It's Not Over

His heart had grown cold, and he barely recognized the man that stood before him as he glanced in the mirror. He regretted being short with Scarlett and his thoughts kept going back to her pretty face and fiery red hair. He was torn; engulfed in curiosity, yet reserved in the unknown. He wondered how this mysterious woman already seemed to know so much about him, yet he knew nothing about her. She had been watching him. But why?

He thought about going back to the bar to apologize to her, but fear paralyzed him. His feet failed to move from the cool, hard tile he stood upon. Something had changed the moment Anna left. Almost as if everything around him was that of a dream; a parallel universe between reality and fantasy. He had forgotten how to trust; to have any kind of 'normal' relationship. Had he been so consumed in searching for Anna that he forgot how to live? Had Scarlett seen this? And if she had been watching, why didn't he ever notice her?

For a few seconds, he stared at the home that was once Anna's. Her art work still hung from the pale green walls, slightly covered in a film of dust that formed from neglect. Her presence, no longer lingering within the confides of the dark room where they once shared glasses of wine and the secrets that will never be revealed. With a sigh, he shut the door and walked down the rickety staircase leading to the city. 

As he turned the corner, Scarlett stood before him, smiling. "I'm sorry" he started, "I didn't-". With that she stopped him, putting her finger on his full lips. "Stop, Damien. I do not wish to hear your apologies. People spend their entire lives saying they are sorry, but for what? I believe that everything we say or do, is because we wanted to..." Her response surprised him; her compassion unwarranted. For a moment he stood silently, searching her beautiful eyes as he listened to the passing cars and the stereos that were entirely too loud for this hour.

"Damien, who are you searching for?" she asked cautiously. "It's a long story", he mumbled staring at his feet, no longer able to look her in the eye. "But I can tell you that it's not over for me. I'm not done searching for her" he whispered. "I just can't let go yet." he replied, suddenly nauseous.

"Of who, Damien?" she asked, moving closer to him. "Her name was Anna. She disappeared in the middle of the night. It's been a year since I've seen her." Tears began to form around his eyes. "She was breathtaking, Scarlett." "Have you contacted the police?" she asked apologetically. "They haven't been able to give me any answers. They have been utterly useless." As he spoke, he couldn't help but wonder how she found him, here on this particular street corner. "Wait, how did you know where I live Scarlett?" "I told you Damien, I've been watching you..."