Tombstones

Dear Diary,

Today, when I woke up, the first thought that crossed my mind was Adam. I couldn’t shake the feeling of urgency, as if finding him was the key to unlocking the mysteries that surrounded me. With a sense of determination, I covered my face and ventured out into the town, but what I found was beyond anything I could have imagined.

As I walked through the familiar streets, I couldn’t help but notice how much everything had changed. It was as though time itself had played a cruel trick on me, leaving the town frozen in a moment while the rest of the world raced ahead. Faces that I once knew now looked older, their eyes filled with the weight of years that I had missed.

I made my way to Adam’s house, hoping to find some clue to his whereabouts, but the door remained closed, offering no answers. Uncle Joseph was nowhere to be seen, and the emptiness of the house echoed the emptiness in my heart. Desperate for any sign of Adam, I turned to those who knew him best, but their responses only deepened the mystery.

As I wandered through the town, my thoughts turned to Maa’s house, the place where I had spent so many happy years. With a mixture of trepidation and curiosity, I made my way inside, determined to uncover the secrets that lay hidden within its walls.

In her room, I found a trove of documents, each one a piece of the puzzle that was my life. I found all the invitation she had received over the years from ministry and Ebonlores school for my admission. Among them was a property deed, revealing that the palace Luna Mount, along with four others, now belonged to me. It never belonged to Dad’s friend. The realization hit me like a thunderbolt, shattering the illusions of my past and forcing me to confront the truth.

But it was outside, in the quiet solitude of the yard, that I made the most shocking discovery of all. Amidst the overgrown grass and wildflowers, I found two new tombstones, their presence a stark reminder of the pain and loss that had shaped my life. With trembling hands, I brushed away the dirt, revealing the names of my parents etched into the cold stone.

In that moment, everything seemed to shift, as if the ground beneath my feet had suddenly given way. Was this real, or was I trapped in some twisted dream? I searched for answers, but all I found was a sense of overwhelming confusion and disbelief.

After the startling discovery at Maa’s house, my mind was in turmoil. I knew I had to find Adam, for he was the only one who could help me make sense of everything that was happening. With a heavy heart and a sense of urgency, I set out into the town, hoping against hope that he would appear before me like a beacon in the night.

But as I searched the streets, my hopes began to wane. Adam was nowhere to be found, and the weight of his absence pressed down on me like a leaden cloak. Desperation clawed at my chest as I realized that my salvation might be slipping through my fingers.

In a last-ditch effort to find him, I made my way to his house, determined to leave no stone unturned. Climbing through the window of his room, I searched frantically for any sign of his whereabouts, but all I found were a few pages from his diary.

As I read the words he had written, my heart clenched with pain. His words echoed with a longing and sadness that mirrored my own, and tears welled up in my eyes as I felt the weight of his sorrow.

Suddenly, a sound broke the silence, and I peered out into the hall to see Uncle Joseph, tears streaming down his face, as Aunty Kathrine tried to comfort him. His words cut through me like a knife, accusing me of bringing ruin upon their family. The pain of his accusation was like a dagger to my heart, and I couldn’t bear the thought of causing him any more suffering.

But amidst the chaos of my emotions, one question burned brighter than all the rest: where was Adam? Did he know what was happening to me, or had he disappeared into the shadows, leaving me to fend for myself?

I felt lost and alone, trapped in a nightmare from which I could not escape. Should I wait for Adam to find me, or should I venture out once more into the unknown? The answers eluded me, swirling like mist in the darkness, and I was left with nothing but uncertainty and fear.

Yours in confusion and despair,
Zoe