UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER (EDITED VERSION)

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE: Family drama

As he stood there, the memories of that fateful night came flooding back to him. He recalled the shocking discovery of his mother in the basement, barely conscious from dehydration. The guilt of not having called home before returning for summer break weighed heavily on him as he walked back that night. Usually, he spent his summers on campus, so this time he had decided to surprise his mom, but the events of that evening had left a lasting impact on him.

On that fateful evening, as the car came to a stop in front of the house, he stepped out and proceeded indoors. Typically, at this hour, he would find his mother comfortably ensconced on the couch, engrossed in his favorite magazine. However, on this occasion, the entire house lay shrouded in silence, with darkness enveloping every corner. Given the relatively early hour, the absence of his parents was perplexing. Where could they be?

He shouted out to them, but the only response was the echo of his own voice. Concerned, he decided to head to their bedroom, only to find it deserted. He speculated that his father might have remained on campus to admire his latest artwork, a common occurrence for the dedicated artist, while his mother could be tied up with a photo shoot. After reaching out to his mother's agent for confirmation, he was shocked to learn that she had not been seen for an entire week. Worry gnawing at him, he tried to contact his father, but there was no answer.

After that, he made the decision to get in touch with his grandfather, Jacob Adams, to verify whether his mother was at his place. If she wasn't there, he wanted to inform his grandfather about what had happened. His grandfather told him that he hadn't seen his daughter, and when Ben proposed contacting the police, his grandfather cautioned against it and said he would come over instead.

With his mom nowhere to be found and his father unable to reach him, he decided to search the entire house while waiting for his grandfather. As he cautiously made his way through the familiar rooms, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease gnawing at him. When he reached the garage, he was surprised to see his mother's car parked there. It was her pride and joy, and she rarely went anywhere without it. Puzzled by its presence, he was about to leave the garage when a sharp metallic sound echoed from the depths of the basement, like someone striking a pipe with a metal object. His curiosity piqued, he listened intently, realizing that the mysterious noise was indeed emanating from the basement.

Once he reached the basement door, he noticed that it was locked. He forcefully broke it open and made his way down the creaky wooden steps, the old floorboards groaning beneath his weight. At the bottom, he saw his mother lying at the foot of the stairs, her face contorted in pain. Without hesitation, he rushed to her side, gently supporting her as he reached for the phone to call an ambulance. In the chaos, he noticed how dry her lips were and quickly rushed upstairs, grabbed a glass of water, and returned to help her drink as he anxiously waited for help to arrive.

To the present.

In a fit of rage, Ben's hand swiftly snatches the delicate, intricately designed vase from the antique table. With a sudden, explosive motion, he hurls it against the wall, the impact causing the vase to shatter into countless sharp fragments, scattering across the room.

***

-Shelley POV-

It's been exactly one week since Ben and I had that amazing time together, and I can't help but feel grateful for how things have been going between us. When he's unable to come over to my place, we make it a point to meet up and spend time together. Our usual routine involves grabbing dinner from a local roadside vendor and taking a stroll through the neighbourhood, taking in the sights and sounds around us. When the evening comes to an end, we share a passionate kiss before parting ways, always leaving me longing for more of his company.