The Girl Named Mirage

‘ I couldn’t take this anymore. ‘

Nicolo made up his mind. He will face Mirage head on and make her say whatever it is that she’s been going through.

Not knowing that Mirage, herself, doesn’t know what’s happening with her.

He opened the adjacent door without knocking just to find out that Mirage’s room is empty. He checked her closet and bathroom but she’s nowhere to be found.

His eyes wandered around the room and it fell on the coffee table. He walked towards it and lifted the cover of the tray. The food were untouched.

‘ And now what? ‘

Frustration, anxiety and worries were eating Nicolo away.

He quickly go out of her room just to be nailed on where he stands. He was surprised when he heard a faint sound of a piano. He even close his eyes to confirm that his ears weren’t playing tricks on him. He knows where exactly the sound was coming.

It sounded melancholic and emotional at the same time. He took one last look at his surroundings before he turned and headed towards the sound.

When he finally arrived at the end of the hallway, he found the door of the vacant room open and he saw that Mirage had sat down right in front of the grand piano and was playing the same melody over and over again.

The grand piano was originally placed at the foyer of the house but when his grandmother died, Don Augustus ordered it to be relocated on the vacant room at the end of the hallway on the second floor of the mansion. Away from everyone’s sight.

It seemed as though she’s completely unaware or she doesn’t mind who was behind her. Mirage’s eyes were closed and she’s lost all focus on what’s around her. It might’ve been how calm she looked or how much her expression is changing while doing so. The way the moonlight that passed through the window and reflected on her face wasn’t helping her to stay composed. She seems like someone that has accepted something and yet, she can’t decide whether to embrace it or run away from it.

She still can’t figure out what the hell is going on with her.

Nicolo didn’t want her to feel alone. Without making any noise, he slowly approached the woman. He sat next to her facing the other direction, he wasn’t too sure of what he should do.

Mirage’s hand stopped playing and her breathing became heavy. When she realised that someone else is with her, she immediately got up from the chair and turned around to face Nicolo. Her eyes were filled with sadness and tears that she tried to keep back.

Nicolo stood up and meet her eyes. They were just staring at each other. Unmoving.

Then in a snap, Mirage falls down on her knees then slumped on the floor. And tears started to stream down on her face.

Nicolo caught his breath. His heart ache as he see how Mirage crumble down. He slowly walked towards her and crouched down in front of her. He reached out and hugged her tight.

” I don’t know what’s going on with me, Nico. ” Mirage sobbed.

Nicolo caresses her hair as he couldn’t find the words to say.

” I woke up feeling empty and numb. As the day goes by I can feel my heart being torn into thousands of pieces continuously and repeatedly. It seems like there’s a hole inside me that’s getting bigger and bigger. The pain is unbearable. It’s suffocating me. ”

Nicolo closes his eyes tight. He could clearly feel the excruciating pain in her voice. He never knew that someone like her will go through that much pain. He held Mirage tighter as if he would be able to protect her from everything and anything.

” There’s nothing wrong with my head, I swear. That’s why I spend all day thinking and trying to figure out something or anything but I…”

She breathed and sobbed.

“… there’s nothing. Nothing’s come to mind. Nothing’s changed. I still can’t remember anything.”

And she broke down again and cry some more. She cry a river. Inside the moonlit room.

Nicolo didn’t let her go. In fact, they stayed like that for some time until she was done crying. She pulled away from his hug then wipe the remaining tears from her face.

“I’m sorry.”

He shook his head.

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

They both sat on the ground and faced each other. Silence envelopes them for a few seconds.

After a short break, Nicolas clears his throat.

” Shall I bring you to your room? ”

Mirage just nodded. She was extremely exhausted. But her mind still wandering. Nicolo helped her up and guide her back into her bedroom. They found Travis outside her room pacing back and forth impatiently. His face lit up when he saw Nicolo and Mirage but worries took over immediately. He meet them halfway.

” Mir! Are you alright? ”

Nicolo nodded. Mirage doesn’t have the energy to even answer, she almost dropped even with Nicolo’s support. Travis quickly grabbed her other arm and they carefully take her into her bed.

” I think it’s better to sedate her. ”

Travis was totally surprised by Nicolo’s suggestion. The doctor shot his eyes to him and then to Mirage. The woman nod her head once. She was too crestfallen to argue or to even say no. Maybe she needs it to be able to sleep in peace.

Travis walked out of her room and back with the syringe in a minute. He injected the sedative.

Mirage felt her whole body get numb. Even her thoughts and senses faded away. Then she heard Nicolo’s voice and she drifted off to slumber.

Travis and Nicolo both breathe out a sigh of relief as they watch Mirage sleeping peacefully. Travis slumped down on the couch while Nicolo stood while touching his forehead.

” Can you stay with her? I need to look into something. ”

” Sure. That’s what I’m really going to do. ”

” Thanks. ”

And he walked out the door and went into his own room. He headed straight to his table, sat down on his swivel chair and open the locked drawer. He took out all the folders and scanned the files one by one.

He finished all the pages but he didn’t find anything. The files were all about Mirage. About her foster family, her husband and his family.

He read over every single document again and again but it was useless. He ran a hand through his hair.

‘ What the fvck am I looking for? ‘

He sighed heavily.

He put the file down and closed the folder. He shut his eyes and massage his temple.

‘ Should I get myself a sedative? This is making me crazy as hell! ‘

He was startled when his phone suddenly rings. He answered it after he saw that it was Cris Adams.

” What? ”

” Hi Sir Nick, good evening! I just want to remind you about the meeting on June 21st, Friday morning at Solace Hotel. It was cancelled today so the client agree to do it the day after tomorrow as they have their own commitment tomorrow. ”

” Okay. ”

And he hung up. His eyes automatically find the calendar and look at the said date.

‘ What day is today anyway? Wednesday right? ‘

” It’s 19. June 19. ”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

He muttered to himself absentmindedly as he lean his head back on his chair and closes his eyes to think some more.

And then it hit him.

He abruptly open his eyes and searched over the files in front of him. He picked them up and put them down, searching for the page he needs. After finding what he’s looking for, he brought it under his nose and began reading the details.

The sudden realization struck him and leaves him dumbfounded.

He read the information that was given to him, his eyes were fixed on it the whole time.

” This is the reason why she’s being that way…”

He murmured under his breath.

He closed his eyes and leaned against his desk with his hands supporting him. He kept replaying the words over and over again again in his mind.

” She can’t remember but her heart probably does… that’s why she’s miserable. ”

He wiped his face with both of his hands.

” It’s because today… is their wedding date… “