THE SHADOW MAN
TYRA HOLMES SEARCHED EVERYWHERE, EVERY POSSIBLE PLACE WHERE SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD MEET HIM, EVEN REPORTED TO THE POLICE THAT HE WAS MISSING, SEARCH PARTIES WERE SENT,BUT….NO ENRIQUE. ENRIQUE WAS GONE, VANISHED, HE DISAPPEARED ONE FINE DAY AND WAS NEVER FOUND. IT HAD BEEN 1 YEAR SINCE TYRA LOST HER LOVE, UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES? EVEN SHE WASN’T SURE ABOUT IT. SHE JUST REMEMBERED FAINTLY, THE LAST NIGHT SHE HAD SPENT WITH HIM. SHE WAS DEAD, MOTIONLESS, HER TEARS HAD DRIED, SHE HAD STOPPED PLAYNG THE PIANO OR WRITING OR READING, JUST SAT PEACEFULLY BY THE WINDOW AND RECAPTURED ALL THOSE BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS, HER MOMENTS WITH ENRIQUE. IT WAS RAINING THAT NIGHT, THE WINDOWS RAORED AS THE LIGHTENING LEASHED ITSELF OVER THE DARK MOONLESS NIGHT, ILLUMINATING THE WORLD FOR A SECOND OR TWO. HE SAT JUST BESIDES THE WINDOW AS SHE LOOKED AT HIM AND HIS EYES, AT HER. SHE STILL TREMBLED WITH THE THOUGHT THAT THESE WERE THE HANDS THAT HE TOUCHED THAT NIGHT, CARESSING THEM WITH HIS LIPS WHICH HAD EVOKED NOVEL FEELINGS OF LOVE IN HER. HE HAD KISSED HER, SHE RECALLED AND THAT WASN’T JUST A TOUCH OF PASSION BUT SOMETTHING MORE THAN THAT, SOMETHING BEUTIFUL, SOMETHING….DIVINE.
SHE SUDDENLY OPENED HER EYES AS SHE REALISED SHE WAS DRIFTING INTO SLEEP AND AGAIN BEGAN HER CEASELESS PEERING DOWN THE WINDOW. IMAGES WERE FLASHING, ONE AFTER THE OTHER IN FRONT OF HER AND SHE COULD AGAIN HEAR HIM SAY- “TYRA, I LOVE YOU.”
SHE DESPERATELY WANTED TO HEAR THAT HUSKY MASCULINE VOICE OF HIS, SMELL THE FRAGRANCE OF HIS WORDS AND FEEL THAT SOFT TOUCH OF HIS OVER HER HALF PARTED LIPS. BUT HE WAS GONE…GONE FOREVER?
HER LIPS SUDDENLY CURVED AND ARCHED INTO A SMILE AS HER MIND SEARCHED ALL THE PLEASANT THINGS THEY HAD DONE TOGETHER. SHE HAD A LUCID PICTURE OF THE DAY THEY HAD MET, THE DAY WHEN SHE FELL IN LOVE AGAIN, THE DAY SHE MET HER ENRIQUE. IT WAS A RATHER EMOTIONALLY TORMENTING DAY FOR HER AS HER FIANCE, RYAN, HAD CALLED OFF THEIR 3 YEAR OLD RELATIONSHIP AND HAD EVEN ASKED HER TO VACATE THE HOUSE. SHE SMILED AS SHE REMEMBERED STRIKING HIS FACE RIGHT ACROSS. SHE SPED DOWN HIS APARTMENT STAIRS AND RAN AIMLESSLY, WITH HER BRIMMING EYES, AND WITH NO CLUE OF WHERE HER LEGS LED HER. BUT SHE STILL REMEMBERED THE CUPID SQUARE AND THE STONE STATUE OF THE GREEK GOD WHO SPURTED A FOUNTAIN FROM HIS ARROW WITH LITTLE PIGEONS NESTLING OVER HIS HEAD AND INVARIABLY EVERY PART OF HIS MARBLE ANATOMY. SHE SAT JUST UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE STRUCTURE, WITH THE GOD OF LOVE SMILING DOWN AT HER, WHICH IRRITATED HER MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE AT THAT MOMENT. SHE LOOKED UP AT THE GIANT STATUE FACE AND BLABBERED A FEW WORDS OF CURSE, WHICH SHE STILL REMEMBERS, NEVER MADE ANY SENSE. SHE CALLED HIM THE DIAPERED DEVIL. SHE BEGAN OBSERVING THE RIPPLES IN THE POND AS THE MIGHTY EROS SHOWERED WATER, WHICH SHE CALLED AS THE VENOM, FROM ABOVE. THOSE RIPPLES, QUITE MTAMORPHICALLY, WERE VISCIOUS CIRCLES OF LOVE AND BETRAYAL, AND SHE, AT THAT VERY MOMENT HAD RESOLVED THAT SHE WONT FALL IN LOVE , EVER AGAIN.
“TYRA DEAR, HAVE YOUR LUNCH” AUNT MARGARET CAME IN WITH A SILVER TRAY AND A PLEASNT SMILE, TRYING HER BEST TO LIFT THE GLOOM OF THE ROOM AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE GRIEF OF HER CHILD. TYRA DIDN’T RESPOND, SHE JUST WRAPPED HERSELF MORE TIGHTLY WITH HER SHAWL AS HER AUNT SLID THE CURTAINS AWAY. SHE SAT NEXT TO HER AND LAID A PLATE IN FRONT OF HER STROKING HER HEAD, URGING HER TO HAVE HER 25 YEAR OLD GIRL RECOVER HER HEALTH. BUT TYRA WAS LOST, LOST IN HER DREAMS, DREAMS THAT COULD NEVER COME TRUE, NEVER AGAIN. A TEAR TRICKLED DOWN FROM AUNT MARGARETS EYES AND DROPPED ON TYRAS HAND, PINCHING IT WITH its WARMTH, BRINGING HER TO LIFE. TYRA REACTED. SHE SMILED AT HER AUNT, WIPING HER TEARS CAREFULLY AND KISSED HER HANDS, JUSTIFYING HER BREATHS, HER LIFE. SHE EVEN HAD A GLASS OF JUICE TO RELIEVE A LITTLE OF HER AUNTS PAIN, BUT HER PAIN, HER AGONY, STILL WAITED FOR HIM, HER LOVE, HER ENRIQUE.
TYRA WAS LEFT ALONE AGAIN AND ONCE MORE, HER MIND WANDERED, MAKING HER REACH THAT INSTANT WHEN A PEARL OF TEAR HAD DROPPED FROM HER EYES INTO THE CLEAR, COLD WATER, AND THERE SHE SAW IN THOSE WATERS, THE FACE SHE CAN NEVER FORGET, THE FACE OF HER LOVE, HER LIFE. SHE LOOKED BACK AND SAW A MAN IN HIS LATE TWENTIES, STANDING TALL AND STRONG ON HIS MORE THAN 6 FEET FRAME, SMILING BACK AT HER. HIS SMILE WAS INFECTIOUS, CONTAGIOUS, ADDICTIVE. SHE COULDN’T DO ANYTHING BUT SMILE AT THIS STRANGER, EVEN WHEN HER HEART DIDN’T WANT TO. SHE STILL HADNT FORGOTTEN RYAN, BUT WHY WAS SHE ACTING SO DUMB? WHY WAS SHE SMILING AT ALL? SHE CAREFULLY REMEMBERED HIS FACE, HIS CHISELED FEATURES, SHARP NOSE, TANNED BLUSH, BLACK IMMACULATE HAIR AND EYES….HIS BEWITCHING EYES. SHE STILL HADNT GOT OVER THOSE PAIR OF BLUE EYES WHICH HAD MORE COLOR, MORE SPARK AND DEFINITELY MORE LIFE THAN ANY OTHER PAIR SHE HAD EVER SEEN.SHE WAS DRIFTING AWAY INTO THE DEPTHS OF THOSE EYES, FORGETTING EVERYTHIG, PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE OR EVEN HER EXISTENCE. THEY HAD SOMETHING EXTRA, SOMETHING POWERFUL, MAGNETIC….GODLY. “HI I AM ENRIQUE” AS SHE HEARD HIM SAY THIS, SHE WAS PULLED BACK TO THE REALTY, LOOKING ALL AROUND AND FEELING MORE EMBARASSED THAN EVER, BUT HIS SMILE REMAINED, STILL AND CONSISTENT. WORDS GOT STUCK IN HER THROAT AND SHE AVOIDED MEETING HIS EYES AGAIN, SCARED OF LOSING HERSELF. “WELL, HI, I AM TYRA, TYRA HOLMES.” SHE REPLIED RATHER HASTILY, WANTING TO MOVE AWAY FROM DISTRACTIONS, FROM MEN, FROM THESE PAIR OF BLUE EYES, FROM ENRIQUE. HE LOOKED ITALIAN TO HER, ON SECOND THOUGHT SPANISH….BUT SHE NEVER TRIED TO FIGURE THAT OUT. “I KNOW YOU TYRA” HE SPOKE AGAIN, HIS VOICE GIVING VIBRATIONS OF A DIFFERENT KIND. FIRE BURNED DOWN AT THE PIT OF HER STOMACH. SHE DIDN’T WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING WRONG, SHE DIDN’T WANTED TO LOSE HIM, BUT LOSE WHO? A STRANGER? THE EYES WERE THE CULPRIT, THOSE BLUE, DEEP EYES. SHE DECIDED TO STAY AWAY FROM WORDS AND JUST NODDED, INTELLIGENTLY AS SHE THOUGHT. “I KNOW RYAN” HE SPOKE CASUALLY AND TYRA, TYRA WAS JUST NOT LISTENING. “I KNOW RYAN, YOUR EX FIANCE, HE IS MY FRIEND.” THIS REITERATION DID HELP AND TYRA DID HEAR THIS TIME. “WHAT? WHAT DID YOU SAY? SO…YOU ARE SENT BY THAT WOMANISER, THAT RASCAL. NOW WHAT DOES HE WANT WITH ME?” SHE WAS DISSAPPOINTED, SHE FELT CHEATED AGAIN, CHEATED BY DESTINY, CHEATED BY THOSE EYES. “I HAVE NOT BEEN SENT BY HIM, I JUST KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH. TRUST ME, I AM A FRIEND.” SHE WAS SILENT, OBSERVING THE INTEGRITY OF HIS FACE AND JUDGIG THE HONESTY OF HIS WORDS. “I HOPE YOU ARE A FRIEND, NOT A FIEND.” SHE THOUGHT TO HERSELF AND HE NODDED WITH CONVICTION AS IF HEARING HER THOUGHTS AND RESPONDING TO THEM. HE JUST DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING THIS TIME, JUST EXTENDED HIS HAND. SHE HELD THEM SHEEPISHLY AND LEFT HIM TO DO THE REST. SHE FELT STRANGE, SOMETHING WAS HAPPENING TO HER. WAS IT BECAUSE OF THOSE HANDS? SHE COULDN’T FIGURE OUT, BUT IT FELT NICE, SHE LOVED IT. HE TOOK HER OUT FOR A COFFEE AND MADE HER FEEL SPECIAL, WANTED, LOVED. THAT NIGHT AS HE DROPPED HER TO HER AUNTS, HE KISSED HER, AND SHE FELT MAGIC. IT WASN’T ANYTHING NORMAL, IT WASN’T THE WAY RYAN USED TO KISS HER OR THE GUYS IN HER COLLEGE USED TO, IT WAS DIFFERENT, MAGICAL. HE PROMISED HER TO MEET HER THE NEXT DAY AND SHE WAS OVERWHELMED WITH PLEASURE, PLEASURE TO BE LOVED AGAIN, PLEASURE TO BE SEEN BY THOSE BLUE EYES.
THAT NIGHT AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH HER AUNT, SHE DECIDED TO RENT THE APARTMENT AT THE END OF THE STREET. IT WAS A SPACIOUS ONE WITH LARGE WINDOWS AND FULL VENTILATION. SHE DREAMED THAT NIGHT OF SPENDING HER LIFE WITH ENRIQUE IN HER NEW HOME WITH LIFE OF CONTENTMENT AND HAPPINESS, BUT WHY WAS SHE SEEING DREAMS TO LIVE WITH A MAN SHE BARELY KNOWS. WHO IS HE? WHERE HAS HE COME FROM? IS ENRIQUE HIS REAL NAME? WHERE IS HIS FAMILY? DOES HE HAVE A WIFE AND KIDS OR IS HE UNMARRIED? SHE DIDN’T KNOW ANY OF IT BUT, WANTED HIM STILL.
THEY MET THE NEXT DAY, AND THE NEXT AND THEY MET EACH DAY. HE WOULD BUY HER FLOWERS, CHOCOLATES AND ALL THE THINGS SHE LOVED AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE LOVED HER. HE WOULD HOLD HER AND MAKE HER FEEL SPECIAL; HE EVEN HELPED HER TO SETTLE DOWN IN HER NEW HOME, BUT NEVER INVITED HER TO HIS OWN, NOT EVEN FOR A CUP OF TEA. HE SAID HE LIVED WITH A FEW FRIENDS WHO DIDN’T KEEP THE HOUSE THE WAY IT SHOULD BE AND THAT HE WOULD FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE IN SHOWING HIS HOUSE TO HER. SHE INSISTED A FEW TIMES BUT HE DISCOURAGED AT EACH OCCASION, AND SOON, SHE LOST INTEREST IN HIS RESIDENCE BUT GOT MORE ATTATCHED TO HER BLUE EYED STRANGER. “DO YOU HAVE ANY GIRLFRIENDS?” SHE ASKED ONE DAY AND HE SMILED AND REPLIED “YES I HAVE, WHO MEANS MUCH MORE TO ME THAN THE WORD USED BY YOU.” TYRA REMEMBERED BLUSHING ON THIS. SHE TOOK EACH WORD OF HIS TO BE HONEST AND BEGAN LOSING HERSELF, HER LIFE, HER SOUL TO THIS MAN. THEY EVEN SHARED INTIMATE MOMENTS WITH EACH OTHER A COUPLE OF TIMES. IT FELT DIVINE, PURE HEAVEN, SHE THOUGHT AS SHE LIT THE LAMP BESIDES HER AS IT GREW DARK. THE SKY LOOKED PRETTY THROUGH THE WINDOW, WITH THE HORIZON BLUSHING A LITTLE. BUT TYRA WAS NOT INTERESTED. SHE WANTED TO SEE THE BLUSH OF THAT TANNED FACE AGAIN. IT FELT SO WARM, SPLENDID, WHEN THE LAST TIME SHE TOUCHED HIM. SHE CARESSED HER FACE WITH HER HAND, ONLY TO RELIVE THE BURIED SENSATIONS, SENSATIONS OF TRUE LOVE.
HER EYES BRIMMED AS SHE RECALLED THE LAST WORDS SHE HEARD FROM HIM “TYRA, I WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU, HERE, AND UP THERE IN THE HOLY HEAVEN”. HE WAS SUCH A LIAR, SHE THOUGHT. MY LIFE HAS ALWAYS BETRAYED ME, WHENEVER I CRAVED FOR HAPPINESS; I SURELY GOT IT BUT……SO TRANSIENT. SHE KISSED THE CRUCIFIX THAT DANGLED FROM HER NECK AND SAID A SHORT PRAYER WANTING THE LIFE AND SOUL OF HIS ENRIQUE BACK, EVEN IF HE WAS ALIVE OR NO MORE. SHE RETIRED TO BED AND WENT INTO DEEP SLEEP….SLEEP OF HOPE, SLEEP OF FAITH.
“TYRA DEAR, LOOK UP, HERE I AM, I AM BACK, JUST FOR YOU” TYRA WOKE UP SUDDENLY, HER HAIR BLOWING WITH THE STRONG WINDS. THE WINDOW WAS OPEN. SHE LOOKED OUTSIDE, IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY AND THE NIGHT, IT WAS DARK AND MOONLESS. SHE OBSERVED THE SILENCE OF THE NIGHT FOR A FEW MOMENTS AND EVEN LET HER FACE BE SWEPT BY THE TORRID WINDS AND RAIN. SHE WAS ENJOYING THE RAINS FOR THE FIRST TIME, SHE FELT LIFTED, SHE FELT…FREEDOM. SHE DROPPED THE SHUTTER OF THE WINDOW AND AS SHE BEGAN CRAWLING INTO HER BED AGAIN, HER EYES CAUGHT A SHADOW, A FIGURE AT THE CORNER OF THE ROOM. SHE WASN’T SCARED. SHE HAD FORGOTTEN FEAR SINCE ENRIQUE LEFT, LEFT FOR SOMEWHERE. “WHO ARE YOU?” SHE ASKED CALMLY, SWITCHING ON HER BEDSIDE LAMP. THE MAN WAS STILL IN SHADOW AS THE LIGHT BARELY ILLUMINATED THE ROOM. “IF YOU ARE A THIEF, THEN I AM SORRY YOU HAVE TO BE DISSAPPOINTED. WE HAVE NOTHING VALUABLE HERE.” SHE CONTINUED, THIS TIME WITH A SMILE. HER EYES WERE FIXED ON THE SHADOWED FIGURE WHO NOW, BEGAN TO ADVANCE INTO LIGHT. SHE SAW HIS EYES AND THERE SHE WAS, HALF DEAD BUT MORE ALIVE. HER LIPS PARTED TO SAY BUT HER TONGUE WAS TIED. ENRIQUE SMILED AS EVER. HER FEET WERE WOBBLY AS SHE WALKED TO HIM, HER HEART THUMPING HARD, HARDER THAN EVER. HE HELD HER IN HIS ARMS IMMEDIATELY AS SHE FELT ALL DRAINED OUT , IMMENSELY FATIGUED. SHE BROKE DOWN INTO TEARS, TEARS OF PATIENCE THAT WERE SEALED IN HER EYES, FINALLY CROSSED THE DOMAINS.HE KISSED HER , BLOWING LIFE INTO HER FEEBLE SOUL, REJUVINATING HER WITH NEW ENERGY AND VIGOR. SHE SLAPPED HIS FACE HARD AS SHE AGAIN FELL INTO HIS ARMS, WHIMPERING, HOLDING HIM TIGHT WITH HIS COLLAR. “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?” SHE MANAGED TO UTTER AS SHE DRUMMED HIS CHEST WITH HER FISTS. HE TOOK HER BY HER SHOULDERS AND SEPERATED HER FROM HIM. “TYRA, YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO ME.” SHE LOOKED UP AT HIM, OBSERVING THE COLORS OF EYES CHANGE. THEY LOOKED SAD NOW, GLOOMIER THAN HER OWN. “WE CANNOT BE TOGETHER.” TYRA HEARD HIM SAY AND REPLIED IN A WHISPER, TEARS TRICKLING DOWN HER CHEEK INCESSANTLY. “WHY?”
HE COULDN’T ANSWER THAT SIMPLE, INNOCENT, ONE WORD FOR A FEW MOMENTS BUT DID. “PROMISE ME TYRA THAT YOU WONT BE SCARED IF I ANSWER YOUR WHY.”
SHE SMILED, TILTING HER HEAD SIDEWAYS. “I DON’T KNOW WHAT FEAR IS ENRIQUE. BATTLING WITH IT FOR SO MANY YEARS HAS MADE ME IMMUNE TO IT. I LIVE WITH IT AND IT GIVES ME STRENGTH. SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT TO.”
HE HELD HER HANDS TIGHT IN HIS AND WAITED FOR A FEW MOMENTS. LIGHTENING WAS ROARING THE SKIES OUTSIDE, AND THIS ABOMINABLE PEACE DOING THE SAME HERE, IN THE SHELTERS.
“REMEMBER TYRA, YOU TOLD ME ONCE, THAT MY LOVE IS DIVINE, MY TOUCHES ARE GODLY?” SHE NODDED TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ALL OF THIS MEANT. “TYRA, MY TOUCHES ARE GODLY BECAUSE …..BECAUSE…I AM A GOD.” TYRA WAS SILENT BUT ENRIQUE WANTED HER TO SAY SOMETHING. SHE SMILED, SHE JUST KEPT SMILING. A TEAR EMERGED IN HER EYE AS SHE TOOK A QUICK STEP BACK. “DO YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE THAT? YOU DON’T LOVE ME, DON’T YOU? STOP IT, I HAVE HAD ENOUGH. I THOUGHT YOU WERENT A LIAR, BUT…THIS? PATHETIC”
“YOU DON’T BELIEVE ME?” HE ASKED CALMLY FROM HIS PLACE. SHE FOLDED HER HANDS TIGHTLY ON HER CHEST, RUNNING HER EYES THROUGHOUT THE ROOM.
“FINE, BUT PROMISE ME THAT YOU WON’T SCREAM OR GET SCARED.”
TYRA STOOD LOOKING AT HIM, WITH WET EYES.
SUDDENLY, THE ROOM WAS STUPENDOUSLY LIT WITH BLINDING LIGHT AS TYRA COVERED HER FACE. “LOOK UP” ENRIQUE SPOKE, HIS VOICE SOUNDING DIFFERENT. TYRA OPENED HER EYES SLOWLY AND WHAT SHE SAW WAS AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL AND SHOCKING, A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. ENRIQUE WAS STANDING THE SAME WAY AS HE DID BUT WITH A BEAUTIFUL PAIR OF WHITE WINGS FANNING THE ROOM WITH THEIR ENORMOUS SPAN. A FAINT HALO LIT THE BACK OF HIS HEAD AND TYRA, SHE STOOD FLABBERGASTED.
“NOW YOU BELIEVE ME?” HE SPOKE WITH HIS SAME OLD SMILE.
“WH…WHAT..WHAT ARE YOU? WHO ARE YOU?” TYRA STAMMERED AS SHE SPOKE.
“I AM GARGERIN, THE SON OF EROS. MY NAME IS NOT ENRIQUE.”
TYRA WAS SILENT BUT NOT SCARED. SHE STILL LOVED HIM.
“THAT IS WHY RYAN DIDN’T KNOW YOU? YOU DON’T KNOW HIM, DO YOU?”
“I KNOW HIM TYRA, I KNOW EVERYONE.”
“SO YOU DON’T LOVE ME? DO YOU?”
“TYRA, I WAS SENT WITH A MISSION TO MAKE YOU START BELIEVING IN LOVE AGAIN, BUT NEVER IMAGINED….IN LOVE WITH YOU. TYRA, YOU NEED TO FORGIVE ME AND FORGET ME. WE CANNOT BE ONE. YOU ARE A MORTAL AND I AM NOT ONE AND CAN NEVER BE.”
“BUT YOU SAID OUR SOULS CAN BE ONE IN HEAVEN.”
“YES THEY CAN BE.”
TYRA ONCE AGAIN FELL INTO HIS ARMS AS THE NIGHT CAME TO A HALT.
“TYRA DEAR WAKE UP, WAKE UP DEAR, TYRA, TYRA. HENRY, HENRY COME UP, TYRA IS NOT BREATHING. WE NEED TO RUSH HER TO THE DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY.”
“POOR GIRL, WAS JUST TWENTY FIVE. EVEN THE DOCTORS COULDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY OR HOW SHE DIED. YOU KNOW WHAT, MRS. CANTBURY WAS TELLING ME THE OTHER DAY, THAT HER MAID WHOSE HUSBAND WORKS AT THE GRAVEYARD TOLD HER THAT HE SAW A WEIRD AURA OF LIGHT AROUND THE GRAVE OF THIS GIRL. STRANGE, ISNT IT? WELL, GOD BLESS HER SOUL.”
