The Nights When

The Night When He Was Lost

“Christian, you do realize that we would be celebrating our 8th bestie anniversary tomorrow” said, Martha, in her dreamy voice. 

They were on the rooftop of Christian’s father's building which was twenty-eight stories high. The air was raw, it kept blowing Martha's hair onto Christian’s face, who was laying just beside her. Christian didn't reply. He had been quite distant. 

Martha nudged him, “Ay, what the hell is up with you?”, she said to him.

Christian turned his face towards her and said, “Martha, I cannot understand one thing!”

“And what is that, may I ask?” she asked.

 Christian got up to his feet, lent a hand for Martha to do the same, and looked at her intently. Someone unaware of the two’s actual relationship would call it a look of passion, deep affection, maybe how a lover would look at the love of their life. Martha couldn’t stand the gaze, she looked away towards the distant lights of the other skyscrapers. “I just DO NOT understand how on earth you can fall for my brother!”, he said.

 “Argh! Christian! Can you please stop this!” said Martha, agitated, “We have been through this already! Why do you persist on ---".

 “Right! I persist! God dammit, Martha! We had some ground rules!’”, said Christian, cutting Martha.

“Christian, we are not 12-year-olds anymore! We are both adults and you don't get to choose what I do or whom I date and I will not discuss this with you again!” Martha said, moving out of the shaded area.

“Fair enough! Let’s not talk about this. You know what, let’s not talk about anything at all. Let’s not talk ever!” said Christian, his eyes fixed on Martha’s dark outline. 

Martha slowly turned around and approached him, her face gradually lighted by the lights and her eyes full of tears. She tried to say something. Christian’s gaze advanced towards her lips which twitched.

 “What are you tr - trying to say, Chris?”, stammered Martha, a teardrop falling from her eyes, “We have been best friends forever and we have had fights but that doesn't mean you will end it for nothing. Please, please don't do this. I literally have no one else!”. 

Christian said in a cold voice, “You do, Martha. You have my brother. You chose him. Good luck!”.

 Christian walked out of the terrace. Martha, stood there, non-plussed, teardrops streaming down her face. She felt like she had lost the most precious thing. She had lost the one person who took her for who she was. She knew well enough that Damion, Christian’s brother, was not for her. She knew that it was not going to last.

Not only Martha but also Christian couldn’t focus while driving, he passed two red lights and almost hit a parked vehicle, and finally stopped at a nearby lake, restricted to enter. It was a favourite spot of the two best friends. They used to sneak out at night and sit there and talk all night long. But, now, Christian was lost too.

They have helped each other in their darkest times. When Christian lost his mother to the Parkinson's disease, Martha helped him to get through life and when Martha lost her father to a flight accident she became an orphan, because her mother had died right after her birth, Christian helped her cope with it.

Christian held his head in his hands and whispered, “What have you done, Martha? Why?”.

Martha, walking back home, her vision obscure, said to herself, “What have I done? Why?”.

The Night When She Lost Him Forever

 “It has been two days, Damion. Christian can never be this much irresponsible,” said Martha, as Damion was attempting to soothe her and assure her that Christian is fine. 

“Well, why did he keep his phone off? It's not my number, I tried to call from your phone too, but it’s not connecting,” she told Damion, “Do you think we should call the cops?”.

Damion kept silent for a few minutes then said, “Well, you know, our father has so many houses. Don’t you think we should call and check if he is there? I mean, he isn't that stupid. He won't go around roaming wherever. But, you are right, he never disappears like this.”

“You can ask for him there and let me know as soon as you can,” Martha said, dubious and fretful.

“Well, then, I am gonna leave now and take care of this. Bye, don’t worry too much. I'm sure he's fine. We will find him at any cost and force him to accept our relationship. He will have to!”, he laughed and kissed Martha and left.

 Martha smiled at him but her heart was still impatient. She opened her laptop and scrolled through her emails.

There was one from a University – The University Of California. Her heart skipped a beat. She had applied to 3 universities and this was the one she had dreamt of getting into since she was merely 8 years old. As she proceeded to open the mail, she recalled that Christian had also applied to the same universities as her, hoping to get into the same one as hers. Her heart ached, unpleasantly. She wanted to find out where Christian was. She felt like there was something ominous about him disappearing, out of nowhere. She, hoping that Christian would be back soon, kept the mail unread.

After 2 hours or so, Damion called Martha. “He is not at any of our houses or apartments. I asked all the people who had a possibility of knowing where he is but not a single clue. Do you have any idea where he can be found? Any special place, you two had?”, he said in a single breath.

 Martha was again rattled, she said impatiently, “Don't you think I have already checked all of our spots? Do you not think that I care about him enough to do that instantly?”.

 Damion, instantly, understood her concern and softly said, “I know, I am sorry. Do you want to come over so that we can think everything through and then inform the cops, maybe?”.

 Martha, a bit stable, said that she would.

 ***

 “Do you want anything to eat?”, Damion asked her, tenderly.

“No, it's okay. I am fine. Let’s just do what is to be done,” she said. Damion nodded and the two of them went through what Christian had done, the day he went missing.

After reminiscing on all their activities, Damion said, “I can go to the cops but it would hamper our reputation, if Christian is merely trying to bother us – maybe, even break you and me apart.”

Martha stared at him blankly for a few seconds and said, “Are you serious right now? Do you really think your brother is like that? You really think Christian is that spiteful? I mean, what is wrong with you, Damion?! Your brother is missing and you want to focus on our relationship?!”

 “I am merely talking about the possibility!”, Damion said, defensively.

“You know what? If you don't want to bother yourself with this, then don't! I’ll go to the cops alone!”, said Martha, glaring at him.

 She stood up and began to advance towards the door but Damion held her by the wrist, tenderly, and said, “Please, calm down and talk to me. I know it is a hard time for you. It is for me too. He is my brother and I do love him unconditionally, so please just sit down, stop misunderstanding me and talk to me. Please.”

 Martha looked at him and sat back down.

“I am just tired of not having anything at the right time. When I finally thought that I have got you in my life, I am again back to where it all started. But yes, you’re right, we need to go to the cops.”

“Does your father know about this?”, said Martha, heaving a sigh.

“Not yet. I'm going to inform him now and we can go to the cops together”, he said.

After much deliberation, they left and filed a missing report.

The next few days passed by. Martha kept waiting for some news. She felt so unnatural about this, that she did not even know what to think. It was two in the afternoon, when the phone rang and she hastened to pick it up. It was Mr. White, Christian and Damion’s father.

 She picked it up and said, “Uncle Theo, what happened? Do you have any news?”.

“No, dear. Nothing for sure. But, I think I do know who is doing all this for what. There is something serious about Christian’s disappearance. I feel like it is a part of a game and someone close to him and us, is playing a part in it but I can't tell you who it is a—“.

 Mr. White’s voice broke and another voice said, “Stop it, dad! Hello? Martha, please don't listen to my father. He has gone insane and been talking gibberish since Christian’s gone. Just leave it to me, okay? I will take care of this.”

 It was Damion. He hung up the call without waiting for any reply from Martha, who was extremely bewildered at what she had just heard.

Questions started popping in her head, “What did Uncle Theo mean? Did he know where Christian was? And, why did Damion stop him like that? Why on earth is he so agitated with his father?”.

She kept musing on these for the rest of the afternoon. It was around half past nine, at night, when the phone rang up yet again.

 It was Damion, she picked it up, hoping that some of her queries will be solved but-

“Martha, I don't know how to tell you this but - but the cops called. They found Christian in the lake. They--they found his dead body-”, Damion’s voice cracked.

The Night When She Was At Her Worst

“Hello? Hello? Martha? Baby?”, Damion kept saying but Martha was on the floor, unconscious. Damion instantly knew that something was wrong. He drove to her house as quickly as possible and found her lying, near the kitchen.

“Martha, hey? Hey? Wake up, please? Shit!”.

 Damion picked her up and carried her to the car. He drove her to the hospital, instantly.

“It was due to the sudden fall of her blood pressure. She is alright now. Don't worry”, the Doctor informed Damion.

“Pheew, thank you, doctor. Can I take her home?”, said Damion.

“Yes, surely. Just make sure that she doesn’t get too excited”, the Doctor replied.

He thanked the Doctor yet again and took Martha back to his house. They did not talk throughout the drive.

Martha kept quiet and Damion wanted to give her some space.

* * *

Martha stayed at Damion’s for the next two days.

 It was about time that they planned for Christian’s funeral.

“Do you want to know anything about his death?”, said Damion, unsure of her response.

“He must have been killed. I know him much too well to know that he would never ever commit suicide and he knows how to swim so no chance of him drowning!”, Martha said to him.

“The post-mortem says that he drowned.”, Damion told her.

“I told you! He can’t drown! Someone killed him. I know it,” she said, looking at Damion, and her voice grew more desperate than ever. She continued, “Damion, please, I am begging you! Find that person out! Please!”, and she started crying and shaking uncontrollably.

This was the first time ever that she had cried after hearing the news. She was impassive for the last few days but now all of it was coming back. She was in pieces. Lost in this world. The loneliest creature even when she was surrounded by the loveliest of people.

Another few days passed and Martha had mental breakdowns and kept crying in intervals. Damion took care of her, his mother and his father too. He felt like, all the burden of the world was on his shoulder.

When, Martha was a little stable Damion said, “Martha, I don't know what to do but Christian was, is, and will always be in our lives, if not physically, then, mentally and emotionally. We all loved him in different ways which is why, we can't understand each other's grief, the way that individual can. But I do want to give my brother a proper burial; literally, no one in my family is in the condition to arrange for that. So, I desperately need your help,” Damion said, all at once, without a pause, as if he were reading out an article.

Martha slowly looked up and said, “What about Uncle Theo and Aunt Millie? What do they want?”

 “They are not in the condition to think, it's like our world’s just stopped.”

 “You should ask them first,” said Martha, impassively.

 “I did! They are not yet ready to accept that Christian is-is, you know what I mean. I can't sit still and not give my brother what he deserves. He will have a funeral. And if none of you want to participate in it, then don’t. I will do my biddings alone,” Damion said. The last few words had great gravity.

He stood up and said, “Do you or do you not want your best friend to have some peace? Do you or do you not care about him?”.

 “Of course, I do! He was my best friend! My brother! I could trade lives with him, without a second thought!,” Martha said, passionately.

 “Then, stop crying, and let's get our asses off to work!”.

 * * *

“Are you okay?”, asked Sasha, Christian's cousin.

“I don't know if I am alive anymore,” said Martha, tears rolling down her flushed cheeks.

 She looked aside and noticed Mrs. Millie and approached her.

 Amidst all that grief, Martha looked stunning in her black, off-shoulder, satin dress. Her hair blew in the air. Among the coloured leaves of autumn, she stood out. Damion kept peering at her among all the people.

“Aunt Millie, how are you?”, Martha said to Mrs. Millie.

“I feel like my soul has left my body. I feel like my heart does not have a heartbeat. He was such a nice human being. Not only did he talk to me about everything and asked me to teach him things but he also taught me things, every day. Never for one day did he make me feel like his stepmother or make Damion feel like his step-brother. I would always tell Damion to be like him, to enjoy and cherish life instead of running towards the future. All of it is lost. The tighter I try to grip onto it, the faster it slips away. The more I try to remember him and his dreams, the more it haunts me,” she said, and started crying and shaking, uncontrollably.

Martha wiped her hot, wet cheeks and hugged Mrs. Millie, and said, “I don't know if my words are enough to describe how much he loved you. He always told me that once he got into the University of California, he would ask you to move there with him, and-and he said, “we would live together, ma and me”. He wanted to be a landscape architect and make charities all over the world. He wanted to do so much and yet he is lost. A star, burning brighter than the sun, is gone forever!”.

Mrs. Millie looked at her with immense helplessness, tears still pouring down her eyes. She said, “I always wanted you as my daughter. I always felt like you belonged to me,” her hands pressed tightly against Martha’s face.

 In a long time, Martha felt something – she felt alive, she felt loved. “I am your daughter. I always will be,” she said.

The Night When A Ray Of Hope Appeared

It was a few days after the funeral, Martha and Damion were talking to each other about what they should do next, when the phone suddenly rang.

 Martha looked at Damian and said, “Who is it now?”.

 She got up to answer the phone.

“It's your mother. Does she know that you are with me?”, she asked.

 “Yeah, I guess so,” he said.

Picking up the phone, she said, “Hello? Yes. Yeah, sure!’

 She handed the phone over to Damion and said, ‘She wants to talk to you. She says that your phone is dead.”

“Hello? Yes, mom,” said Damion there was a long pause and his face grew solemn.

He finally said, “Okay, well, whatever you think, must be done is fine with me. Bye,” he gave Martha her phone back.

 “So? Is everything alright?”, Martha asked, dubiously.

“Yes, I suppose so. My mom and dad have decided on hiring a private detective for investigating the case, cause the cops are yet to call this a murder. He will come to our house for dinner and we both need to be there,” Damion said, his brows furrowed.

Martha bit her lower lip and slowly sat down.

“Get ready, we’ll leave in an hour,” he said and kissing Martha, went out on the balcony.

 Martha followed him with her eyes and felt as if something had made Damion unhappy or rattled.

She slowly got up, picked out her blue suit, and got ready and they left for dinner.

 * * * *

They were all sitting in the living room when the doorbell rang.

 Mrs. Millie went to the door and opened it and said, “Mr. Ray?”.

 There was a deep and enigmatic affirmation. Martha bent her head slightly to get a glance at the man.

 “Welcome, please come in,” said Mrs. Millie.

 As she made way for him, Martha saw a man, hardly thirty years, with broad shoulders. He had a black turtleneck on, which brought out his eyes - a piercing shade of sage green. His hair was dark brown and cleanly set and he held a bouquet of white lilies in his hand.

Martha was lost for some time but came back to her senses and moved her eyes off of Ray.

 Damion said, “Hello, nice to meet you. I am Damion, Christian’s step - brother and this is Martha, my uh - girlfriend and, Christian's best friend.”

 Martha slowly and self-consciously approached him. He had held out a hand for her and said, “Hello, I am very sorry for your loss. I will make sure that Christian gets his justice.”

Martha smiled and nodded.

“What was it? Why was she getting so damn nervous?”, she kept thinking to herself.

“I would firstly want to talk to all of you individually. It is important for me to know all of you closely. This would help me, get a better idea of Christian,” said Ray.

 His voice was so deep and attractive that Martha could not comprehend a single thing and, could only look at him, fascinated.

“Very well, I think you should start with my father. He is upstairs. Let me lead the way,” said Damion.

Martha saw the two of them leave the room. Mrs. Millie patted Martha on the shoulder, gently and left the room.

 After a few minutes, Damion came back into the room.

 *****

Damion went to talk to Ray after an hour, when Uncle Theo and Mrs. Millie were done with.

After another thirty minutes, Damion reappeared and took Martha to the room where Ray had been talking to him. She felt unnaturally rattled as she approached the room.

She took two deep breaths, looked at Damion, and went inside the room. “Hey Martha, right? Have a seat,” said Ray.

 “Yes, thank you,’ Martha said, nervously.

‘Now Martha, I won't ask you anything about the murder. I will only ask you to talk to me about Christian. You are the only person here, after his father, who had known him for the longest”, he smiled at her and continued, “So fill me in, tell me everything about Christian. Everything.”

***

“So, it was great speaking to you all,” said Ray, “I gathered a lot of information, got a distinct picture of Christian from all of your descriptions, especially Martha’s,” he continued nodding at her, “Thank you for the amazing dinner and again condolences to all of you for this loss. I will keep in touch with you all. Bye and good night.”

He left.

Martha felt quite calm now. She was feeling as if a burden was off her chest. She had poured her heart out to Ray. She had given a detailed history of Christian’s brief existence. Martha felt that Ray had this amazing quality to turn people's worst intentions or gloomiest memories into something admirable and loving with his mere words….

The Night When Accusations Were Made 

A few days passed by. Martha was growing restless.

“Why can’t he ask us questions? How on earth will he solve the case?”, she told Damion, irritably.

“He has his ways. Trust him. Though he is not really someone, I would trust,” replied Damion.

“Why the hell not?”, Martha asked, turning towards him.

“He is fake, that’s why! All the politeness and stuff, is complete bull crap!”, Damion said, derisively, “I don’t even know if he will find the real culprit. He might just call anyone the murderer, take his money, and – poof! Gone!”.

“Oh c’mon, you’re thinking too much. He will do his job well and good. I am sure of it. He needs to find out who had a motive to kill someone like Christian,” she explained to him, “Plus, he noted every single detail of Christian and listened to me extremely patiently and observantly. I don’t know who does that! Who would want to listen to the history of a man, who is not living anymore – a person whom he has never met in his life! Huh?”. She raised her eyebrows in a questioning manner.

“Can we stop discussing Ray? Let’s talk about us, please?”, said Damion, holding out a hand for Martha and pushing her hair behind her ears with the other. 

She looked so very pretty. Her brown eyes dazzled in the bright sunlight and glistened like honey, her lips widened into a sweet smile, and her cheeks flushed.

“Can you not look at me like that?”, she said, softly and in a shy manner.

Damion drew closer to her. Her breathing was quick and she softly closed her eyes. Damion drew even closer and kissed her on the lips, holding her face. Their lips brushed smoothly for a few seconds. Time seemed to cease flowing. Then, suddenly ----

*ding dong* *ding dong*

Martha and Damion drew away from one another with the speed of light and looked around, bewildered.

The bell rang yet again and Damion said, “It’s just the doorbell, gosh!”

He glanced at Martha, who was acutely relieved at the discovery. Yet both looked peculiarly guilty as if the two were teenagers who had skipped classes to make out. Damion got up to get to the door.

“Oh, it’s you!”, he said.

And Ray came into the room with a small bag and a large and radiant smile. Martha looked at him dazed. As he made for the sofa, to settle down, Damion murmured,

 “Of course, it’s you! Right here at the wrong moment!”

All of the three settled down. “Um, Ray, how come you know Martha’s address?”, asked Damion, with a casual air.

“Your mother, Mrs. White, gave it to me upon me inquiring about Martha”, explained Ray.

“Oh, of course, she did.”

“I must confess that she has been very helpful to me since the first day of our interaction over the telephone.”

“Of course, she has been!”, Damion said, with a mocking laugh.

“Damion, are you okay? Stop behaving like that!”, Martha whispered, through gritted teeth. Then, facing Ray, she said, “We were just discussing about you. I was just telling Damion that you should be contacting us very soon and here you are!”

“Yes. You, most definitely, were correct.” Ray said, shuffling through the tiny bag. He, then, handed over a small plastic bag to Martha.

“What’s this?”, asked Damion, suspiciously.

“Christian’s wallet and rings”, said Martha, in a low voice. Her gaze fell upon the bag.

 “How did you get these?”. she inquired of Ray.

“From the police department. Had to pull a few strings. I did not bring his phone and clothes, though. But I did find some things in the wallet which needed some explaining”, said Ray, facing Martha.

She had only heard about Christian’s things being confiscated but seeing them before her own eyes, broke her completely. She could not comprehend how a person, so alive, so close, so familiar, so very loved, will never stand before her again – he will never smile at her radiantly from across the street.

“How is he so silently and peacefully gone? How did he leave that easily while his loved ones are in so much pain!”, she said, still staring steadily at the plastic bag. She, then, turned to Ray and said in a determined voice, “Ray, I want the person who did this to Christian. I want that person to die as painfully as possible.”

“That is the exact reason why am here and why I want you to help me,” said Ray, firmly, “Here is the wallet. Now, I found two things in there, which need a lot of expounding and I could only think of you at the moment to have any idea about what they can be.”

Drawing out a small notebook, he addressed Martha, ‘This notebook has many appointments and reminders and some general feelings he felt, I suppose, noted in it. I could surmise the meanings behind all but one of these. The very last thing written here is – “Why could she not love me? Why did she break our promises?” – do you have any idea about who it might be?’.

 Both Damion and Ray looked at Martha, intently but she did not utter a word.

“Any girl he liked? Any girl who rejected him? Anything of such kind?”, Ray, now asked both of them.

“I don’t know anything about his love life. As I had told you on the first interrogation, we were not close by any means. If anyone could know about his personal life at this extent, it would most certainly be Martha”, Damion replied, glancing at Martha.

“Can you tell me the date when he had written it?”, she finally spoke.

“Sure, umm, it’s written on the….28th of November. A week before his murder. Do you find that relatable?”

“OH MY GOD! DARN IT! I should’ve seen this coming. What the fuck is wrong with me?!”, Damion shouted, jumping up.

 Both Ray and Martha looked at him, inquiringly.

 He looked at them and then, addressing Martha, said, “Why, Martha, that was the day we told him about our relationship!”.

“So? What are you trying to say?”, said Martha.

“Well! This “her” is you! HE WAS IN LOVE WITH YOU! It’s too evident, damn it!”, Damion interjected, laughing, sarcastically.

“Damion, are you for real right now? How can you say such a thing?”, Martha replied, appalled.

“Oh c’mon! You know better than that. Now, I see it more clearly. Crap, am dumb as hell to not have noticed for this long!”, he said, standing up.

“Oh really? You know what, I think, I am dumb to have ever liked you in the first place!”, Martha said. She stood up, looked at Damion with immense disgust, and slapped him hard across the face!

“You are really being insane! I am not the one addressed in there. I can assure you that he was not in love with me or any other girl, ever.”, saying this, she walked straight out of the room.

Damion was disconcerted. He looked at Ray, who was still sitting there.

“Ray, you are a man. You know that it was Martha who was addressed, don’t you?”, he asked him.

Ray kept silent.

“Okay, you too are unsure, although it’s very clear. Let me give you some more signs – for the past few months, Martha had changed a lot, both physically and mentally, so, most obviously many guys started noticing her. Then, as a matter of course, Christian saw her differently as well. He started getting attracted to her. But, of course, Martha was dumb enough to think that he looked at her as “a sister”. And, most probably, right when he thought he had her in the palm of his hands, I came in and asked Martha out, which she gladly accepted. It was right then that Christian got pissed off. He loathed our relationship. He was too envious and that’s why he even told Martha that he wanted to end their friendship of eight long years! THAT IS THE WHOLE DAMN THING!”, Damion said, all in one breath.

Ray, finally, stood up and said, “As much as I want to trust you and make your theory a credible one, I do want to hear Martha’s explanation. There is no point in jumping into conclusions. But I must say, I am almost tempted to believe what you say because that is the most probable thing at the moment. Now, I will ask you about the other thing in Christian’s purse – this.” He held up a small half-burnt photograph.

Damion took it from Ray’s hand, to get a better look.

It was a photograph of a woman. The woman’s face was half burnt out.

“Do you have any idea who the woman can be?”, Ray asked him.

“The woman-”, Damion paused and looked more closely at the picture, “it’s probably, Christian’s mother, biological mother, I mean.”

“Well, I was kind of guessing it. Now, the real question, do you know why the picture is half burnt, like that?”, Ray said.

There was a long pause at Damion’s end. He was not looking at the picture anymore. He was staring at the floor, his eyebrows furrowed.

Ray did not remove his gaze from Damion.

After a few minutes or so, Damion finally said, “No”, in a silent and concealing manner.

“Well….okay…. I will talk to Martha later, I guess,” Ray said, glancing at the door, where Martha had disappeared, previously, “bye, for now”.

And Ray left. But Damion was still standing there, impassive. He just nodded once, in approval, as Ray left. He was still staring at the ground, unattentively. He was lost in his film reel of memories, faded with time.

The Night When She Couldn’t Endure It Anymore

Martha was aloof for days. Although her sorrow and trauma were wearing off, the anger was far worse to handle. Damion did not call. Martha was still furious at him for accusing their, Martha and Christian’s, relationship in that way. But she was lonely too. She cried herself to sleep. She barely ate. Her eyes were tired and in need of peace.

She wanted everything back. She wanted to bring back what was long lost. She wanted nothing but Christian. She prayed, she cried, she broke down, she lost. All was lost. She felt like she was useless. She wanted to die, to leave this world for good.

It was ten days after Martha and Damion’s fight that she awoke at two in the morning. She sat up on the bed. Her hair was disheveled, in desperate need of a wash. She got out of bed and looked around and pulled some drawers and looked through some cabinets. Finally, she had found the thing. A container of pills – sleeping pills.

She filled a glass of water from the sink and took out about twenty two pills and washed them down her throat with water. It was done. She would have some peace after all. No worries. Nothing. Only painless sleep and then drifting of towards death tranquilly.

She sat down on the sofa but got up and instantly went inside the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. She pushed her matted hair against her ears and splashed water across her face. It was nothing peaceful in her brain, she was losing her mind. She was getting scared now. She tried throwing up but in vain. She coughed hard but nothing came out. She tried putting her fingers deep down her throat and tried again – nothing.

She was crying now. She didn’t know what would happen. Her tremulous hands reached for her phone. Crying still, she called Damion’s number. He picked up instantly, as if waiting for it for ages.

Martha said in her shaky voice, “Damion, I am so sorry. I did not know what I should have done. I am so so sorry.”

“No. No, stop, what happened? Tell me what happened!”, he said impatiently.

“I am so sorry. You will never forgive me,” she sighed.

“Martha, Tell me RIGHT NOW!”, Damion’s voice came across the phone.

“I took a lot of pills and I cant get them out. I am sorry!”, she said.

Damion was out of the house already. He said, flabbergasted, “Why the hell would you do that! Martha! Oh my God! Please tell me you are joking!”.

“I wish I could.”

“How long has it been?”

“About ten minutes, I guess.”

“Wait, right there. I will be over in about ten minutes.”

He drove at the highest speed possible and reached her house in seven minutes!

“What the hell is wrong with you?!”, he shouted.

Martha only cried and fell into his arms. She felt like a coward. She wanted to die and yet was scared to embrace death. She was broken inside and couldn’t even dare to fix herself.

Damion took her to the ER of the nearest hospital and washed her stomach. He was worried too. He was scared even more. He only wanted her to be happy and yet this is what they came out to be.

She finally took her home around six in the morning. They did not talk. Damion was evidently pissed at her.

Martha quietly went inside her room and laid on the bed, facing the ceiling. The cream-white colour was as dull as ever. Everything was feeling obscure and insipid. Her eyes were full of tears and felt heavy. She eventually shut her eyelids and the blank darkness seemed suddenly tranquil. She wanted to stay submerged in it.

Damion was sitting in the living room, exhausted. He did not know what to do. He was scared to leave Martha alone.

He got up and went into Martha’s room. The door stood slightly ajar. Peeking inside, he saw Martha lying down on her bed, breathing softly. He slowly entered the room and sat down beside her.

Martha stirred suddenly and looked around.

“Oh. Hey,” she said, softly, almost in a whisper.

Damion just looked at her face and gradually laid down beside her.

“Please, say something,” Martha said, facing him.

“I don’t know if I want to. What you did was too shocking for me! Why would you do something like this?!”

“I don’t know, Damion. I wish I did but I don’t. I really don’t.”

“So, you did not think about anyone? Not even me or mom? She literally loves you more than anyone!”

“I did. I thought about Christian and I do not regret it.”

Damion was shocked. He got up and looked at her.

“CHRISTIAN?! Are you fucking kidding me right now?”, he said.

“Why is that so incredible to you?’, Martha said, calmly.

“Oh. I don’t know, let me think… maybe because he is DEAD!”, the last words were pronounced with extreme force and disgust.

“Damion, you are doing it again. You are doing it Again!”, she said, getting agitated with his tone.

“What am I doing? Stating the facts? Telling the truth? Is that what I’m doing?”, was the sarcastic reply.

“Damion, you should leave. I don’t have the strength right now,” said, Martha, turning her face away from him.

“NO, I won’t. I love you more than anything in this world and you don’t care a bit about that? I keep loving you and helping you and fixing things for you and all you do is worship my dead stepbrother!”

“I don’t need you to fix me or help me or…”, she stopped and sighed.

“Finish the sentence. I want you to say it.”, Damion said, coldly.

Martha kept quiet. She did not want it to head that way. She wanted it to stop.

“SAY. IT. MARTHA. LET ME HEAR YOU,” he said, his face close to Martha’s.

“Damion, I am begging you to leave me alone for now.”

“You know what? I don’t give a damn about what you do anymore. You can swallow as many pills as you want…I don’t care! I AM DONE! Don’t call me anymore. This is what should have been done long long ago!”

He shut the door and left.

The Night When Guns Were Shot

It was finally over. Finished. Martha looked outside. It was broad daylight now.

She was feeling hollow. Not knowing what to do, she tossed and turned in her bed for what seemed like hours.

The doorbell suddenly rang. Martha was hopeful that it might be Damion but at the door stood, Ray.

“Can I disturb you for some time?”

She had completely forgotten about Ray. The past week has fully effaced his existence from her life.

“Uh…yes. I think so”, she said.

“Thanks.”

He came in and sat down.

“Martha, is everything all right?”, Ray said, looking around.

Martha coughed and kept quiet.

“Martha? Please talk to me?”

“I – uh, don’t know what I had been feeling really.”

“Did you take sleeping pills?”

Martha looked stunned, “How do you—"

“The bottle is lying on the floor and everything is messed up.”

“Yes, I did”, she sighed heavily.

“What the hell? Do I need to take you to the hospital? When did you do this?”

“I am fine. Calm down. Damion took me to the hospital.”

“Thank God! I hope you are fine? We can talk later if you want. Is Damion here?”

“No, I am fine. I want to talk to you. And also, Damion and I broke up, I guess.”

“Oh, uh..am sorry about that.”

“Ask me something.”

“Yeah, right! Uh—last time I saw you, you told me that Christianwas not interested in you, was there any particular reason for that?”

“I told you ---"

WHAM!

A glass from one of the windows broke into minute pieces and a gunshot was heard.

Ray grabbed Martha by the waist and rolled over the ground. There were two more gunshots and afterwards a stone was hurled through the window.

Martha’s eyes were shut tight and she was shaking. Ray slowly got up, peeked out the window and pulled Martha up onto the couch.

She was still extremely scared and did not want to open her eyes.

“Its alright…we are safe, for now…”, Ray said softly. He left the center table and moved towards the window sill. Poking the paper wrapped stone with his shoes, Ray picked it up. The paper around the stone, had a message –

“White light will turn off soon,”

Ray read out from the chit and looked at Martha. Her face was lighted by the hues of the moonlight and the bafflement was evident.

“What on earth is 'white light'?”, asked Martha.

"No idea", said Ray, with furrowed eyebrows, "Martha, come with me. It's not safe for you to stay here. They will attack you again."

"But--"

"No buts, you will have to come with me."

 

* * *

"Damion, what happened?", asked Mrs Millie.

There was no reply. Damion was fidgeting with his spoon. 

"Damion?!"

"What?", he looked up, as if he were in deep thought before this.

"Why are you not eating?", Mrs. Millie repeated.

"I am eating."

"Really? The plate is still full, unlike your stomach."

"Mom, honestly, I am fine!"

"Are you? How is Martha?"

"Great! Now, you bring her up! You know what? Why don't you adopt her? She will be your perfect daughter! She will sit when you ask her to, eat when you tell her, smile and cry when you want her to!"

"Damion, do you realise that everything I have I done was to make you happy?! And oh, please, forgive me for asking after a poor girl who had lost all!"

"Mom, you can go and ask her for yourself, cause am pretty sure we broke up."

"Wha--"

"I will not talk about it with you." 

Damion got up and left. 

He was not okay. He was angry, mostly with himself. He wanted to be with Martha. He wanted her to be next to him, and not alone in that house. But, can he really do anything if Martha keeps putting Christian over him, all the damn time! He was bound to feel the way he was. After all, Chris was in love with his girlfriend! He pressed the pillow on his face and screamed!

The Night When She Was In His Arms 

"Wow! You've got a pretty cool place!", said Martha.

"Thanks", replied Ray.

"Woah! There are two freaking floors in your apartment!!!", Martha jumped, like a schoolgirl.

"Yeah," Ray said, impassively.

"I am sorry. But, I have not seen such a nice apartment except for Mr. White's."

"It's okay. Uh, there is a guest bedroom upstairs. I will open that for your use. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, whatever you think is right."

"Okay, and I think you are hungry. I will make some soup. Okay?"

"Yeah. Totally. Can I help you?"

Ray nodded.

Martha set about chopping the vegetables while Ray freshened up.

Martha was wondering. She was thinking about what Ray might have in mind. She was thinking about Ray, again. She shook her head and sighed.

"I've got to stop this. He is not into me", she whispered under her breath.

 

They had soup and Martha was exhausted. She had not slept properly for the last week. She just wanted to close her eyes, relax her body and clear her mind. So, she did and was sound asleep in a few minutes.

It is five in the morning. The phone rang up. Martha startled out of bed and stumbled into the bed post, massaging her shoulder and picked up the phone.

It was an unknown number. She was still half asleep and pondering what to do.

Without deciding, she answered the call. A rough voicespoke.

"Hello?", the voice said

"Who is this?", Martha said, eyes closed.

"It me. They will kill me soon. You should know the truth."

"Uncle Theo? Is that you?", Martha was fully awake, her heart pounding.

"Martha, run away. They are coming after you. They finished him off and now me. She is not what you think of her. Run away, Mar--"

"Hello? Uncle Theo? UNCLE? OH. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT." 

Should she tell Ray? Now? In the morning? What will she say? She was not even sure if it was him!

She couldn’t sleep. She kept tossing and turning around. 

She opened her eyes and was blinded by broad daylight.

She rushed out of bed and got ready to go downstairs. 

Ray was sitting at the dining table having some toast. 

"Good morning. I have kept your breakfast there," he said, pointing at the kitchen counter.

"Hey. Thanks," she said. 

Ray looked happy. He seemed calm, after last night's encounter.

Martha was not ready to trouble him again. She felt bad for him. He was already dealing with a lot of stuff and looking after her. She kept the news of the call to herself, atleast for now. 

She sat down beside him. He smiled at her. Why did he suddenly look so elated? His eyes were gleaming. 

"Ray? Did something happen?", Martha siad, without thinking.

"What? No? Why?", he said, his mouth still forming a half smile. 

“Oh, just asking...”

“Well, I kind of have progressed in the investigation. So, I am happy about it, I guess.”

“Oh! That's great. Tell me about it.”

“I will. Not now, though.”

Martha merely stared and went on with her breakfast.

Around two in the afternoon, Martha was sitting beside her bed, on the floor. She was staring at the phone, intently.

Was it all a dream?

Why is there nothing on my call log?

But, it was too real. I heard him. I felt his fear inside my heart. How can it all be a dream?

She finally decided to let it go. 

* * *

It was about nine at night. Martha was waiting for Ray to get back, so that they could have dinner together.

After about another thirty minutes, Ray stumbled in through the door. 

He was barely able to stand on his feer. 

Martha rushed to him. 

"What the actual--", Ray put his finger on Martha's lips, and whispered, "Shhhh. No talking."

He smelled strongly of whiskey.

"See, I know what you think about me. I know it all," Ray whispered close to her ears.

Martha looked at him, shocked.

"Ray, you should get to bed. You are really drunk."

Ray pulled her close by the waist. His green eyes were giving her a smoldering gaze. The look made Martha's heart beat like a drum, made all the butterflies in her stomach go mad! She could hardly breathe.

Ray slowly scooped the hair, falling onto her face behind her ears. He drew in, Martha closed her eyes. 

"It's real," thought Martha.

Their lips brushed on each other's. It was passionate, lasting and comforting. 

"Bedroom?", whispered Ray.

Martha nodded.

Ray picked her up from her feet into his arms and carried her to his bedroom.

He slowly put her on the bed and pulled over her body. Their bodies collided as they kissed.

Ray made his way down Martha' s neck and stomach, between her thighs.

Martha sighed loudly. 

"Is this okay?", asked Ray, softly.

Martha nodded yet again and bit her lips. Her hands gripped the sheets firmly as Ray went further.

Martha felt her skin burn. She was breathing really fast. She was feeling everything at once yet every single feeling was distinct. 

It was quick, great and passionate.

They both laid under the sheets, naked, their bodies tangled up, panting.

Martha was feeling like she had achieved the world. 

Ray looked at her, kissed her on the forehead and put her head on his chest.

Their eyes were closed but they were far away from being asleep right now.

Martha thought she would always remember the night when he made her the happiest girl on the planet!

The Night When White Light Was Turned Off 

The next morning, Martha awoke, by a sweet kiss on her lips. 

She opened her eyes, to those gorgeous sage green eyes.

"Good morning. Breakfast's ready, rise and shine!", said Ray, with a wide grin.

Martha looked at him, bedazzled, and got out of bed. She was feeling incredibly relieved. She felt as though all of her problems were solved and that Ray was the only thing she needed.

They had breakfast and Ray got ready to go out.

"Where are you headed?", asked Martha.

"To the bank. I need to deposit some money...", Ray replied.

"Oh, okay, bye", said Martha.

Ray kissed her on the forehead and smiled heartily before leaving.

* * *

Martha read a book and toured the apartment. She hadn't had the chance to look at the place properly after coming here, the day before yesterday. She looked at the interior with great admiration. It had a soft aesthetic, yet felt enigmatic.

"Just like, Ray," Martha thought to herself.

After another hour or so, she finally sat down and stared at the wall. 

After what felt like an hour or so (but in reality was just a passage of three minutes), she went into the guest room and was suddenly reminded of the phone call. 

She sat down on the bed and went through the call history, yet again. There was nothing. The last call she saw was that of Damion's. The night when she had swallowed those pills and called him, crying, to save her. 

It felt so extremely stupid now that she thought about it. What was she thinking?

She was disconcerted to think that Damion was the one who came to her, the one who apparently "saved" her life.

She sighed and sat still. Something felt wrong, out of place. 

"But, everything is fine. Ray and I are finally a thing. Nothing can be wrong here," she assured herself. 

But, no, something was different. Something was wrong.

* * *

"The number, you have dialed, is currently out of reach. Please, try again, later."

Martha put the phone down, frustrated. She was getting worked up. It was the eighteenth time that she had tried to reach Mr. White but it was in vain. The call would not connect!

She was just not getting what was wrong with her. One moment she felt like the happiest girl and now she was the most miserable one.

"Am I cursed?", she asked herself.

There was a long pause and when she finally made effort to get up and the phone rang up.

She jumped and groped for the phone on the bedside table.

It was Mrs. White.

"Why is she calling?", Martha pondered.

She thought that it would probably be something about Damion and her breakup. She really did not want to talk about it.

The call ended but rang up yet again.

"Hello?", she answered. 

There was grave silence. 

"Aunt Millie? What--?? This can't be true...You said -- said that he was getting better!", Martha said, in a feeble voice.

" I will be there in a bit."

The call ended. The phone call was real, after all. 

"Uncle Theo...oh God!", Martha whispered, covering her face with her hands.

* * *

Martha burst in through the cabin door.

Mrs. Mille was already there by the bed, weeping in a low voice. 

"Oh God...what happened Aunt Mille", Martha said, hugging her.

"I don't know, I dont---", Mrs Millie broke down and started crying bitterly.

"It's okay...calm down, please.”

Mrs. Millie kept sobbing in Martha's hands. 

She was crying too.

 "What have I done? Why is this happening with me? First Christian and now--", sobbed Mrs. Millie.

"I know, Aunt Millie, I know. I just don't understand why it happened so suddenly," said Martha.

Mrs. Millie wiped her face and said in a shaky voice, "Can you please call Damion, my dear? He doesn't know yet. I could only think of you after I got the news."

"I, uh- ", hesitated Martha.

"Please."

She couldn't say no, "Okay," she said.

 She went outside the room and pulled out her phone. She dialed Damion's number but couldn't press the call button. She felt a pang of gulit inside her. She decided to call Ray, instead. 

"Hello? Uh, Ray? Is he there?", asked Martha, on hearing someone else's voice. 

But, no one replied. The call ended, abruptly. Martha was bewildered.

"Who the hell was that?", she thought. 

But, she knew it wasn't the time to ponder on such a thing. 

She had to call Damion, now. She dialed the number again, and called.

"Hey, uh. You need to come to the hospital. It's Uncle Theo," said Martha, softly.

Damion arrived in about half an hour.

Martha nd Mrs Mille were sitting together. Mrs Mille had put her head on Martha's shoulder. Her face was white and exhausted. The wrinkles were pronounced and she looked much older than her actual age. Why was she suffering so much? She was innocent! Martha felt infuriated. It hasn't even been one months and now Mr. White was also gone.

Mrs. Millie saw Damion and broke down into his arms. 

"Mom, it's okay....you're fine. We are fine. Dad will be okay," assured Damion. Martha looked at him. She wondered if it was only Aunt Millie whom he was trying to calm down or was it him, who needed the assurance. 

His face was really dull and Martha, suddenly, felt the same guilt. She felt sorry for him but never pitied him. He looked lonely. When Christian was there, he never really appreciated his presence but now that he was gone, Damion was trying to clutch on to the few times they were actually happy, together. But, now, his father was the only support he has - or, had. 

The doctor had made it very clear that Mr. White was already gone. It was just a matter of minutes and then, his heart would cease to beat. He would cease to exist.

Mrs millie sat down on the chair again, and Martha walked up to Damion. She, automatically hugged him, warmly and tightly. 

They went outside the cabin. 

"How are you feeling?", she asked him.

"I dont know, honestly. I feel lost."

"I am so sorry about all this. You and Aunt millie really do not deserve to be treated in this way."

"It's funny, you know? I never thought we would talk properly when my father is on his deathbed!"

"What are you saying?"

"I don't know, Martha. It was not supposed to be this way. I needed you to be there with me and not just for me!"

"We are not doing this right now, Damion. Please."

"I want to know where it went wrong!"

"Damion, there was nothing right. Everything was wrong about us. We were never right. Our relationship ship was like, a maze, but the only drawback was that there was no way out of it. We were never meant to be in that maze!"

"Rea--"

"Hey, Martha. What on earth happened? I got your message and rushed! Is he gone, already?", said Ray, striding across the corridor.

"No, but anytime now," said Martha, gloomily.

Ray kissed her on the forehead and said, "It's okay. He will be happy wherever he goes."

Damion took a few steps back and raised his eyebrows. He said, "Hah! Oh my God!"

He laughed sarcastically and continued, "Nice one, Martha. I just-- wow. You have made me speechless!". He laughed, again.

The laugh made Martha's skin burn. She was shocked to feel that way. 

"Damion, this is a hospital! Don't create a scene, I am begging you!", Martha said. 

"What the fuck do you expect me to do? Congratulate you? Or say, "Oh, am soooooo happy that you found someone who fucking loves you!"? Or say that I say that I saw this coming?!", Damion said, coming near Martha.

"Hey man! Don't behave like that with her! It's really not nice if you!", said Ray, putting a hand on Damion's chest and pushing him backwards.

"Oh, you wanna teach me how to be nice?! Ha! Yeah, why not, Mr. Steal Someone's Girlfriend by being FAKE?", Damion shouted.

And then, there was a smack. Ray had pushed Damion into the wall with a thud. Damion, smacked him across the face. They were strangling each other.

"GUYS, STOP IT! RAY!", said Martha.

A nurse came out of the adjacent room and asked them to stop immediately. 

Both were panting. Ray had a bruised cheekbone. Damion's lips were bleeding. 

Martha was appalled. She had no idea what had just taken place!

Before she could even think straight, a doctor came out of another room and informed them that Mr. White had passed away. 

Everyone was silent now. The tiniest of noises were reverberated by the walls of the corridor. Damion did the required signatures and Martha and Ray stayed with Mrs. Millie.

They all went to their apartment to freshen up before the burial. 

Damion and Martha did not even look at each other before leaving. 

Mrs Millie asked Martha to accompany her to their apartment but she refused. "You saw what happened an hour ago. I cannot stand to stay in the same place as Damion for a single second!", she told her.

* * *

Ray and Martha drove back home. But, Ray insisted on them getting some food for themselves. So, Martha asked him to drop her off at the apartment and then, go to get the food. Ray did as she asked him to. 

Martha pressed the elevator button. She was musing on that midnight phone call. It was true. But, where had the number gone from her phone? She was trying to connect some dots. She knew she had the information with her but it was scattered, like a puzzle. But, then, it hit her! The elevator door opened and she hurried to Ray's bedroom! 

She shuffled through the table and the files and peeked through the corners of the room. After a few minutes, she looked through the drawers and found it.

The chit - the paper which was hurled through the window on the day of the shooting.

The chit said, "White Light will turn off soon."

"White light. It implies Mr. White. That makes sense cause Uncle Theo just passed away. So, white light has turned off! Yes!", Martha screamed at the walls. She had finally joined the dots. She knew what it had meant - atleast to some extent.

"But why on earth did they want to kill him off? If they want me to die then, why are they not coming after me? Why, Uncle Theo?",she was desperate for answers. 

"Then, I was right! He was getting better but they killed him to hide something, maybe? should I ask Aunt Millie? But, She will worry her head off...I guess, I have to call Damion."

She dialed the number. It rang twice, thrice, five times and kept ringing but no one picked up. 

"Damion! PICK THE DAMN PHONE UP!!", She hit the phone, as if it would make Damion pick her call up.

She was just going to dial Mrs. Millie, when she noticed something in the far corner of the bottom drawer. She stretched her hand and groped for the thing. It was a passport. She opened the thing and saw the name "Colin Raymond" with Ray's picture alongside.

"What on eart-"

But, before she could even grasp at the idea, the sound of a trigger was heard. She felt the cold, metal body touch her head. She was immobile.

"I see you have found my property. I would advise you to put your hands in the air," came the deep, enigmatic voice - Ray's voice.

The Night When The Last Sigh Was Heaved

 Martha was bewildered. She had no idea what was going on. she slowly it her hands in the air and closed her eyes. She was panting and sweating, even in the month of January.

"Turn around", said Ray, as he pressed the mouth of the gun into her head.

Martha did as she was told. 

"Ray, why are you doing this?", she whispered, slowly.

"What did you say? Ray? Who's that?", said, Ray - or, Colin.

"Who are you?"

"Why, i thought you found my passport."

"I am not getting it! Why are you even here? Why did you even fake being Ray?"

"Oh, of course. Don't worry, honey. You will get to know every fucking thing before I kill you here!", Colin said, laughing, hysterically.

"Really? So, everything we did was just fake?! The night we spent together?! All was an act?", said Martha, her voice, shaky.

"You remember how I showed up right after you and Damion broke up and you had those sleeping pills? That was exactly what was supposed to happen. You fell right into my trap. I showed up when you were at your worst. You looked up to me, immediately. And, two days later we were in my bed. God, you are dumb!"

"But what have i done to you?! Huh? And, why did you kill Uncle Theo and Christian"

"Oh. Well, I didn’t kill them, but I let it happen. You were wondering why there was no call on your phone after that night? Why, because I deleted it when you were fast asleep after having my special soup. And, you are right, you did nothing to me but to my sister? Oh yes!"

"Your what?!"

"Oh, surely, you are not shocked!"

"I don't even know who your sister is!"

"Oh, but, you do, Martha. Okay, now, go back a bit. You remember how you and your father, before he died, used to live in a tiny apartment? Now, think about a girl who lived down the alley, a little bit older than you? She used to play with you?"

"Penny? How-? She died when i was eight or something!"

"Oh NO! Well, your father must have told you so. But, no she is breathing, living and taking her revenge! Penny is my adopted sister and, your very own half-sister!"

"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?", shouted Martha.

Colin hit her with the gun and said, "Shhh. No shouting here! Your father messed up real bad before marrying your dumb mother! YOUR FATHER LEFT PENNY AND HER MOTHER ALONE AND WENT OFF TO MARRY YOUR MOTHER! You can’t deny it!"

"Why am I here, then? Why did she not punish my father? And, why did you kill Christian and Uncle Theo?"

"Well, you are not supposed to ask questions or talk, at all! You are supposed to die!", said Colin, his finger on the trigger, ready to shoot, "Just so you know, I wanted to take the revenge on you because you were the one who cursed my sister’s future, because your father chose you and once he found out that penny was his, he paid off her mother to send her off to London. She was only fifteen and all alone! She wondered round the streets to find a job and that's when my father took her in. He raised your father's left-over! I saw her cry every night. I saw her struggle to survive! I saw it all, and, I knew right then, that, I would hunt you down. And, fortunately, I came across Mrs. White. I thought about making you suffer, but, i guess you will die peacefully, after all. But, i wish for you to BURN IN HELL!"

Martha had shut her eyes closed but, then, she remembered Colin's words "I came across Mrs. White". What was that supposed to mean? Why was he glad about coming across Aunt Millie? What was going on? She wanted to know everything before dying, because death was inevitable, now that she was within Colin's grip.

But, before the trigger could be pulled, there was a loud, heavy, thud! Martha opened her eyes wide. Colin looked around quickly. Martha took this chance of Colin's distraction and kicked the gun out of his hands. Martha made her way for the gun but Colin grabbed her by the hair and thrusted her across the room! Martha hit her head at the corner of the bed and screamed in agony. Colin was just about to turn around when a voice said, "DO NOT MOVE, ASSHOLE!". It was Damion with the gun pointed at Colin.

"i know all about your and my mother's game!", said Damion, "Leave Martha alone or i'll shoot you right now!".

"Look, Damion, this has nothing to do with you. You can just leave and not do anything. I will take care of everything. just leave, man!", said Colin, in a calm voice.

"Oh really? You mess with my love, Martha, and tell me to leave. You are funny! And, not just Martha, you played an active part in my father and Christian's death as well! And, still you ask me to stay out of it?"

"What ever happened with Christian and your father is totally on your mother! I did nothing! She sent out people to follow Christian that night. She was the one who ordered him to be killed! It was her who poisoned your father slowly, each day, because she knew that Mr. White knew all about her plan. And, if you look at it that way, she did all this for you!"

"Oh. Really? Well, then, I must be thankful for this situation! Thank God, my father left a letter for me to tell me everything and i showed up here on time...."

"Damion. DROP THAT GUN!", shrieked Mrs. Millie.

Martha took this chance and without a second thought, grabbed the bedside bedside lamp and hit Colin in the back of his head, really hard! Colin looked round for a second and collapsed to the ground.

"Give me the gun!", came Mrs. Millie's voice. 

She tried to tackle the gun out of Damion's hands.

"The lock is off! Stop it!", shouted Martha.

Bullets started to fire from the gun. Martha dunked under the table. But, before anything could happen, Martha looked at Damion. his faded blue shirt slowly turned red - a bullet had struck him right below his ribs.

Martha rushed to him. Damion slowly collapsed to his knees and Mrs. Millie stood there with the gun in her hand.

“Damion! Shit! Ambulance! CALL THE DAMN AMBULANCE!!!!”, Screamed Martha, with Damion’s head on her lap.

But, Mrs. Millie did not move. She stood, there, immobile, impassive, as if turned into a human staute.

“Martha, the cops will be here soon. And,-“, said, Damion, in a low voice.

“Shh…shh…don’t talk, no. Please. Please, don’t. You will be okay. I will call an ambulance”, said Martha, looking around for her phone.

“No. No. Listen to me. Everything that has happened during the last few months was because of my mother. The letter which my father addressed to me has all the details and many proofs of her endless crimes.”

“Damion, I am begging you to stop talking and let me call an ambulance!”

“No. What I say now is very important, okay?”

“Damion.”

“Martha,” sighed Damion. “My father had divided all his belongings equally between, you and me. But, I feared something of this sort would happen today, so I made a will in which all of my property will be transferred to you in my absence”. He, then, looked down at his wound which had blood pouring out of it. Martha started crying.

“Don’t, Martha. I love you so much, and am sorry for being a shitty boyfriend. Don’t cry for me.”

“No. Damion, you are the only person who made me happy when I was at my worst. You saved my life today!”

“I told you he was an asshole”, laughed Damion, weakly.

“I am sorry for everything. I will never forgive myself for this. I took your life away!”, sobbed Martha.

“Please, don’t do this to yourself, Martha. Follow your dreams. Go to California. Just, remember me as a happy memory, please. Let me see you happy before I leave. By the way, you knocked his ass off right there! I am proud of you!”, smiled Damion, looking at Colin.

Martha smiled, with tear drops rolling down her cheeks.

“Martha, one thing, I want to know before I die. Did Christian love you?”

“No. He always looked at me as a sister.”

“Did you talk about this with each other? Chris and you?”

“I asked him, once. He said that he didn’t like any girl. He was attracted to boys. He was homosexual. But he had made me swear to not tell this to anyone, so, I couldn’t tell you the, I am so so sorry. And, Chris and I were never more than anything but friends.”

Damion smiled – a genuine and happy, smile. He, then, looked at Mrs. Millie. She was standing beside him, still, the gun loosely gripped in her hand.

“Mom, I hope you’re happy? I hope it was all worth it.”, he closed his eyes and sighed – the last sigh.

Martha sobbed, clutching Damion’s hands. 

“Why did you do all this?”, Martha asked Mrs Millie.

“Theo, never ever, looked at Damion properly. It was always about Christian. Day and night, his only concern was Christian. I – I thought maybe if I get Christian to move out of the way then all will be solved. Theo would hold on to Damion. But, he knew what I did. He knew it all. I even tried to burn down Christian’s mother’s only picture, that he kept in his wallet and, it was Damion, who stopped me when the picture was half burnt and he told Christian that it was him, who had burnt it! Theo called you to say these, but, I would always stop him. And, the only thing I had left was killing him off too. All this, I did for Damion. Everything,” sobbed Mrs millie.

“I thought you loved Christian? And, you tried to kill me too. You said that I was like, your daughter!”

“I loathed Christian. Damion knew that. I tried to turn him against Christian, day and night, but, look. He is the one lost here. And, you. I never wanted to kill you! But, I knew that if anyone could deceive Damion and you, it would be Colin. He wanted to avenge his sister’s unfortunate fate by killing you and I-”

She couldn’t finish her sentence. The cops arrested her. But, Martha knew what she wanted to say – “….and I let that happen!”

They carried Damion’s body out of the room. Martha went out of the building and stood at the sidewalk. Her top, was covered in blood. Her forehead had a deep cut. The first-aid team took her to the ambulance. Martha’s eyes went up to the sky. The night was dark and gloomy. The night when the last sigh was heaved.

The Night When The Darkness Was Turned Into A Rainbow

*Two weeks Later*

“Bye, guys,” said Martha to her high school friends.

She had opened that mail. She had been accepted. She was going to California. The university had agreed on late admission looking at her extraordinary grades!

On the way to the airport, Martha stopped at the cemetery. She went to Christian and Damion’s gravestones which lay side by side.

“I thank you both, for being there for me in my darkest nights. I will never forget what you two mean to me. I still don’t seem to believe that the last two months changed my life so much and you two always stayed by my side even when I hurt you both. Thank you for turning my darkest nights into a lovely rainbow.”

She looked up at the sky and saw the moon – bright, round, and full of hope!