Carter's Beloved

The Walls Between Us

Carter P.O.V

"Yes Dad, I got the job." I reassure him calmly. I can hear Dad gloating from 200 miles away. My reflection in the mirror looks neat and uptight. I gelled my hair carefully so it can look perfect from a distance.

"Just making sure." He says concerned and I smile. Dad never changed, always worried about other people more than himself. Even after Mom's death, we always called to make sure that his incapable son was doing fine.

"When will you be back?" I lean over the drawers and pick a tie which matches my clothes. It's my first day I have to make a wonderful impression. I glance at the clock and grab my watch, walking out of my tiny closet.

I got this apartment a few weeks ago, and it still needs to be furnished. The only pieces of furniture I have is my bed and drawers. I remind myself to buy groceries on the way home.

"The train leaves at noon, so maybe by 4?" He answers. I close the door behind me and climb downstairs. The world changes from my gloomy apartments to a sunny street with students walking and old women strolling.

"Okay, I'll see you then." I hang up and stuff my phone in my pocket. The day will not wait for anyone, not even for a freshly graduated man with his complete life ahead of him.

The company is at walking distance, a few blocks away, which proved as a blessing when I got hired. Need not spend extra money for transport. Already my bank account is in minuses.

I pass by a park and when I enter the main street, my gaze falls upon a cherry blossom tree on the edge of the street. People notice and walk by without another glance.

Looking at it makes me remember my childhood. All the times I spent with her under the enormous oak trees in my garden. If only I hadn't left that night...

I shake my head trying to forget about the pointless memories of my past and continue to walk towards the building. When I reach there, I wait for Madison. Her secretary told me she should be out in 10 minutes.

The parking lot is filled with cars and enormous trucks with red and blue banners being unloaded. The games must have started by now. I look at myself in one of the car windows and fix my hair gently. Soon enough, she comes outside and I scramble to catch her attention.

She gets in the driver's seat and I sit next to her as she fixes her hair. I look at her quickly, so she doesn't notice, and she gives off the same energy as her. These are two distinct people, I comfort myself, and soon we're off to the hotel meeting.

I was pleasantly surprised when Daniel reached out to me to accompany Madison for the day. I agreed immediately; I didn't want to waste a chance to work as soon as possible. My days resembled to each other after the incident and starting to work was the only thing that got my hopes high.

My friends and family often encouraged me to branch out and fall in love, but I couldn't, not after I left her. Recovering from that incident took me years and I could have a relapse any other moment, so I guard myself carefully. I talk a little to people who don't know me, which automatically makes them think I'm nervous.

Not nervous, just paranoid.

The beach surrounds us from all sides as we drive. The hotel La Façon has a large opening as cars drive inside and the hotel also has a beach resort close by. I have always loved the sea, my mom and I often went there to collect seashells when I was younger. Strangely enough, I've never visited one after her funeral.

I look over to Madison who seems to be sickened by the whole sight of it.

"Hate beaches?" I ask and turn my gaze back. Just looking at it makes me remember the evenings I came out on the sandy beaches instead of sleeping at night. I wish I could go back to the way it was.

"No, only naked people." She replies and walks inside. Yet the way she answered makes me believe that's not the only reason. She wears glasses, which makes me unable to look at her face. Only once did I have an unrestricted view, which was in the interview, and it made me nervous for the entirety of it.

If the outside of the hotel seemed fancy, the inside is more. The people attending the party have business owners since the past decades and I could learn a thing or two by assisting Madison Walker. We arrived so late that lunch was about to be served, I guess rich people get a late pass to everything.

Delicious lamb steak is served, I eat already getting used to the luxuries of being a secretary. Some minutes later, Madison acts unusual.

Her face turns white as if she is struggling for breaths and when she reaches for a glass of water, she falls down knocking the water over Henry's food. Instantly, I'm aware of what's happening and I kneel to shake her, to keep her in her senses.

The entire room's eyes are on us, and I call for an ambulance. Within minutes, Madison is being carried on a stretcher into the ambulance. Her heart was barely beating, and she needed an emergency surgery.

I traveled with her to the hospital and informed Daniel. He seemed so shocked that I could barely understand his words when he cried.

I waited outside the surgery room for a long time and the nurses later came out to inform me that someone had poisoned her. In that moment I realized how hard would it be to live like her. Under the eye of everyone and being targeted in the most unexpected situations.

She was laying in the hospital room when I got to see her. Her hair were a mess and her face was as pale as a ghost. Her heart barely hung on for life as she lay in the dark trying to live.

Her slow breathing filled the room, and I looked at her patiently. I had to return home soon, Dad was waiting for me, I could spend hours looking at her face because it reminded me of someone precious. I'm going crazy, I told myself, but I couldn't turn my gaze. Something about Madison seemed so familiar...

That's it, I'm leaving. Daniel was in the reception when I got out of the elevator and he ran past me as if I hardly existed. She must have meant a lot to him.

Dad had cooked by the time I reached home.

"Something came up?" Dad asked, and I contemplated. I barely had the energy after seeing death from so close, so I shook my head.

"No, just a lot of meetings. Sorry I kept you waiting." I pulled a chair and sat across from him on the table and looked at the food.

"It's okay, I can only do this now to keep myself busy. It's your mother's funeral next week." He reminded me and I nodded. I had not forgotten. Every-time her death anniversary rolled around, I am reminded of her even more.

"I'll be spending the week with her on the island. Don't bother calling me. Focus on your work, heavens know how hard you worked to get it." He tells me and I laugh. It's true. It took me a long time to find a suitable job.