sleep, next to him, in bed there was Lily still sleeping.
He dressed to go to work, took a coffee and immediately went to his office.
___
13:11 PM
In the executive's office on the top floor, Matthew was finishing the final papers regarding the approval of a new watch model of a company that collaborated with the COX companies. - the Iron&Gold ind. a giant in the jewellery and gold manufacturing industry. - Matthew approved the proposal, stamped it and signed it.
When he finished arranging the last documents, he opened the desk drawer and placed them inside it but then something caught his eye - a letter.
Matthew took it and examined it for a few seconds, there was no name written on it, he paused for a second to reflect on whether or not to open it - he opened it.
Inside was a sheet of paper with sunflowers on it - Matthew read it.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Matthew,
I remember when we were happy, without worries, without thoughts, just you, me and our dreams to accompany us towards our future together.
I've always lived every moment of my life to the fullest,
faced it with positivity and courage,
I've never been afraid of anything, even when I was afraid that I could never be strong enough to face the obstacles that the following years would put on me.
I've never regretted anything, and I don't think I ever do, because that's what made me today - a strong woman full of life, hopes and many dreams to live.
Many of my dreams have come true,
have friends, a home, a job to be proud of, someone to love.
But I still hope I can have something of mine that I can protect and watch grow.
I always wanted a child, someone with your eyes and my hair.
A caring husband, you, Matthew.
But then you left me...
You left me when I needed you most,
when I needed your kisses,
when to console me there would be your hugs and your words to pull me up from the abyss.
I was alone
But you weren't there... and I fell apart.
- Elizabeth -
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Matthew struggled to hold back the tears - some of them had managed to escape by falling on the paper, drooling the ink seeped into the paper.
It had not been easy for him to end up reading the letter to the end without having his eyes Blurred by the tears that were trying to spill on the letter.
He stood there, in the chair for a moment trying to put his shit back together as soon as possible and make himself presentable, then he had a presentiment - this thought made his stomach churn - and if she had decided not to come back anymore - and it was at that moment that Matthew realized that he was now truly alone and that she had long since stopped trying to keep him in her life - now he was truly alone - this broke his heart once again.
But he expected it, Matthew had been running for so long from his responsibilities and problems that Elizabeth had grown tired of chasing him.
***
22:06 PM
Matthew was still in his office, after hours of work he was tired but still persisted, he didn't want to leave there - he didn't want to go out and face the harsh reality again.
"*RING*...*RING*.... *RING*"
The phone rang, Matthew answered the call with a faint voice from fatigue "yes?"
"Good evening, Mr. Cox..." it was the detective, and from the voice it seemed to be a very serious thing, "I'm sorry for the hour, but we've had updates about the disappearance of your wife, Mrs. Cox".
This information woke up Matthew from his turbid toughts, "Yes, tell me immediately where she is," which he answered urgently. He immediately got out of his chair, grabbed the keys of the Jaguar, ran to the parking lot, not caring about the mess he had left in his office.
"Please calm down, Mr. Cox," the detective draws once again the attention of Matthew, who had now arrived in the company parking lot.
"What is it, detective?" he said in a dubious tone.
"I'am sorry but we need you to meet me where I am, Mr. Cox, we have a few questions for you," said the detective.
"Is there a problem, Detective?" he asked, he didn't have a good feeling.
The joy and relief Matthew had felt before quickly turned to terror and concern.
"Please don't ask any questions, Mr. Cox," the detective didn't want to give away any information.
This frustrated Matthew, but he decided to do what the detective asked.
***
22:42 PM
Matthew arrived at the place of the meeting, Detective Eric Jones and other police officers from the New York City Police Department were waiting for him.
Detective Jones was like Matthew expected, a man in his fifties, with a gray mustache under his nose, gray hair also aged by time and a pair of glasses on his nose.
But what struck Matthew was the expression that the detective had on his face, it was not a smile to welcome him but an expression of seriousness and hesitation.
"Good evening detective" Matthew cordially shook hands with the detective and proceeded to ask the long-awaited question that had been swirling in his mind "please tell me where my wife is"; he almost could not restrain the emotion and relief that contained his voice.
The detective did not respond at first, he seemed hesitant.
"Mr. Cox, please follow us," the detective said, starting to walk, not giving Matthew time to talk.
They arrived at their destination - a very deep swamp, at the edge of this swamp there was a crane and attached to the hook of the lift there was a white car - Elizabeth's car...