EMBRACE OF MISTS by Sowmya Latha (important of reading books .TXT) 📕

Everything happened in a second. Mike pushed me away and took his gun and aimed at Jared. He closed his eyes and shot at him. But, before the bullet hit Jared he fell down to his knees. My heart froze on seeing Alvin holding his dagger which was dripping with Jared’s blood.

“Jared!!” I rushed towards him before he fell. Alvin dropped the dagger and stared at him. Blood gushed from him and I tried stopping it. My hands shivered and my lips trembled on seeing him at such condition. Everything happened because of me. If he had not seen me this would have never happened and now I am going to lose him. No…I cannot lose him. I got to save him.

“Alvin help him…Mike!!Mike!! Jared is dying…come here…help him…Alvin” I shouted at the top of my voice but no one came to my help. I realized Mike had not been in the scene at all. I looked up and saw him bending down near Carolina, staring at her. He slowly lifted her hands and checked for her pulse. The next moment he began shaking her with force shouting her to get up. I rushed to them and it was then I found that Lina was lying lifeless on the ground. She was covered with blood and it struck me that Mike’s bullet had pierced through her when she came running to stop Alvin from stabbing Jared. Mike dragged her into his hold and cried outrageously hoping to bring her life back to her. I could never help Mike bring his Lina back to him. I was torn between Lina and Jared. Lina is dead. Jared is dying. I left Alvin with Mike and rushed Jared to hospital.

Jared underwent critical treatment before he could gain back his senses. I watched over him and made him unknown of the mishap until he was better. I was not able to sit by Mike to console him for his heavy loss and it was horrible for me to disclose the news to Jared. He would not be able to bear it. Alvin visited Jared when he was asleep. He did not speak anything to me but conveyed me that he cannot leave Mike alone at house and that he needed me for arranging Lina’s funeral. So I left my mother in charge of Jared while I sat at home with Lina’s mom and Mike. Mike was a corpse never moving from the place where he sat. He did not touch his food or sleep. His agony slapped me hard and I could find no words to comfort him. He never replied to any of us. Alvin asked me to leave him alone and so I shifted my concentration towards Lina’s mother. The poor lady was brave but her eyes showed the sorrow that she could not swallow. She was miserable at her green eyed girl’s death but she attempted to console Mike.

“I think my daughter would not want you to starve yourself, Mike. Or do you think she would?” she queried him. He looked at her and laid his face over her lap.

“I can never live without her. I feel I should die too” he cried.

“Then kill me too… there will not be anyone to take care of me after you die. Should I be a burden to someone Mike?” Mike stared at her.

“No… I am there for you. But who is there for me… mother?” The lady could stand no more. She cried over him and I left both of them to cry out their heavy hearts. The girl who had been their idol had left them to struggle without her.

Alvin had arranged for the funeral. I told Jared of the miserable news and he stood adamant to see Mike inspite of his health condition. He insisted on attending Lina’s funeral. He blamed himself upon Lina’s death.

The black day dawned. Dressed in black we were in deep sorrow with no ability to overcome the horrible fact that Lina is dead. Mike blamed himself for killing her while Jared and Alvin took blame on themselves but the real culprit was me. I was the cause to all troubles. The coffin was holding dark violet sheets of velvet, upon which laid the green eyed beauty. Violets were kept on her as they were her favorites. Flowers which spread lovely happiness on her wedding now spread the gloominess of her death. Her pure serene skin glowed in the sun and no one standing there could believe that she was dead. But there she lay lifeless with her husband mourning over her with their marriage life of seven days. Sorrow pressurized my heart trying hard to stop it. At last the coffin was closed and she was buried for her deep peaceful sleep. Mike took the sand in his hand and spoke his last words for her.

“You promised me that you would never part with me but here you are breaking your promise. You knew I can never live without you but you left me to live by myself alone. I tried to kill you long back… it has happened but I never wished it to happen now. From the day when I saw you, you were inseparable from my thoughts. From the day when I married you, you were inseparable from my heart. And now you are no…more… with me… you are inseparable from my memories, love. I am lucky to have you as my wife and I always love you till my last breath. My life hereafter would be with your memories each second because I can never part with you. My dear love… Carolina Michael Thompson… Your tomb bears my name while my heart bears your name… I ….love…. you. Rest in peace dear.” Saying that, he dropped the sand over the coffin and walked away. We did our last tributes to her and left for home.

Mike had surrendered to the police that he had killed Lina. Before he went, he explained everything to Jared.

“Jared, Mel did not cheat you. Understand them and let them live happily. See you brother”. Mike left me in charge of Lina’s mother and pleaded me to take good care of her. I promised him that I would and he left in peace.

Alvin regretted for stabbing his brother. He had remained very silent and had not spoken to me a word from that dark day. He came out from his room with packed baggage. It was clear that he had decided to move out of the house.

“Where do you think you are going?” Jared stopped him. “If you respect my words, stay here, with Mel.”

“No Jared. I tried to kill you.” Alvin broke.

“Or else Mel would have been killed by me” Jared answered.

“Lina was killed by my stupidity” Alvin cried.

“Everyone was the cause for Lina’s death. Everyone has to be punished for it. Not you alone.” I left the brothers to themselves and went to my room. No one had blamed me for the mishaps. All behaved so kind to me. I was the culprit standing alive in front of them but they never bothered to punish me or send me out of the house. They debate among themselves as to who was the murderer but it is me and none wants to believe it. I was not worth for such kindness. I needed Angel’s words of comfort now but I had not heard her for a long time.

“Angel?” I called her.

No reply.

“Angel??”

Silence.

I began to worry.

“Angel, why don’t you speak?” I asked anxiously.

No reply.

I cried to her, shouted to her but nothing happened.

Angel had left me. She had left Jared. She had left me for Alvin.

Angel had disappeared. I tried a long time callimg her back but she never returned.

With tear stained face, I came out of my room. I found Jared fully packed to move.

“Mel? What is it?? What happened?” Alvin held me. Jared stepped towards me but stopped.

After a pause I said to him, “Angel left”. Jared and Alvin stared at me. The Jared cleared his throat.

“So am I. Alvin is your love Mel. He will take care of you better than I do. Miss you Mel. Bye Alvin, my brother. Tell Jacob, I will meet him soon. And to Mike too.” He got his blessings from Lina’s mother and mine. Then he took his bags and left us.

Alvin, Lina’s mother and my mother lived in that brick house. Time has its turning point. Life teaches us great things. Lina’s death had been a great blow to every one of us. Alvin took care of us three ladies. With a hope that all mishaps will vanish, I look forward towards the life which stretches before me. My angel had gone with no good bye note and I missed her a lot.

“We promised that we will never separate, but you left me Angel. I will always love you, my best friend”.

EMILY

January 9TH 1999, New York

“Time for medicines” I announced. Val stuck out her tongue and my aunt laughed.

“You should not do that Val. Now open your mouth” and I gave her the medicines.

“Good. You have had your bath, breakfast and medicines. Now take rest and be a good chap.” I then turned to my aunt. “I am leaving to work aunt.” I kissed both of them and left. I drove down the lane forward while my mind travelled backward to the same day, two years back. The memory stays fresh.

I was sitting on my doorstep not willing to go to the hospital before I had seen Jacob. After I had left him with the evil men, I drove with Val to home. My aunt who had sleepless nights due to my sudden disappearance was terrorized on seeing me like a rotten meat. I promised to explain things to her and I called to Harry and sent him to the spot to help Jacob, adamant to my aunt’s plea to get me treated. Finally I was taken to the hospital by Joe and others where I found Harry in a worsen condition than me. I began to worry about Jacob and asked for him.

Harry recited the happenings of the previous night where he and Jacob were fighting the sturdy men. Harry had informed the police before reaching Jacob. Harry was not able to defend himself as he was thrashed by them very badly. Jacob had been bleeding as they had beaten him with wood planks. Meanwhile Harry had fallen to the ground when Ashley had planned to kill him by her car. There was no one to help him and he lost the hope, deciding to face his end. At the close call, Jacob had plunged himself forward to save Harry from being run over by the car. He was badly hurt and bleeding when the police arrived and caught the culprits leaving Jacob and Harry in the hospital, where only one survived. I was shown only Jacob lifeless body.

Nothing could console me. No one could control me. The whole world went utterly dark leaving me in wicked loneliness. Life shone its cruelty upon me. My Jacob is no more. This truth hardened me a full year. I could never get away from his memory. No one could near me. Finally I realized that he will never come back for me or Val. Then it struck me. Val. I remembered Jacob’s last words.

“Emily I love you. Don’t worry I will never leave you for Val. Take care of my Val. Will you?”

That was what Jacob lastly wished for. If not I, who will take care of Val? Jacob’s Val? So I stayed on, with a new will resolved to live for Valentina. To care for her.

I stopped the car at my workplace and started my routine work. Loads of sorrow and pain lie deep within me, but it is promises that my man had asked me for that make me live until my end.

“Jacob, I have won your love, but lost you. My love