The night of January 27, 2024
🏃
"I have to leave right now."
"Well, you have an appointment tomorrow."
"Cancel the plans then!"
"Stephen, this is an important rendezvous."
"I'm really sorry Jake, I have an urgent problem. My friend needs me."
The argument with my manager lasted 10 minutes.
I'm on my way back to Texas.
There's a big chance that I'll no longer meet Paula.
She was a big help to the success of my life. I have to thank her.
The airport station looks big, but somehow I made it to the flight very fast.
"Stephen! Where are you?"
Pedro called.
"I'm on my way! Please tell Paula to hang on tight!"
"Stephen, I'm afraid you won't make it."
"No! I will! Can you at least hand me to her?"
This time, the flight is about to depart.
"Ok, wait!"
There was a moment of silence.
I can feel every tingling sensation from the desperate need to talk to Paula.
"Stephen? It's me."
She sounded really sick; she could barely talk.
"Paula!? Thank you very much. You didn't mention you were sick!"
"I'm sorry... I don't want to be a nuisance to you. "
"Have you read the news?"
"Yes, I'm so proud of you, Stephen" she coughed.
"I wouldn't make it if it weren't for your help in the first place. The whole album is dedicated to you!"
"Oh that's so sweet, thank you."
"No, I should be the one saying that to you. So thank you very much, for every moment we've spent together when I moved back to Texas. You healed me during my darkest moments after Alice broke up with me. You were the reason why I started playing music again. You are the reason why I'm successful and I owe my life to you."
"That's very thoughtful of you! Believe it or not, I'm not the only person who contributed to your success. Remember, it was Alice who started everything. You started writing love songs because of her. You moved to California because of her. You discovered your talent because of her."
It was weird to hear Paula's voice being on Alice's side.
"Please don't be silly. She cheated on me. She had another guy. She should never be credited in the first place."
"Ok, I get your frustration towards her. But I need you to listen to her side. I guess she was afraid to tell us. I believe there's something more than meets the eye. Maybe there's something you don't know about her. There's always a reason. "
"How do you know that?"
Paula was acting as if she was Alice.
As if she's the one who cheated.
She's very eccentric sometimes.
"I just know. Listen, there's a brown box under my bed at my new address. I gave Mark the exact location. It's wrapped with a purple ribbon. I want you to know what's inside there."
She coughed so hard after the sentence.
"I will, Paula, please hang in there".
There was no response.
"Paula? Are you okay?"
Still, no response anymore.
I was very worried about her.
I decided to move my flight because I knew I would not make it on time.
I'd rather listen to her voice on a phone call.
~
Minutes later, I heard clattering.
A sudden panic can be heard.
A lot of screaming and sobbing.
I heard someone saying, "Please!"
It felt very familiar.
It might not have been Paula's voice because it wasn't that soft.
There was a small scuffle.
Until a voice came,
"Stephen, these might be her last moments. Say everything you want to tell her."
The voice felt very familiar.
I already heard this strange lady's voice.
I was handed back to Paula immediately.
"Stephen?"
"Yes, I'm here! Please hang in there. I can't lose you."
I sobbed so hard.
"Stephen, thank you so much for everything. One of my favorite goals is to help a friend. And I helped you with your career. Please enjoy your journey as an artist. I love you so much, Stephen. You're one of the best friends I ever had. I hope you'll meet Alice again. "
It is really weird for her to mention Alice in her dying moments.
"I promise I will Please don't go yet."
"I Love You..."
. . .
The phone call can be barely heard.
I only listen to the silent background after her words.
Then there was a sudden, loud noise.
The one that you can hear on a monitor going off.
This time the beep went constant.
I can hear everyone sobbing in that room.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
And I knew that was it.
The phone call suddenly ended.
That was it.
Her last moments.
The people in there didn't even explain to me what illness she had.
I broke into tears.
I fell onto my knees and sobbed so hard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
🙇
7 Days Later.
I went silent to public.
I arrived at Texas.
Stayed at Mark's house.
"Hey, Can I get Paula's address?" was my question.
Mark then handed me a yellow note where the address is written.
I told Mark that I had to go to that location.
He said it would be better if he'd go too.
🚗
We went to that address.
Had a key.
The house looks very vintage.
It looks old.
It's giving me an early 20th century aesthetic.
I went directly to her bedroom.
Mark was scrutinizing the whole place.
I searched under her bed.
There was only one thing in there and that is the box.
The box is wrapped with a pretty purple ribbon.
"To Stephen" was written on top of it.
I opened the box and I was completely flabbergasted by the items in it.
No wonder why the box itself is familiar. No wonder why that strange lady's voice was very familiar.
. . .
There were polaroids of Alice, letters that I wrote to Alice, and the gray scarf was there.
I was completely shocked.
I remember I threw all this garbage in! How does she get all these back?
Why did Paula have all these things? Under the items that I gave to Alice, there were pictures of Alice and Paula together.
Is this a coincidence?
I've felt goosebumps as if Paula is here watching me discover their belongings.
There were a lot of selfies they took together.
What was their relationship?
The last item that I saw was this letter placed in an envelope.
This letter was meant for me.
The letter goes:
She wasn't wrong though; I really do miss Alice.
Trying to forget and eradicate her, in my opinion, is the stupidest action a man can do.
I should be a better man.
But I don't know if I should go back with Alice.
She ghosted me.
She said nothing.
It would be embarrassing if I was the one who had to meet her.
I'm the one who's hurt and I'm the one to beg for a meet up?
The last time I saw her was when she broke up with me.
My feelings were hurt.
But I guess I should listen to Paula.
If only she was here with me to give me advice...
I should try to be less selfish.
🚗
I stood up and met with Mark at the car. He's ready for the funeral.
"You knew all along?" I asked.
"Sorry Stephen, she told me that it was her plan. If we try to ruin it, it'll disappoint her. We tried our best not to tell you, but Paula was on the verge of dying, so we had to contact you for her last moments."
"Thank you so much, Mark..."
I suddenly broke into tears and leaned towards his shoulder and sobbed.
I do miss Alice.
But I also miss Paula.
She was a good friend of mine.
🌧️
We arrived to the funeral and it was raining.
There weren't many people.
Everyone was wearing a black outfit.
🥀
As I threw the flower to the coffin, I saw a big picture of Paula.
Making a big smile
. . .
Then I had a mental breakdown.
Fell to the ground and was wet,
cried and
was very devastated.
Everything started to blur.
Everything went into a slow motion.
As I was sobbing so hard, I notice Alice at the corner.
Wiping off her tears.
She was standing in the rain with her umbrella and a black coat.
Why is she here?
And how did she get here?