I tried on my clothes many times. First, I wore black pants, a black T-shirt, and a black denim jacket, but when I looked in the mirror, I changed the jacket. Then I tried a white one, but I didn’t like that either. After a few more attempts, I finally chose to wear a brown denim jacket.

Then I picked up my camera and headed to the park.

I reached the park at 10:00 a.m., but she wasn’t there, which was obvious, since I had come early. So I waited, thinking about her, how I had unintentionally clicked her picture in this park, and how many times I had looked at the picture I had first taken of her in the booth.

And then it was 11 a.m. I saw the time on my watch, my heartbeat grew louder, and I started feeling nervous. I kept staring at the park entrance without turning away, knowing that she could come at any moment. 

I thought about what I should say first when she came. Then I wondered what her name would be. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t realize it was already 11:35.

She’s late. Maybe she has some work, I thought.

I waited. And when I checked again, it was 12:15.

What is she doing? What if she forgot? No… I don’t think she would forget. Maybe something urgent came up. I should wait.

Time passed. People were coming and going, but I stayed there. I didn’t know what I was feeling now, but I didn’t like this feeling. My heart, once fast and loud, was now still loud but beating slowly. I could hear every beat.

I looked at my watch again, and it was 2:00 p.m.

After that, I stopped thinking and just sat there, sometimes glancing at the time, sometimes at the entrance.

When I checked again, it was 4:45 p.m., but she still hadn’t come. The park was going to close in fifteen minutes, so I decided to leave. But I walked slowly, thinking she might arrive at the last moment. It usually takes one minute to reach the gate, but I took six.

I stopped at the gate. I didn’t think about anything; I just stood there. After a few moments, I heard the sound of the gate closing. I looked back, and the gate was shut. So I just walked off slowly. I didn’t even have her number — how could I, when I didn’t even know her name?

While walking, I thought,

Maybe she would have been late and assumed that I hadn’t waited for her, that’s why she didn’t come, or maybe something urgent came up. Well… there’s no point in thinking too much about it. I’ll go to the library tomorrow and ask her.

I reached my apartment and opened the door. I took off my jacket and placed it on the sofa, along with my camera.

My head started hurting, so I decided to make coffee. I turned on the TV and set it to the local news. I walked away and picked up a cup from the table, but then I heard the anchor’s voice saying,

“There was a car accident near the road crossing today, and a twenty-year-old girl died on the spot.”

Hearing that, I stopped.

Then the anchor continued,

“The girl was wearing a cream-pink coloured frock… and bangles on her hands.”

I looked at the TV, and suddenly everything blurred out. My vision faded, I could feel my cheeks wet, and I could hear the sound of my heart.

The cup fell from my hands to the floor and shattered into pieces that I could never put back together again.

And with the sound of its shattering, something else also shattered inside me.

***

The End