2 minutes.
2 minutes and a few seconds...
The delightful fragrances of the freshly bloomed flowers and the lush trees adorning the streets have taken over the atmosphere,
accompanied by the sweet melodies of chirping birds and the sound of children romping in the nearby field.
The open window of Theodore's office invited in the lively ambience of spring, spreading its joy to everyone, except him.
Theo has felt this profound emptiness inside his chest, as if a crucial piece of his heart is missing, The last few birthdays felt like it had been a countdown for something major.
Despite the dark circles under his eyes, they still glimmered like the aurora borealis, as if they hold within them the essence of the northern lights.
2 minutes and a half...
Sinking into his seat, staring at the time. His mind fixated on the incessant ticking of the clock. Although it was his birthday, the unsettling image of the enigmatic man remained lodged in his mind. The ticking grew louder and louder, gradually chipping away at his mental.
Suddenly, his focus shifted to the blank stack of paper on his desk, illuminated by a beam of sunlight that formed a dazzling prism on the white surface. He paused for a moment before composing himself, hastily grasping a pencil and delicately resting it on the sheet. His left hand trembled slightly, causing him to blink rapidly before he began to etch out the first stroke.
After a moment of centring himself, He felt determined to retrieve any details he could about that man.
Twelve of May...
He closed his eyes.
Theodore took a trip into a memory lane, as the world around him gradually faded into a bright white haze, while all the sounds were muffled out. He took a deep breath, and when he opened them again,
he was greeted with a burst of vibrant colours that painted his surroundings.
The playground was bustling with children of all ages, and as one of them ran past him, they shouted, "Happy birthday, Theodore!" He clutched his newly-unpacked Polaroid camera tightly in his palm and began to stroll around the festive park,
taking in the aroma of what once was.
It was precisely this time, four years ago.
3 minutes.
Carnation and her wife had this idea to host his 20th birthday at one of the local national parks, so the kids can thrive around the included playground of the social gathering area. The natural beauty of the park and the inclusive playground area would create a fun-filled environment for all the kids. It had only been a year since Theo started volunteering at his aunt's orphanage, but during that time, he had become a beloved face among the children. His unique charm and infectious personality just seem to have their way to attract people.
As he stood there, gazing at the hill in front of him, he felt a sense of connection to the natural world around him. The lush grass that covered the hill seemed to roll out like a red carpet, inviting him closer. The wind playfully tousled his peach-coloured hair, and he couldn't help but feel that the hill was calling out to him, beckoning him to come closer and closer.
Meanwhile, outside his head, the face of the man slowly took its shape.
As he strolled through the park toward the hill, Theo was careful not to obstruct the path of the bustling attendants carrying boxes. He gave them ample space to pass and resumed his leisurely stroll through the lush, imaginary grass fields. The sun cast delightful freckles of light through the trees, providing shade from the heat. Theo looked up at the clear blue sky, his Burberry BE3099 sunglasses lending him some protection from the sun's rays, which enhanced the striking dye of his white dress shirt.
Slowly but surely, the paper filled up with line after line, Theo's brows furrowed in concentration as he worked, in focus.
He vividly remembered taking a bunch of pictures with his camera and even letting some of the kids play with it. He held it up to his face and look through the lens at the hill.
He halted and time slowed.
Away in the distance from Theodore, he stood.
Theo could see the man standing, donning a black suit, his pale skin made him stand out from the green scenery. His glasses were reflecting the light, making it impossible to see his eyes. The surrounding mass seemed to be indifferent to his presence, as if he was invisible.
Theo didn't move, he waited until their eyes finally met and the quietness between them was deafening. Theo uttered…
"You."
Then his throat clogged up, unable to spit out another word.
He wasn't sure if the sketch was accurate, but it felt like he was getting closer and closer to the truth.
7 minutes 36 seconds.
The man seemed to be in no hurry to speak, maintaining his silence while his eyes, like sirens, held Theo in a trance. Finally, his lips parted slowly.
so close to the truth.
"Thatcher..."
Theo yanked the camera out of his face and time resumed as normal.
With the wind, he went. Nowhere to be seen.
The blonde man panted, he could feel his heart pulsing.
a single drop of sweat trailed down his chin.
10 minutes.
Theo snapped back into his seat, eyes wide open with the voice of his still echoing in his head. His office greeted him back with silence.
He gazed down at the finished sketch,
It was a replica of the man he had just seen. The sound of the ticking clock returned once more.
"Oh my God."
Standing up from his comfortable office chair, he quickly sprinted across the spacious room towards one of the big drawers that held his stationery. With a sense of urgency, his hands disarrayed the perfectly organized and unused stuff until he finally found what he was looking for
an old box that he had kept safe for a long time. Retrieving the box, he brought it back to his desk and shook it until all the Polaroid pictures fell out and covered the wooden surface. His hands ran through all of them, each picture holding a different memory.
Most of the photographs were the ones that the children had taken for fun. The stack was made out of blurry pictures, photos of random things like bugs, crowds, and the sky. The dullahan started arranging the pictures by date, starting with last year, then two winters ago, and three April ago.
Twelve of May 7044.
Suddenly, his hand came to an abrupt stop. Out of the pile, he drew one singular photograph - a picture of the party.
With careful observation, he dropped it beside the sketch he had made earlier, and a sense of relief flooded over him as he whispered to himself,
"I found you."
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