Chapter 1: Echo

Annie Saint-Claire sits motionless in her chair in the corner of the bedroom. She absently watches the gold flickering of the street light playing ghostly against her wall. Her mind starts drifting back down memory lane…making her remember with her the usual echo of her heart breaking into a million pieces. “Aaron…” she softly whispers his name. “Why can’t I shake these feelings that you are still alive?”

The usual answer was just the sound of her heart beating in her ears drowning all the questions but never the picture clear memories of her being loved, being teased, sleeping peacefully in his arms.

“I miss you daily Aaron Casey. You are still mine; I am still yours. How do I let go sensing you are somewhere waiting for me to find you?” The sudden warm tears stream down her face while it feels like her heart keep breaking…

Aaron felt the shudders wrecking throughout his body. His frame coil in tension as the strength of fear left him breathless. As always, his mind was a blank canvas that he needed to color with knowledge that was always just fragmented pieces until his mind start drawing.

His gut twisted as he felt the car start rolling. He tried looking but he only ever hears the screaming. Whoever was in the car with him he never knows. Breaking free of the nightly dream, he stumbles as he falls from his bed. His body was drenched in sweat.

“Bloody hell…” he whispers as he grabs hold of the bottle of water. His whole body still wrecks with shudders.

“Who are you? I can sense your presence but I can’t see your face.” he asked his reflection in the mirror. The only answer was his own voice echoing back with no clear answer. He wipes the full-length mirror removing the condensation to look at his own frame. He just stood there with closed eyes. After taking several deep breathes he slowly opened his eyes. This is his daily ritual but its only since recently that he managed to get brave enough to actually looked at himself.

“What woman would want me looking like this?” he questions his slightly distorted reflection. “She would accept you.” The words unexpectedly tumbled from his lips. He has the sudden instinct his heart beat matches the heart beat of this unknown woman who keeps echoing in his clouded memory. “Why can’t I remember your face? Or is this just me being foolish…” The mirror as no answers just more questions.

“I am Aaron Casey. I will remember…somehow…”

He now looks at his body wanting his own acceptance. He has enough money to change his body but he doesn’t want to. He needs answers and his body was hiding it from him. His fingers trembling as he starts tracing the nasty looking scar that start at his left collar bone running right across his chest before it jagged down towards his stomach. He closed his eyes before reaching for his towel wrapping it around his waist. He exits the bathroom.

The ringing of the phone in the middle of the night startled Annie. She was still sleeping in her chair as usual. Reactively she brushes the tears from her face as she reached for the phone. She softly shudders with the sense someone was thinking about her. This knowledge just makes her smile briefly shaking her head for being foolish.

“Hello,” she said throaty.

“Hey sexy, what are you doing?”

“Benji Bloom, it’s the middle of the night.” She was wide awake. “Are you okay?”

“No Cherie, please help.”

Annie was already on her feet. She was heading in the direction of the front door.

“I am coming Benji,”

The familiar sound of loneliness echoes over the line making her move hastily. That sound can make her run fast towards hiding or helping her only friend. Her hand briefly just hovering over her heart.

Annie found the door opened. She quickly steps inside.

“Benji, where are you?”

“Here,” the voice was coming from behind the couch.

“What happened?” Annie dropped down onto the floor right beside him.

“It was awful Annie. I caught the bitch cheating. He had the nerve to tell me it was nothing.” Benji start to sniffles into his red satin handkerchief. “I knew something was wrong so I followed him.”

Annie said nothing just wrapped her arm around his neck. She briefly turned to kiss him on the cheek. On impulse she then starts to sniff him. “You smell fantastic,” she whispered in awe.

“Really Annie, really,” he asked offended.

“Sorry but it’s true,” she accidently starts to giggle. She quickly moved away from him when she noticed he was looking for something to hit her with. She noticed his glass of red wine near the cell phone. She quickly grabbed hold of it offering it in peace.

“You are not forgiven for that tactless behavior Cherie.”

“What really happened with Luke?” she asked all serious now.

Benji get fluently onto his feet before he starts circling the living room floor. He certainly looked like an irate cat in serious need to scratch at something.

“That bitch, Luke is straight. He lied to me.” Benji dapped with the handkerchief in the corner of his eyes.

“Are you really sure Benji?”

“His mask has fallen off Annie. I stood there watching as his true colors was revealed. I wanted to confront him but than your annoying voice intrudes in my head.”

“I should be offended but this is about you.” Annie wanders towards his kitchen in search of coffee.

“Annie, you know what, I noticed the most gorgeous man coming from that same building.” Benji suddenly gush now waving his hand in front of his face.

“What about Luke?” she asked shaking her head.

“I don’t do cheating.” Benji said before sitting down beside the kitchen counter.

“I am sorry Ben,” she said sincerely. She moved closer to wrapped her arm around his shoulders.

“It’s okay Cherie. You know thinking about that gorgeous man, there was something sad and lonely about him.”

“How can you tell?” she asked in disbelief.

“I am not sure but that man is your type. I think you are done being a widow.”

“Enough Benjamin Bloom, I am not looking for a man.” An unexpected tear drizzle down her check.

“I am not being mean Cherie. There was just something about that man that told me he can heal the hole in your heart.” Benji said in all sincerity. “Enough of being emotional. How is the job hunting going?”

“Not good.” She dropped down onto the chair fingers wrapping around the cup. “I am also stuck in my writing.”

“It’s the sex scenes you have trouble with. Your knowledge is dated. I keep telling you that you need fresh material. I know you don’t swing this way, but I have this mean yet gorgeous friend. That girl could use a friend.”

Annie just chuckles making herself comfortable for the night. Once she was satisfied Benji stood in front of her holding a blanket. “Still no bed?”

“Benji…I had the strangest notion.” Her face crinkled in concentration. “What if Aaron is still alive?” she closed her eyes and was instantly asleep.