ONE MORE CHANCE - Chapter 5

She fell to the ground, and sobbed. It brought her all her memories. The day her son was attacked, the fear and the helplessness. She was a mother after all, and all she had wanted was her son to be happy. And she knew how much it meant, to convince the woman he loved, of his innocence.

The woman he loved was now hugging his mother, comforting her, and trying to get herself some composure. The women sat silently for quite a while, and she stayed the night with his mother.

She returned the next morning, with a heavy heart and burning eyes. Tears flowed profusely from her eyes, and she could not bring herself back from the feeling of guilt. She had got all her answers now.  She had loved him. She was the one who was supposed to trust him, and be with him, listening to what he had to say, giving him another chance to prove his innocence. She had left him when he needed her the most, and distrusted him when he needed to be trusted. Regret and guilt tortured her like never before, and she felt she never deserved his love. It was a terrible feeling. And she was not sure how she would get over it. She knew he would forgive her, but deep inside, she felt she did not deserve it. She searched for ways to apologize to him like she really meant it, but failed to find any.

It was time for her to go. It was time to apologize, to try her best to make him take her back. It was time to be back in his arms, forever.

ONE MORE CHANCE - Chapter 3

She tapped on the door. A lady, in her mid fifties, opened the door for her. She was fair, bright, and definitely belonged to the list of the most noticed women of her age.

“Come on in!” she invited her.

“You sent for me. I had decided against this, but still, here I am. I don’t know what more is left unsaid.”

“Many things, darling. Many things. Tea?”

“Sure.”

The woman walked over to the kitchen and was back with two hot cups of tea in a few minutes. They settled on the couch, and she became ready for whatever was for her that she had to listen to. The woman started the conversation.

“I have seen him sad for years when his dad passed away, and just when he was getting over it, he met you. And as you came into his life, you brought his smile back. He is a good man. And being his mother, I know him better than you do. He loves you. And I know that you love him too.”

“Not anymore. Not after knowing what he is.”

“Whom are you fooling kid? I know both of you. You still love him, don’t you? Say it on my face that you don’t!”

“It doesn’t matter, ma. It’s over! I saw him trading the duplicate for a huge sum of money. I saw it with my own eyes. I saw him take the money. What else can be a feasible explanation? Please don’t defend him just because he is your son. He has done something illegal. And you, knowing it, should be talking to him right now, bringing him out of the gutter. Instead, you try to convince me that he is innocent. This is great!” she said sarcastically, with tears welled up in her eyes.

The woman abruptly stood up, walked inside and came back with a painting, covered with satin sheets. She gently pulled the cloth to expose the painting. It was the portrait of a girl. She was flawlessly beautiful, and so was her portrait.

“Who is she?”

“She is the truth, my dear. She is the answer to all your questions. She is the key to his innocence.”