JEREMY returned home, the adrenaline from his confrontation with Mr. Redford fading and leaving behind a hollow emptiness. The house felt suffocatingly silent, the weight of recent events pressing down on him.
Inside his bedroom, he walked to the bar section and poured himself a drink, hoping the alcohol might dull the chaos in his mind.
Then he sat on the floor, leaning against the couch, and stared at the glass in his hand. The whiskey burned as it slid down his throat, but it did nothing to soothe his turmoil.
His thoughts raced- Jasira’s revelations, Redford’s betrayal, the fracture of relationships he once considered unbreakable.
As the hours ticked by, Jeremy poured drink after drink, his mind growing hazier but no quieter.
Eventually, he stumbled to his desk, pulling out a sheet of paper and a pen. The words flowed with surprising clarity, each stroke of the pen bringing a strange sense of finality.
When he was done, he read the letter one last time, ensuring it conveyed everything he needed to say:
—
**Dear Nathan,**
I’m entrusting you with everything- my company, my responsibilities, my life’s work. I can’t stay here any longer. The weight of recent events has become too much to bear. I need time to clear my mind, to find myself again.
Don’t look for me, neither should any other, because you won’t even find me. I need this exile, this break from everything and everyone. I will return when I am ready, when I feel whole again.
Take care of everything in my absence. I trust you implicitly.
—
He folded the letter neatly and placed it on his desk, knowing Nathan would find it.
When the night had drawn nigh and darkness had covered the streets, he packed a small bag and left the house, walked straight to the garage, boarded one of his cars and zoomed out with a heavy heart, not looking back.
The next morning, Nathan as usual went to his room to enquire if he would be at work that day. As he got to the door, he knocked, and waited for a response. Alarmed there was none, he immediately opened the door and barged in, his eyes sweeping through the room in seconds, there was no sign of his boss, the room was empty.
“Boss?” He called hoping to hear rushing waters from the bathroom, there was none. So he walked up there, opened the door and poked his head in, he wasn’t there. He looked down on the floor, there was no sign that the bathroom was used that day.
“Where could he be?” He asked, “I am very sure he didn’t leave the mansion this morning,” he added and as he turned, his eyes caught something on the center table. It was a white paper, neatly folded on the table. Slowly, he walked up to it.
He picked it up and glanced through the lines in seconds. His hands shook as he read Jeremy’s words, a mix of disbelief and concern flooding him. He knew Jeremy had been struggling, but this- this was something he hadn’t anticipated.
As if realizing himself, he quickly ran out of the room and down the stairs, into the living room, still with the letter, then he let out a wail.
As expected, the maids and some guards immediately gathered him, curiosity written on their faces.
“Nathan?” A guard called, “what is it?” He asked.
He threw the paper to them.
“Boss is gone,” he said.
Immediately, he contacted Mr. and Mrs. Petersons, breaking the news with as much sensitivity as he could muster. Their reaction was as heart-wrenching as he had feared.
Jeremy’s mother was beside herself with worry, while his father tried to maintain a calm facade despite the pain in his eyes.
“What could have driven him to this?” Mrs. Petersons asked, her voice trembling.
Nathan shook his head, his own distress evident.
“I don’t know, but he made it clear he needs this time away. We have to respect his wishes, difficult as it may be.”
The days that followed were a blur of adjustments and uncertainty. Nathan took over the company’s operations, stepping into Jeremy’s shoes with a sense of duty and determination. He knew he couldn’t replace Jeremy, but he could honor his trust by maintaining the stability and success of the business.
Meanwhile, Jeremy’s parents struggled to come to terms with their son’s sudden disappearance. His mother spent sleepless nights worrying about Jeremy’s well-being, while Mr. Petersons tried to reassure her and himself, that Jeremy would return when he was ready.
***
Tarmah leaned back in her chair, the weight of Jeremy’s letter heavy in her hands. She had never seen Jeremy so distraught, so consumed by the need to escape.
They were still families and news spread, so she had heard.
The news of Jeremy’s sudden departure was a shock that sent ripples through their tight-knit circle. The implications of his absence were vast and unsettling.
Tarmah knew she had to tell Jasira. They had grown closer through their mutual concern for Jeremy, and she had a right to know what had happened. So later in the day, she made her way to her house, her heart heavy with the burden of the news she carried.
Jasira opened the door, her expression brightening momentarily before she saw the seriousness in Tarmah’s eyes.
“What is it, Tarmah? What has happened again?” She asked.
“He is gone,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Jeremy is really gone,” She said.
“What!” Jasira gasped, her left hand cupped over her mouth. Her face fell, the color draining from her cheeks.
Tarmah nodded, her own sadness reflected in her eyes.
“He felt he needed to get away. To find some peace, I suppose.”
Jasira sank onto the couch, her hands trembling.
“It is because of everything I told him. I never wanted this for him, never wanted to cause him this much pain.”
Tarmah shook her head in disagreement.
“No, it is not your fault, Jasira,” Tarmah said gently, sitting beside her.
“Jeremy made his own choices. You gave him the truth, and now he is trying to find a way to live with it.”
She nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.
“I just… I wanted him to be safe, to be free from the shadows that surrounded him.”
Tarmah placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“And you did just that. But now, we need to respect his decision and hope that he finds the peace he is looking for.”
Jasira wiped her tears and took a deep breath.
“You are right, but I can’t stay here either, not like this. I need a fresh start, away from the memories and the pain.”
Tarmah looked at her, understanding dawning in her eyes.
“Where will you go?” She asked.
“I don’t know yet,” she admitted, “but somewhere far from here, where I can rebuild my life without the constant reminders of what I have lost.”
Tarmah sighed deeply.
“You think it’s a good idea?”
“I need to clear my head too, I need to start up a new life in a place different from here, to clear the memories and all,” she said.
Tarmah shrugged.
“If that is what you wish for, then I’m behind you,” she assured.