“I know this sounds really rude of me to ask, considering the fact that this was our first meeting, but I’m really desperate, son. I hope you can understand me?”
Jordan nodded affirmatively, seeing her despondent countenance, albeit confusedly. “Yes I do, Aunt. Plus, I’m ready to grant you any and every favour you require of me. It’s your wedding day, after all,” he teased, trying to get her to smile.
For some reason, he didn’t like seeing her melancholic or worried. Over the few days that they had been spent together, Jordan had grown close to the middle aged woman and although she was Emerald’s mother, he felt like they both had some kind of connection; a mother–son connection.
He couldn’t deny that Maggie reminded him of his own mother and the unbreakable bond she shared with her daughter, Emerald, was one he constantly yearned for from his own mother but she had been denied of the chance to watch her children grow into what they were today. She had never been given a choice and that made Jordan’s heart tighten in anger and overwhelming sadness.
But for the past days, the warmth radiating from the middle aged woman standing before him in her beautiful wedding dress, had been powerful enough to quell his sadness and yearning for some motherly affection. After finding out about his mother’s demise, Maggie had embraced him even closer than before and they had shared things like any mother and child would.
He had felt genuinely happy staying with them for the little while, not only because of Maggie’s maternal fondness but also because of Emerald’s and Luca’s presence, although the middle aged man didn’t particularly like him but he didn’t despise him either as Jordan had expected.
Spending quality time with Emerald’s family and friends had made him see life from a different angle. It had made him both sad and happy. Sad that his own father had never allowed them to experience such happiness before. Sad that the always vibrant and gleaming smile that glued itself to Maggie’s face was in his mother’s case, always a faux or pained smile.
Yet, he was also happy he had been allowed to enjoy this little family time with them, although he was only a stranger. Now that one of the people that had made him truly joyous – a feeling that had fled his soul since his mother’s death – needed his help, he wouldn’t hesitate one bit to assist in every possible way he could. That was for sure.
“Thank you so much, son. You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that,” she gave him a small smile, albeit it didn’t reach her eyes but Jordan noticed that her shoulders that had been so tensed had finally sagged a bit.
Jordan waited patiently as he watched her hesitate for a moment, her eyes warily scanning the crowd in search of someone. When it seemed as though she had found who she was looking for, her form calmed even more before she turned back to focus on Jordan.
“Jordan dear,” she held his big hands tightly in her petite ones. “I’m sorry if this may seem really random but I can’t go into details. It’s not my secret to tell and I’m very sure when she’s much more comfortable with you, she’ll eventually open up, but for now, I can only ask this of you for her safety.”
Jordan frowned at her words, curiosity and worry boiling in his chest as he processed what she had just said, but nevertheless, he nodded as a sign for her to proceed. She gave him a brief smile before taking a moment to take a deep breath, seemingly hesitating.
“On the 15th day of every month, Emerald shouldn’t be left alone by herself. Sometimes, it comes before the 15th, sometimes it comes after. But please dear,” she held on to him even tighter, “she should never be left alone,” she emphasised.
Jordan watched as tears welled up in her eyes. She let out a shaky breath and almost instantly, her husband, Luca was already by her side, wrapping his arms around her in support.
“I’m so sorry, Jordan. I’m so sorry I’m being emotional right now. It’s just that since that tragedy had befallen her, I’ve always remained by her side. I’ve never let her handle her demons all by herself but now that she wants me to leave her be and go on our honeymoon, I can’t help but feel like I’m betraying her somehow.
I know she always blames herself for everything that has happened, she always feels like she’s a burden to Luca and I, she always wants to be independent and strong, but she just doesn’t want to admit that even the strongest person out there sometimes needs someone to depend on, someone to rely on.” Jordan and Luca moved closer to her, trying to shield her from the view of any prying eyes.
Luca tightened his hold on her shoulders while Jordan rubbed circles on her palm comfortingly. “She doesn’t seem to understand that Luca, Armani and I, as well as everyone else, is ready and willing to be her confidant, but only if she lets us in. She doesn’t understand that and she keeps pushing herself, straining herself, all because of what happened in the past.”
At this point, she was already sobbing profusely, her whole body shaking as Luca held her to his chest, hiding her face from the sight of any peeking onlookers as they all stood together in the living room.
Jordan couldn’t help the curiosity and worry that enshrouded his being, but apparently, worry seemed to have won. He had always had an hunch that Emerald had something going on in her life. Everyone had pasts, he was a living witness of that himself, but he hadn’t thought that Emerald’s would be this serious to make even the seemingly tough Luca, shed a tear.
“Son?” his eyes came into focus when he heard a voice. “We know you probably have a gazillion questions to ask us, but please, try to understand that it’s not our story to tell. When my daughter is ready, she’ll tell you everything, but on her own accord.” Luca explained softly. Jordan nodded.
After managing to garner some stability, Maggie turned around and held Jordan’s hands even tighter this time. “Promise me, Jordan. Promise me you would look after her. Please,” she begged.
His eyes stared intently at her for a bit before looking up at Luca who also seemed expectant. He nodded, “I promise to look after her with my life, Mr. and Mrs. Romano.”
▬▬▬▬▬
But he hadn’t. Today was the fifteenth day of the month and he hadn’t been here for her. Jordan could vividly recall that day like it was yesterday. The day he had made such a weighty promise regarding the core safety of a human being’s life, and not just any human being, yet all this while, he had been too busy avoiding her existence to care or even fulfil his promise.
Jordan felt a crack in his knuckles as he clenched his fists so tightly together. The overwhelmingly consuming urge to punch a hole in the wall behind him and completely break his hands, filled him as anger and self-blame seized his being but seeing the state in which the woman he had vowed to protect with his own life, was, he had no choice but to stymie the raging anger he felt towards himself.
With unsteady breaths, he moved slowly and shakily towards her where she sat completely immobile on the floor, her back against the hallway wall as the sickening red pigment of her blood pooled around her hands.
Crouching down in front of her, Jordan stared at her cautiously but she seemed to be in deep thought as her lifeless green eyes were glazed over, appearing as though her soul was far away from her body.
Jordan’s chest tightened with guilt and pain as he watched her silently. The hallway was engulfed in the metallic scent of her blood, further suffocating Jordan with ever-consuming penitence. Trying to speak through his heart which was heavily ladened with rue, he choked out, “Emerald.”
“Eme?” He called out again when she didn’t respond.
“Gem,” he tentatively reached out and held her pallid face in his hands. His calloused hands trembled as he held her face, which was as white as a paper sheet. In response, her eyes finally came into focus and she stared at him, wordlessly.
Although her eyes held no emotion whatsoever, Jordan couldn’t help but squirm internally as regret further filled his heart under her scorching gaze. Unable to take it anymore, he looked away from her eyes and down to her hands and the wave of regret that rushed at him asphyxiated him as his eyes latched themselves on to the view of her bloody arms.
An insufferable glob ensued in his throat as he looked around at the shards of glass surrounding both their frames. Multiple knives, empty containers, varied pills, alongside some liquids, which Jordan suspected to be cleaning agents and hair shampoo, also laid strewed on the floor around them.
He looked back at her to see that she was still staring at him, appearing to be gauging his reaction to what was around him. “Gem.” That seemed to be all he could say before staring speechlessly at her again.