#5 The Drawer (English Version)

(For the Spanish version see below)

Thomas came back home very tired: his job was exhausting. He had begun working again one week ago and it looked like it had been passed ages since last time he had worked. Although, in some way, it was true. After discussing with his old boss, he had been readmitted in his old company holding the same position he had when he disappeared. The vast majority of his old colleagues had been left or promoted instead. Now, he was 6 years older and he had the same experience as before. Sometimes he became frustrated for the situation, but at least he was happy to get back his old job in order to rebuild his life. He thought the job would keep his mind busy during a few hours.

He also continued living with his parents event though he did not discard the idea of moving alone again, but at the moment, he preferred to save some money. He had the titanic task of restarting his life from scratch. However, the question was: Would he be ready?

After talking to Mathieu he remained stunned the following days. During last weeks, things and revelations had been gone so fast, that he had not been able to realize what was going on with his life. He never thought about how Chloé felt after he went gone. It was something that tormented him every day. During the last month, he told himself she was a traitor that left him in the lurch. He believed that she cheated on him since the moment he saw her with another man. However, it was actually him who betrayed her. He knew it  now and he could not accept that fact, so instead of facing it, he tried to keep his mind busy to forget his own problems.

He dropped his bag on the floor and he realized that a recent photo was hanged on the wall. In the picture he and his friends appeared sharing a beer. Thomas imagined that his mother printed it in order to make him feel better. The picture was taken a few days ago when he met again his old friends: Adriano, Marc, Albert and Grégoire were his best pals alongside Mathieu. 

He remembered what they talked about: Marc was married to his long-term girlfriend. Albert was now living on the East Coast of the United States and was dating an American girl. Grégoire had left his old job and had created his own Start-up specialized on Internet trading and now he was starting to be an important businessman. And finally, Adriano, who had been the playboy of the group, he was living in Madrid with his girlfriend.

“You know guys? I have to tell you something great: Taylor is pregnant!” Albert was very happy and he wanted to share his joy with his old friends.

“Congratulations! We are going to have another dad on our group!” Mathieu wished him.

“I didn’t want to tell you until we were both sure but now I can. I’m glad I came to France from the States to tell you. I’m happy to see all my old friends gathered all together again.” He took a look to Thomas and smiled. “It looks that this month we are only having good news!”

“Do you have any ideas in mind about his or her future name?” Marc asked. Thomas noticed Marc’s wedding ring and a question came to his mind.

“Even either he or she is a boy or a girl, we have already decided the name. But we aren’t going to tell you until the baby’s born. It would be a surprise for everyone!”

“But, wait a moment Albert. Are you going to have a son and you are not even married?”

“Of course he’s married!” Adriano told them. “We made a great party last summer in the States. We even went to Las Vegas!”

“Sorry Thomas. I was so excited about sharing with you the news that I completely forgot to tell you that I married Taylor last year. But anyway, I’m happy you are back! You have to come to New York to visit us. You are invited!”

“Thanks Albert but I don’t really want to bother Taylor if she’s pregnant.” Thomas realized that he had no idea about who Taylor was. He had never seen her.

“Well guys, I think I have to go. I have an important meeting tomorrow morning with a new potential investor that wants to enter as a shareholder and I have to discuss with him the terms .” Grégoire took his coat and shake hand with Marc.

“Really? I’m happy for you. It looks like the company is taking off.”

Marc hugged Grégoire and the rest stood up to say him goodbye. All of them except Thomas, he remained sat near the table in silence. He felt as he was no longer part of the group. He was out of place, like a fish out of the water. He was only listening them whilst they were chatting and in the most of the cases he had no idea what they were talking about. He had missed Mathieu, Marc and Albert’s weddings; Grégoire had been running his own business for last two years and finally Adriano had moved to Spain and he was living with his new girlfriend. 

Thomas felt that people were no longer his old friends. They had evolved during the last 6 years and he was still the same. Some of them were already married and had children. It looked like that everyone had been chosen his own path while he was struggling to recover and repair the pieces of his own life. He asked himself how his life would have been if he had not disappeared: “Would he be married to Chloé? Would he have children with her?” Nobody could know.

His new cell phone vibrated and he came back to present. It would be probably his mother telling him she would be late for diner. Thomas grabbed his phone and checked the message. It was sent from an unknown number.

Hi Thomas. I’m glad to know you are OK. I’m sorry if I am a bit straightforward but I’d like to meet you again. I think it would be good for both of us if we talked again face to face. There are some things I would like to know and I’m sure you have your own questions too. Write me back if you want to see me. I hope you are doing well. 

Chloé.

Thomas raised his eyes and he looked into the mirror of his room. For the first time in one month he was smiling. Maybe, he would be able to recover all the pieces and rebuilt his old life.

***

“Olivier, can you tell me what that object exactly is? You are always wearing it and I’d like to know what it is. I’m just curious.”

Olivier turned back and he kissed her on the lips. They were both completely naked and a small breeze was coming in through the window. He started to think that they spent a lot of time together at his place and in most of cases they finished undressing each other.

However, he did not care. In fact, he liked it.

Claire was staring at him with her beautiful blue eyes whilst he was lying on the bed. Her blond hair covered his face as she approached to kiss him. He felt as he was in heaven.

“You say that silver thing with some buttons?”

“Yes, the same one. It’s strange because it isn’t the first time I catch you looking to it, but I cannot understand what it exactly is!”

“It was a gift of an old friend. It’s a clock that tells you a day and the hour.”

“Really? Its shape is weird…”

“Well that’s actually what makes it so special.”

“Oh, I’m sorry the screen is broken then…”

“Don’t you worry. I will repair it one day!”

She jumped on him and she started kissing him. He let her to kiss his ear and then his neck.  With Claire near his side, everything looked like easier. He loved the way she kissed him, her blond hair, her blue eyes, her smell… He was already in love but he did not care. He knew that she was the right girl he had been looking for.

They made love two more times and finished completely exhausted. Claire was sleeping whilst Olivier was caressing her hair. A few minutes later, he stand up, grabbed that silver objet and went to the window. His apartment was on the 7^th floor of a building near the Buttes Chaumont park and despite of being small, he had some perfect views of the whole city of Paris. Sun was going down and the Eiffel tower was starting to shine. Montmatre was also illuminated at his right. He took a cigarette and he lighted it. He liked smoking whilst he was looking the sunset on the horizon.

He extracted the silver object form his pocket and he contemplated it. He knew perfectly that it was not a portable clock and how he had to run it. Olivier closed his eyes and remembered the first time he saw it inside that wooden box. At that moment, he would have never imagined what he would be able to accomplish…

“Olivier, come here and take a look. There is something on the bottom of the wall. It’s like a drawer encrusted on the wall. We can open it!”

“Paul, we have just arrived to our new room in that residence for students. This is our last year and you are already breaking the wall. Sometimes I don’t get you…”

Paul extracted the drawer from the wall. Powder was covering him and he immediately started to cough. They found inside the drawer a small silver object with 4 buttons and 2 screens.

“Olivier, it looks like someone had left his old MP3 player inside this drawer. I bet it happened 10 years ago because nowadays nobody would utilize that thing. Hold it, I give it to you. I don’t care about it. I’m going to buy some food. Do you want me to buy something?"

“No, thanks. I have to continue cleaning. You’d better do it the same."

“Ok, as you wish…”

Paul left the room and Olivier continued arranging his books on the shelf. Al flashlight coming from that drawer caught up his attention and he took it. Without even knowing why, he grabbed that objet and held it into his hands. It was a bit weird to be an old-fashioned MP3. There was no hole to plug the headphones and it does not look like he had a battery or something similar. He decided to leave it as they found it but whilst he was trying to put the drawer in his place it fell down. A paper appear from the nothing: the drawer aparently had a double bottom. Olivier took a look to the paper. Something was written on it and he cleaned the powder that was on it.

To you, the one that has found my biggest secret, I deliver that infinity objet that will let you discover times and situations that no one would ever understand. 

To you, I bequeath one part of me, of my soul, of all the things I lived. But I must warn you: this is a cursed machine, no matter what you do; the past will catch you to take back its debts as it did to me. That is why I have to get rid of it: it is time to start my on life without being tied to my own fate. 

To you, I will give you a last advice in order to avoid the curse that is killing me: don’t try to know your past; don’t try to get answer from it: built your own life. Don’t repeat my mistakes, don’t let the past catches you…

I’m sure you will be able to find how the machine works by yourself and, if sometimes you will have to face a problem, just follow the lights. They will guide you until the final answer.

The prisoner

#5 El cajón (Spanish Version)

Thomas regresó cansado a su casa: el trabajo lo había dejado exhausto. No hacía más de una semana que se había reincorporado a su puesto y parecía que llevaba siglos sin trabajar, aunque en cierto modo era verdad. Después de hablar con su antiguo jefe, había sido readmitido en su antigua empresa en la misma posición que cuando desapareció. La gran mayoría de sus antiguos compañeros habían cambiado de aires y los que quedaban habían sido ascendidos y ahora ocupaban puestos de mayor responsabilidad que el suyo. Ahora tenía 6 años más pero la misma experiencia que antes. Es por ello que algunas veces terminaba frustrado, pero al menos estaba contento de poder recuperar una cosa que solía hacer antes de una forma relativamente normal. Se decía a si mismo que el trabajo mantendría su mente ocupada.

Desde entonces había vuelto a casa de sus padres aunque no descartaba en un futuro volver a vivir solo. Pero por el momento decidió ahorrar un poco de dinero antes de dar el paso. Debía reconstruir su vida desde cero, ahora bien: ¿de verdad estaba preparado?

La conversación con su amigo Mathieu le había dejado anonadado. Todo había pasado demasiado rápido para él y en ningún momento se había parado a pensar lo que Chloé había sufrido con su pérdida. Era algo que a partir de ahora le atormentaba incesantemente. Durante el último mes se había dicho a si mismo que ella era una traidora que lo había dejado en la estacada. Pensaba que lo había traicionado completamente yéndose con otro y a decir verdad; era él quien la había traicionado. Sabía que no tenía razón y le costaba aceptarlo. Por eso, dudaba en refugiarse en cualquier cosa que mantuviera su mente ocupada.

Dejó su bolsa en la habitación y observó una foto que había colgada en la pared. En ella salía él con sus amigos. No la había visto antes y supuso que su madre la había impreso para hacerle más llevadera la vuelta. Poco a poco había vuelto a ver a todos ellos: Adriano, Marc, Albert y Grégoire eran sus mejores compañeros junto a Mathieu y por supuesto se había alegrado de volverlos a ver. Hacía unos días que se habían reunido para tomar una cerveza como normalmente hacían. 

Poco a poco, cada uno le había ido explicando lo que había sido de sus vidas durante el tiempo que había estado fuera. Thomas aprendió que Marc se había casado con su novia de toda la vida. Albert ahora vivía en la costa este de los Estados Unidos ya que se había mudado allí por el trabajo y estaba saliendo con una chica americana. Grégoire, por otro lado, había dejado la empresa donde trabajaba y había montado una Start-Up especializada en el comercio por Internet y parecía que no le había ido nada mal. Finalmente, Adriano, que siempre había sido el conquistador del grupo, vivía en Madrid junto con su novia.

– ¿Sabéis? Os tengo que dar una buena noticia: ¡Taylor está embarazada! – Comentó aquel día Albert.

– ¡Enhorabuena! ¡Vamos a tener a otro padre en el grupo! – Le felicitó Mathieu.

– No lo quería decir hasta que no estuviéramos seguros pero ahora ya os lo puedo confirmar–. Albert estaba resplandeciente. – Me alego de haber podido venir esta semana y decíroslo en persona. La verdad es que este mes todo son buenas noticias.

– ¿Tienes alguna idea de cómo lo vais a llamar? – Preguntó Marc. Thomas se fijó en la alianza que llevaba en la mano y una pregunta le empezó a rondar por la cabeza.

– Tanto si es niño como si es niña, Taylor y yo ya lo hemos decidido. Pero no lo diremos hasta que nazca.

– Pero un momento Albert–. Le interrumpió Thomas. – ¿Vas a tener un hijo y no estás casado?

– Pero claro que está casado –. Intervino Adriano. – ¿Menuda fiesta nos pegamos en la costa oeste el año pasado eh? ¡Fuimos a las Vegas y todo!

– Ah, perdona Thomas. Que todavía no te lo hemos contado todo. Taylor y yo nos casamos el año pasado en junio. Pero igualmente tienes que venir a vernos a Nueva York y así la conoces. ¡Estás más que invitado!

Thomas se dio cuenta que no sabía ni siquiera quién era la tal Taylor ya que no la había visto nunca.

– Bueno chicos, me parece que yo me tengo que ir ya. Mañana tengo una reunión con un socio inversor que quiere entrar en la empresa y debo discutir con él los términos–. Añadió Grégoire mientras se levantaba y cogía su abrigo para irse.

– ¿Enserio? Me alegro mucho, parece que la cosa funciona –. Le felicitó Marc.

Todos se levantaron y empezaron a felicitar a Grégoire. Todos salvo Thomas, él se quedó sentado en la mesa. Se sentía completamente desplazado y varias veces se limitó a escuchar, a asentir o a seguir al grupo. No sabía qué decir ya que en la mayoría de los casos hablaban de cosas que él no había vivido. Se había perdido las bodas de Mathieu, Marc y Albert. Grégoire empezaba a despuntar como empresario cuando ambos habían empezado a trabajar a la vez. Y Adriano, que cada día estaba con una chica diferente, ahora vivía en otro país junto con una novia estable.

Sus amigos habían evolucionado y sin embargo, el seguía siendo el mismo chico que hacía 6 años. Estaba completamente fuera de sus vidas y sabía que le llevaría tiempo comprender y adaptarse a la nueva situación. Mientras que ellos tenían sus vidas encarriladas, el intentaba recomponer los pedazos rotos de la suya...

Su nuevo móvil vibró en su bolsillo y despegó los ojos de la pared. Seguramente sería su madre avisándole de que llegaría tarde. Sin embargo el mensaje era de un número desconocido.

Hola Thomas. Me alegra saber que estás bien. Perdona si soy tan directa pero me gustaría que nos viésemos un día. Ha pasado mucho tiempo y creo que a los dos nos vendría bien hablar cara a cara. Espero que tu vuelta esté yendo bien. Escríbeme y dime cuando estás disponible. 

Chloé

Thomas levantó la vista y se miró al espejo de su habitación. Por primera vez en un mes sonreía. Quizás sí que sería capaz juntar todas las piezas y rehacer su vida.

***

– ¿Olivier, me puedes decir qué ese objeto que siempre llevas contigo y que tanto te miras?

Olivier se giró y la besó en los labios. Ambos estaban completamente desnudos y una leve brisa entraba por la ventada. Empezaba a pensar que pasaban demasiado tiempo juntos últimamente. Casi siempre estaban en su casa y la gran mayoría de las veces acababan sin ropa.

Aun así, no lo importaba. Es más, le estaba empezando a gustar.

Claire lo miraba con sus intensos ojos azules mientras él se volvía a tumbar. Su cabello rubio envolvió su cara y ella se acercó para besarle. Unos instantes después se separaron.

– ¿Dices ese objeto plateado con botones?

– Sí, ese mismo. Me extraña mucho ya que siempre lo miras pero no consigo entender qué es.

– Fue un regalo de un antiguo amigo. Es una especie de reloj que marca un día y la hora.

– ¿Ah sí? Tiene una forma un poco rara... Es una lástima que la pantalla se haya roto.

– No te preocupes, la arreglaré.

Ella se subió encima de él y le empezó a besar. Él se dejó llevar. Con Claire todo parecía más fácil: le encantaba besarla, tocarla y que ella le respondiera. Se estaba empezando a enamorar seriamente de aquella chica pero apenas le importaba. Sabía que era la chica con la que quería estar.

Hicieron el amor dos veces más y al final acabaron extenuados. Claire se quedó dormida mientras Olivier acariciaba su pelo dorado. Al cabo de un rato se levantó, cogió el pequeño objeto, se vistió y fue hacia la ventada. Desde su casa se podía contemplar todo París: la torre Eiffel empezaba a billar y la montaña de Montmartre quedaba iluminada a su derecha. Sacó un cigarrillo y lo encendió. La nicotina hizo su efecto y Olivier expiró el humo relajado. Contempló aquel pequeño objeto que tenía entre las manos. Sabía perfectamente que no era un reloj y para qué servía. Cerró los ojos y recordó la primera vez que lo vio en aquella caja de madera, en aquél momento no se imaginaba lo que podía llegar a hacer pero no tardó mucho en descubrirlo.

– Olivier, mira lo que hay aquí en la pared. Parece una especie de cajón, se puede abrir y todo.

– Paul, nos acabamos de mudar a esta residencia en el último año del curso y ya estás abriendo la pared. Enserio no hay quien te entienda.

Paul extrajo el cajón de la pared. Tenía mucho polvo y acto seguido empezó a toser. Dentro del cajón había un extraño objeto plateado con dos pantallas y cuatro botones.

– Mira Olivier, algún tonto se ha dejado su antiguo reproductor MP3 en este cajón. Tuvo que ser hace 10 años más o menos porque ya nadie utiliza estas tonterías. Ten, haz lo que quieras tú con él, a mí no me interesa. Me voy a comprar: ¿Quieres que te traiga algo del supermercado?

– No, gracias. Tengo que ordenar un poco todo esto.

– Está bien como quieras.

Paul salió de la habitación y Olivier siguió ordenando sus libros en la estantería. Un destello le llamó la atención y se fijó en el cajón que había encima de su cama. Sin saber muy bien por qué, cogió aquel objeto y lo sostuvo entre sus manos. Era un poco raro para ser un antiguo reproductor MP3: no había ningún sitio por dónde conectar los auriculares y no parecía que tuviera una pila o algo que lo hiciera funcionar. Lo dejó encima de su mesa y volvió a colocar el cajón en su sitio. Intentó encajarlo pero no lo consiguió y el cajón cayó al suelo. Al recogerlo se dio cuenta que había un doble fondo con un papel dentro. La nota estaba escrita en un papel arrugado y parecía que había pasado varios años allí dentro por el polvo que la cubría.

A ti, el que ha descubierto mi gran secreto, te entrego este objeto infinito que te permitirá conocer tiempos y vivir situaciones que escaparán de la concepción de los demás. 

A ti te lego una parte de mí, de mi alma, de todas las situaciones que he vivido. Pero debo advertirte: este objeto está maldito, hagas lo que hagas el pasado volverá para consumirte como lo hizo conmigo. Por eso debo desprenderme de él: es hora de que viva mi propia vida sin estar atado a los lazos del destino. 

A ti te doy un último consejo para evitar la maldición: utilízalo sin intentar encontrar respuestas y escribe tu propia vida. No cometas mi error, no dejes que el pasado te atrape...

Estoy seguro que sabrás descubrir su funcionamiento por ti solo, y si alguna vez tienes algún problema con él, sigue a las luces. Ellas te guiarán hacia la respuesta final.

El prisionero.

#4 Chloé (English Version)

(For the Spanish version see below)

Thomas was sitting on the coach of his friends’ house holding a cup of red wine. He would have just accepted a regular beer, but Mathieu insisted on opening a bottle of one of his best Bordeaux. He wanted somehow to celebrate Thomas’ return, even though Thomas thought that there was nothing to celebrate.

“So, are you going to tell me what have you been doing those last 6 years?”

Thomas was looking the cup, trying to avoid Mathieu’s questions. He did not know what to answer that was coherent.

“If I told you that time hasn’t passed only for me, would you believe me?”

Mathieu frowned to show his disapproval.

“Come on Thomas, don’t bug me. That’s impossible! What you have to do is trying to remember what you’ve been doing during the last 6 years! It’s impossible that you were gone in 2010 and you’ve been roaming in a kind of limbo until now. You have to explain it us! We deserve an answer, what happened that day?”

Thomas was silent. It was completely impossible for him to express clearly his feelings and thoughts. Mathieu’s son was playing with a toy car in front of them. His father was hypnotized each time the little kid tried to get his attention.

“I don’t know Mathieu; I don’t know what to think. I try to remember but it’s useless. I’m not able to explain what I’ve been doing as I remember nothing. I don’t even understand why I left. I didn’t run away, I didn’t choose to disappear. That’s the only thing I am completely sure…”

“So, maybe it’s a good idea if you go to visit a specialist.”

Thomas whispered. He knew that his friend was right. He was turning down going to visit a psychologist each time his mother suggested it. He had to clarify what happened that night of 2010 in order to move forward. The problem was that when he tried it, he had a mental block and sadness took over him. Mathieu realized the suffering of his friend and put his hand on Thomas’ shoulder to cheer him up.

“You must be strong Thomas. I trust you. I always did and I’m sure that there must be something else that you don’t know.”

“I don’t know my friend. But, just tell me: are you sure that during the last 6 years I’ve never tried to make contact with you?”

“No, you didn’t. Neither me, nor Adriano, nor Marc, nor Grégoire… No one of our group of friends had news from you. Not even Chloé…”

Mathieu interrupt his speech when he saw Thomas that was about to start crying. He realized soon that he was still hurt each time he heard her name.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t want to…”

Thomas made an effort to not to cry.

“Don’t you worry; it’s not your fault.” Thomas breathed deeply. The moment to get news from Chloé had just arrived. “I know I lost her forever and there nothing I can do to change my pas now. However, I need to understand. I need to find what happened and what I've been doing all this time. I screwed and throw away my life that night. And I don’t even know why! Why Mathieu, why?!

Without realizing, Thomas was standing and shouting his friend. The cup was lying broken on the floor and the little Thomas was whimpering terrified. He was frightened. 

“I’m sorry Mathieu. I’ve lost my self-control and I made him cry…”

“It’s OK, just don’t be angry. I’m here to help you.”

“Mathieu, I’ve been escaping from my problems and feelings since I came back. I have to face them once and for all if I want to keep moving. I need to know what happened with Chloé after I was gone. Otherwise, that shitty feeling will consume me forever.”

“Are you sure you want to know this now? I think it’s not a good idea. Maybe, you are not ready yet to listen it…”

“I am not, but I have no other option.”

“Just tell me: are you still in love?”

“As I was the first day I meet here.”

“Fine, I guess it’s time that you hear the whole story.”

November, 22nd 2010

Chloé slept well that night. Finally, Thomas had taken a step forward and asked her to go to live together and she was dying to do it. Thomas hesitated plenty of times in order to take decisions and she wanted to verify if he was completely sure of himself. She knew that he wanted to go with her, but somehow she just needed to prove that he was the man of his life. Nevertheless, Thomas always became brave and he was able to express his feelings and his ideas: that is what she liked the most.

That morning, Chloé had to take a train in the Gare de Lyon station in order to go to the French Riviera where she had to spend a few days for work. Before boarding the TGV, she checked his mobile phone and saw that Thomas had not replied her since last night. It was strange, he always replied, but she thought that maybe his phone had run out of battery. In any case she wrote him a message wishing him a good day and she got on the train: “He would soon call me back.”

Three days later, Chloé was getting off in the same station angry: she was really pissed off regarding Thomas’ attitude: neither he had replied her messages, nor contacted her. He was just being an idiot with her and nothing made sense. He decided to call Camille, Mathieu’s girlfriend, as soon as she returned to her appartement.

“Camille?”

“Hi Chloé. How are you doing?”

“Well, it could be better…”

“Is something wrong?”

“I need to talk to Mathieu about Thomas. I understand nothing; he hasn’t contacted me for the last 3 years. I’m worried by him. Maybe, he had a problem, I just don’t know…”

“OK, I understand. Give me a few seconds but don’t you worry I’m sure that Mathieu knows something.”

Chloé waited impatiently on the other side of the phone. Mathieu answered as fast as he could.

“Chloé, is this true? Don’t you have any news of Thomas for the last four days?

“No, I don’t. I’m worried Mathieu. Do you know something? Please tell me yes…”

“Unfortunately I don’t know either. I’m sorry Chloé. Last thing I knew is that he was dining with you and that he had to tell you something important.”

“I don’t know what else I can do. His parents know nothing either.”

“Tell me exactly where you are now. I’m coming with Camille and let’s go to Mathieu’s apartment afterwards. ”

“Hurry up…”

Mathieu rushed with Camille and joined Chloé in front of Mathieu’s home, but it was completely empty. No one had been there in at least 3 or 4 days. Mathieu’s phone was missing but his money and some credit cards where there. He would not have flown without money. Two days later they reported it in the police office in order to start searching him. Thomas had been swallowed by the roar of time.

From that moment onwards, days were passing slowly and time started to acquire a new dimension for her. Every day, after she came home from work, she spent her time looking the screen of her cell phone, waiting a message from Thomas that would never receive. She had an useless faith and she thought that Thomas will appear one day of another in front of her door with a bucket of flowers asking her to forget him. But he never did and Chloé began to feel that half of her soul had also disappeared that cursed night of November. She stopped meeting her friends, she had problems to eat and the most important, she had nightmares where Thomas was asking her to save him form a mysterious dark creature that was holding him.

The inquiry moved on but it got stuck as soon as they recovered Thomas’ phone from the bottom of the Saint-Martin canal. It looked like that he had disappeared inside the subterranean tunnel beneath Richard Lenoir boulevard. She began to curse that area and entered in a lethargy transforming her in a person that acted like without feelings, just like a robot.

Days and months passed and in November 2012, two years later after Thomas’ went missing, his parents decided to gather family and closer friends as a tribute for Thomas’ memory. They did not want to call it “funeral” but as soon as Chloé walked in the house of Thomas’ parents, it made sick to her stomach. Everyone was dressed for mourning, even her. Her face was also expressionless.

“I know he’s not dead yet! I’m sure that one day he will come back.”

Thomas’ father was shouting to one of his cousins when he was trying to give condolences on behalf of his soon. His wife was mourning in a corner. Some of Thomas’ closer friends where there: Mathieu was trying not to cry next to Camille. Adriano was pale, Albert was about to faint and Marc and Grégoire where uncomfortable as they did not want to be there. Honestly, no one wanted to be there.

Chloé moved like a ghost between the people. Someone had put a picture on a table. Thomas was smiling her alongside his teammates from the rugby team of his university. There was him, in the center of the picture, unworried and happy. Without realizing, Cholé had taken the picture and was contemplating it crying in silence. At that moment, she felt observed for everyone and she wished as hard as she could to disappear with him.

“Chloé, are you OK?”

Camille was trying to get her attention. However, Chloé was about to explode: the situation was consuming her and she ran away from that horrible place as fast as she could, holding Thomas’ picture. When she came round she realized that she was standing in front of Arsenal’s port near to Bastille circus. Beneath the metro station, there was the underground water tunnel that connected the Saint-Martin canal with the Seine river. 

She descended to the quays and looked the tunnel defiant with her eyes full of tears. The darkness of the tunnel was trying to absorb the last feelings and emotions she still had. She took another look to the picture whilst it began to rain. Somehow, an image of a smiling Thomas appeared in front of her.

“Why were you so egoist? Why did you run away from me without telling me? Two years have already gone and I’m still waiting for your fucking explanation! And do you know what? You’re just a fucking useless liar! You promised me! You promise we would live together, that you would always be at my side. And you just disappear after that? What did I do to deserve this? Why did I do to hate me? I will tell you: you are a fucking shitty coward and a bad liar. I hate you Thomas. I wish I had never met you! You have destroyed my life, I will always hate you!

Chloé threw away the picture towards the entrance of the tunnel. It was raining in torrents but she remained to contemplate how the photo was sinking in the water.

“Farewell Thomas…”

2013 arrived and slowly she got rid of all the memories and pictures that she had with him until just one remained. They were both in the picture during their first year at the university. It was one of the first parties they did together. They were both smiling and looked younger. Thomas was grabbing her shoulder and she was a little bit embarrassed. He always was radiant and joyful. She turned the picture to read Thomas’ dedication:

The first one of all, Chloé: October 1^st 2005.

She nostalgically left it the picture at her side and grabbed her cell phone to call one of her friends.

“Diane? I was thinking and yes, you’re right. Tonight I will go out with you.”

She hung up, took her picture with Thomas and went to her balcony. The Seine river was shining at the sunset. She got the lighter she was keeping in her pocket and brought it near the picture. She hesitated for a moment but she finally ended lighting it up. Immediately after, she dropped the burning picture. She was looking at the picture that was disappearing as it was becoming ashes that were being spread by the wind.

It was time to get her old life back.

#4 Chloé (Spanish Version)

Thomas estaba sentado en la butaca de su amigo con una copa de vino rojo en la mano. De buen gusto hubiera aceptado una simple cerveza, pero su amigo le había insistido en que probara uno de sus mejores Bordeaux. De algún modo quería celebrar su regreso, a pesar de que, para Thomas, no había nada que festejar, más bien al contrario.

– Entonces, ¿vas a explicarme por fin lo que has estado haciendo estos últimos 6 años?

Thomas, miraba la copa entre sus manos. No sabía qué podía responder a su amigo que tuviera coherencia.

– ¿Si te dijese que para mí no ha pasado el tiempo me creerías?

Mathieu frunció el ceño y puso una expresión seria.

– Vamos no me jodas Thomas. Eso es completamente imposible. Debes intentar recordar qué has estado haciendo todo este tiempo… No puede ser que te desvanecieras en 2010 y hayas estado vagando en una especie de limbo todo este tiempo. Te tuvo que pasar algo aquel día...

Thomas calló. Le resultaba imposible expresarse bien y con claridad. El hijo de Mathieu jugaba con un coche delante de ellos en el suelo. Su padre parecía embobado al contemplarlo.

– No lo sé Mathieu, no consigo recordar nada. Es inútil, lo he intentado todo. No sé qué he podido estar haciendo todo este tiempo, ni mucho menos el por qué decidí marcharme. Yo no huí, yo no decidí desaparecer…

– Quizás deberías ir a ver un especialista o algo…

Thomas suspiró sabiendo que su amigo tenía razón. Había estado rechazando ir a un psicólogo cuando era obvio que lo necesitaba. Debía de aclarar lo que había sucedido aquella noche en 2010, pero cuando lo intentaba, su memoria bloqueaba el recuerdo y la tristeza le inundaba. Mathieu se dio cuenta y apoyó su brazo en el hombro de Thomas para reconfortarle,

– Debes ser fuerte Thomas. Confío en ti. Siempre lo he hecho, y estoy seguro que debe de haber algo detrás.

– No lo sé amigo… ¿Pero estás seguro que no te he contactado en todo este tiempo?

– No, ni a mí, ni a Marc, ni a Adriano, ni a Grégoire… Nadie del grupo de amigos volvió a saber de ti después de aquella noche. Ni siquiera Chloé sabía nada que pudiera…

Mathieu interrumpió la frase al ver a Thomas a punto de romper a llorar. Pronto se dio cuenta de que aún le quedaba mucho por sanar a la herida interna de su compañero.

– Lo siento… No debí nombrarla…

Thomas hizo un esfuerzo para no llorar y contenerse.

– No te preocupes… no es culpa tuya–. Thomas tomó aire: había llegado el momento de preguntarle por ella. – Sé que la he perdido para siempre y que no hay vuelta atrás ahora mismo. Pero necesito saber el motivo; necesito comprender qué me sucedió aquella noche en 2010 y qué he estado haciendo estos 6 años. Tiré mi vida a la basura en el momento en que tomé aquella decisión… ¡Y ni siquiera sé por qué lo hice!

Sin darse cuenta, Thomas se había puesto de pie y estaba gritando. La copa de vino yacía rota en el suelo y el pequeño Thomas gimoteaba de miedo asustado.

– Perdona Mathieu, he perdido los papeles y he hecho llorar al… – No sé hacía todavía a la idea de que su amigo tuviera un hijo que llevara su nombre. – Al pequeño Thomas.

– No te preocupes no es nada, ya te he dicho que estoy aquí para apoyarte.

– Mathieu, he estado huyendo de mis problemas estas últimas semanas. Pero para seguir avanzando, necesito saber qué pasó con Chloé después de que desapareciera. Sino, este sentimiento de mierda que me consume lo hará por completo…

– ¿Estás seguro? ¿Crees que es buena idea? No quería sacar el tema ya que no sabía cómo te lo podrías tomar…

– No es que esté seguro, pero no tengo elección

– Está bien, pero dime: ¿Sigues enamorado de ella?

– Como el primer día.

– Entonces, supongo que debes conocer la historia.

22 de Noviembre de 2010

Chloé había dormido bien aquella noche. Por fin Thomas se había decidido a dar el paso de pedirle que se fueran a vivir juntos. La verdad es que se moría de ganas, pero su orgullo le impedía habérselo propuesto ella. Thomas dudaba muchas veces de sí mismo y ella quería comprobar que si se lo pedía, lo hacía porque él quería y no porque fuese un deseo impuesto por ella. Pero le había echado valor y lo había hecho, aquél chico siempre la sorprendía y era por ello que siempre le había gustado.

Aquella mañana Chloé cogía un tren en la Gare de Lyon dirección al sur de Francia donde pasaría algunos días por trabajo. Antes de subir al TGV consultó su móvil y vio que Thomas no le había respondido en toda la noche. Le pareció un poco raro: a lo mejor se había quedado sin batería ya que él siempre le enviaba un mensaje al volver a casa, o se estaba simplemente haciendo un poco el duro. En cualquier caso le envió un mensaje deseándole buenos días. “Ya respondería.” Se olvidó del tema y subió al tren.

Tres días después Chloé descendía de la misma Gare de Lyon furiosa con el mundo: su compañero todavía no le había contestado y no entendía absolutamente nada. “¿Qué podría estar haciendo aquel pequeño imbécil?”. Al llegar a casa llamó a Camille, la novia de Mathieu, que era mejor amigo de Thomas.

– ¿Camille?

– ¡Ah, Hola Chloé! ¿Cómo estás?

– Bueno… He podido estar mejor...

– ¿Te ha pasado algo?

– Necesito hablar con Mathieu rápidamente. Es sobre Thomas: hace tres días que no coge mis llamadas. Me gustaría saber si ha hablado con Mathieu… tengo algo de miedo.

– Entiendo, está ahora mismo conmigo. Ahora te lo paso…

Chloé permaneció impaciente en el teléfono durante unos segundos. Mathieu respondió tan rápido como pudo.

– ¿Chloé? ¿Enserio que no sabes nada de Thomas?

– No y empiezo a estar muy preocupada. ¿Tú sabes algo? Dime que sí por favor…

– No, lo siento Chloé… Lo último que me dijo es que cenaba contigo y que te iba a decir algo importante.

– No sé qué más puedo hacer, sus padres tampoco saben nada.

– Dime dónde estás ahora mismo que voy con Camille para allí e iremos juntos a su casa.

– Date prisa Mathieu…

Mathieu fue con Camille a buscar a Chloé y juntos fueron al apartamento de Thomas, pero no encontraron a nadie. Estaba completamente desierto. Al cabo de dos días pusieron una denuncia de desaparición. A Thomas se lo había tragado el tiempo.

A partir de ese momento los días pasaban lentamente y sin noticias de él. Cada día llegaba del trabajo y pasaba las horas mirando su móvil, esperando un mensaje de Thomas que nunca llegaría. Tenía la esperanza inútil de que apareciese con un ramo de rosas pidiendo perdón en la puerta de su casa. Pero nunca lo hizo y Chloé sentía como que una parte suya había desaparecido con él: no salía, no se relacionaba con sus amigas, le costaba comer y sobretodo tenía pesadillas con Thomas pidiendo que lo salvara de una extraña criatura.

La investigación de su desaparición continuó avanzando pero lo único que pudo recuperar la policía fue su teléfono del fondo del canal Saint-Martin. Parecía que el canal lo había hecho desaparecer en su túnel subterráneo bajo el bulevar de Richard Lenoir. Empezó a maldecir a aquella zona y entró en un estado de letargo volviéndose una persona que actuaba de forma mecánica sin sentimientos.

Pasaron los meses y en noviembre de 2012, después de transcurrieran dos años de su desaparición, sus familiares decidieron organizar acto de reconocimiento con sus amigos más cercanos. No lo querían llamar funeral, pero cuando Chloé entró en el apartamento de sus padres se le revolvió el estómago al ver a todo el mundo vestido de negro. Luego se dio cuenta de que ella no sólo no iba vestida de negro sino que cualquier expresión de su cara había sido borrada.

– ¡Sé que no está muerto! ¡Sé que algún día volverá!

El padre de Thomas le gritaba a un familiar suyo cuando este último se acercó a darle el pésame mientras que su madre lloriqueaba en una esquina. Todos los amigos de Thomas estaban allí: Mathieu aguantaba como podía el llanto al lado de Camille. Adriano, otro de los amigos de Thomas, estaba completamente pálido y Albert, Marc y Grégoire estaban incómodos; no querían estar allí, de hecho nadie lo quería estar.

Chloé avanzó como un fantasma entre la multitud. Habían colocado una foto encima de una mesa. En ella salía Thomas cuando jugaba al rugby con sus compañeros en la universidad. Allí estaba él, en el centro, con su sonrisa despreocupada, su cabello marrón despeinado cogiendo del brazo a uno de sus compañeros. Sin darse cuenta, Chloé había cogido la foto y la contemplaba llorando en silencio. En ese momento se sintió observada por todo el mundo y deseó con todas sus fuerzas haber desaparecido junto a él.

– ¿Chloé, estás bien?

Era Camille que la llamaba. Pero Chloé no podía más, la situación la consumía. Salió corriendo de la casa llevando la foto en sus brazos. Sin saber cómo; llegó al puerto del Arsenal cerca de la plaza de la Bastille. Debajo de la estación del metro se encontraba el túnel subterráneo de entrada al canal. Bajó a los muelles y lo miró desafiante con los ojos empapados de lágrimas. El túnel se erguía imponente delante de ella, tan oscuro que parecía llegar incluso a absorber sus emociones. Echó un vistazo a la foto: Thomas le sonreía mientras empezaba a llover…

– ¿Por qué fuiste tan egoísta Thomas? ¿Por qué te fuiste sin decirme nada? Han pasado dos años ya y ¿sabes qué? ¡Eres un puñetero mentiroso de mierda! Me lo prometiste, me dijiste que iríamos a vivir juntos. Que siempre estarías conmigo. ¿Y te vas justo después? ¿Qué hice para que me odiases? Te lo voy a decir: eres un cobarde de mierda que no supo dar la cara y un mentiroso. ¡Te odio y siempre te voy a odiar!

Chloé tiró la foto hacia el canal en dirección a la boca del túnel. Estaba diluviando pero se quedó contemplando como el marco se hundía en el agua.

– Hasta nunca Thomas…

El 2013 llegó y poco a poco se fue deshaciendo de todos los recuerdos y fotos que tenía junto a él hasta que solo le quedó una. En ella salían los dos en su primer año de la universidad. Era una foto que se había hecho en una de las primeras fiestas. En ella salían ambos sonrientes mientras que Thomas la agarra con su mano en el hombro. Él estaba radiante, siempre estaba contento en las fotos, a ella en cambio le estaba dando vergüenza. Giró la foto, en ella había escrita una dedicatoria:

“La primera de muchas Chloé: 1 de octubre de 2005.”

Dejó a un lado con nostalgia la foto, cogió su teléfono y llamó a una amiga suya.

-          ¿Diane? Lo he estado pensado y esta noche sí que salgo con vosotras, me vendrá bien.

Cuando colgó el teléfono cogió su foto con Thomas y se fue a su balcón. El Sena se veía a lo lejos resplandeciente y hacía un día excelente a pesar de que comenzaba a atardecer. Sacó el mechero que guardaba en su bolsillo y lo acercó a la foto. Dudó un instante pero acabó por prenderle fuego. Acto seguido la arrojó por el balcón. Contempló cómo la foto se iba reduciendo a cenizas que iban siendo esparcidas por el viento.

Había llegado el momento de recuperar el control de su vida.

#3 The Kid (English Version)

(For the Spanish version see below)

When Olivier arrived to his place, he did not realize that she was still there. He went into his bedroom and threw all his belongings on his desk. He should not have helped that guy. The silver object was now broken. He needed to find a way to fix it, as he would be facing new issues soon.

“Olivier, are you OK? What’s wrong with you? You told me you were going to leave just 5 minutes and it looks like it had been passed ages since last time I saw you.”

He turned back and saw her. He did not remember that she was still there, in his place. Although it was normal, for her, only 10 minutes had passed, for him, much more…

“Hey, Claire! Have you missed me a lot?”

She stared at him with her blue eyes. He was a completely idiot, but she was in love with him.

“I sometimes don’t really get you… You tell me that you will be back in 5 minutes, then you arrive and you just ignore me. Are you stupid?”

Olivier scanned her and he told himself that he should be more cautious next time. He decided to go with the flow and acted completely normal.

“No, I am not. It just was… I was trying to find you something.”

“What were you seeking?”

“This…” Olivier made appear a red rose from his sleeve and offered her. “Happy birthday Claire!”

She remained silent. She did not expect that. Bit by bit, she approached him, took the rose and smelled it before looking into his eyes. Olivier smiled. He started to think that he really liked that girl: she had a blond hair with blue eyes, good height and a perfect body.

“You’re just and idiot…”

“Oh yes? Then I should keep that flower…”

“You are an idiot, but you are my idiot!”

She pulled him closer, grabbed his back and started to kiss him. A faint light entered through the window that made it all more magical. She pushed him away onto his bed and she got on him kissing his neck. Olivier loved the way she kissed. Maybe she was the girl he had always been waiting for.

He replied her with emphasis. A flash light from that silver object made him remember the truth. He knew he was facing a new issue, but he was completely sure he could handle it and keep on going. He forgot it all and surrendered to Claire’s charms.

Nevertheless, the small object was still shining on his desk. It had 4 buttons and 2 led screens, one of them so cracked that it was not possible read the date on it.

***

Thomas was sitting in front of the Seine River near the Liberty statue. The Eiffel tower was on the distance as magnificent as usual. The weather was good and despite of being in the middle of the autumn, it was not cold at all. People went outside with their families and friends, enjoying one of the sunniest days of the season.

“Thomas, I knew I’ve asked you plenty of times but, are you sure you remember anything about those last 6 years?”

Thomas heard his mother but he was not paying much attention. A few weeks had been passed since that horrible night when he appeared in front of his parents’ door. Following the initial shock and the great impact that his reappearance made them, they explained him all they went through after he went missing.

Since that 21^st of November, nobody could find any hints about Thomas’ whereabouts. After a few days without going to his job and answering his girlfriend and friends’ calls, his parents decided to report to the police his vanishing in order to put them to investigate. The following weeks were confusing and all they could find was that Thomas had witnessed the accident of a truck that fell down in the Saint-Martin canal. Thomas had apparently been there in that moment as they found his mobile phone into the bottom of the canal and several of witness reported him as the guy that helped another one in a fight. However, there were no fatalities as no corpses were found. Thomas literally vanished that day and nobody had seen him until 6 years later when he knocked on his girlfriend’s house.

“No mum. I already explained you plenty of time that I’m not able to remember all what I’ve done those last 6 years...”

He was unable to put into words how he felt. He tried to explain that time had not passed at all: that he was with Chloé the same night and that the truck crash in the canal never happened… but it was completely impossible.

The accident took place that day (he even googled it on Internet) and everything had changed. People had move on: cell phones were different and better than the 2010 ones, songs in the radio were not the same and even his parents look older. Time had flowed for everyone except him.

He wanted to cry, but he could not. He was empty and nothing could fill that enormous hole which was growing up inside him. Feelings started to crowd around in his mind and he started to think he would become crazy. Sadness and anger begin to take his control: he had vanished, leaving his girlfriend, friends and family alone for 6 long years and for any reason he could not tell them why. Was he amnesic? He did not even know that. All that he knew was that he purging his sins.

“I think that you should visit Chloé again…”

With only hearing the word “Chloé” he began to cry and his mind was completely paralyzed. He did not dare to see her again: Chloé was living with another boy and he should accept that fact despite of it was consuming him. His mother realized and tried to fix her error.

“Thomas, you haven’t wanted to see your friends since you came back. You are like gone... I understand that you lived a traumatic experience. We all lived it! But you must remain strong and keep going. You will soon know what happened that day and you will recover your memories. I’m sure!”

Thomas look at his mum: her green eyes and silver hair were shining of joy. She was very happy to have him back: 6 years ago someone stole his kid, now he was given back.

“You’re right mum… But, it is that feeling of helplessness that it’s killing me inside. I don’t have memories and I cannot explain what happened! I can’t show up to my friends and tell them: hey, I’m back in town! I just can’t!”

“You should go to visit Mathieu, he will help you. He has always been at your side. You will be surprised.”

“Ok, mum. I guess it’s useless to argue with you. I will go today. Maybe, he could help me…”

Mathieu was his best friend. They were inseparable companions since childhood, like two peas in a pot. They had grown up and did their studies together: secrets did not exist for them. After all, if one person could know what happened after the incident, it had to be Mathieu. Maybe he went to explain him something and made him promise not to tell anyone. Definitely, he had to visit him.

His mum give him the new address of him friend. Mathieu had moved some time ago and Thomas went to his new house there and knocked the door. While he was waiting, he took a look to the surroundings. His old friend lived in a small nice house near Porte d’Auteil, not so far from the Roland Garros courts. He remembered that Mathieu’s girlfriend, Camille, used to live in that neighborhood. Perhaps they were living together? He started to think about how the four used to go to dinner together. That thought made him feel even worse.

After a few seconds, the door opened and his old friend appeared. Mathieu had short hair and baldness was starting to appear on his head: physically was not the same as he remembered. He did not tell him anything and just hugged him. Thomas could feel how Mathieu was crying.

“Thomas… your mum told me, but I needed to see you with my own eyes. I didn’t believe it.”

“I’m sorry Mathieu, that’s all I can say…”

“Don’t you worry Thomas. Come on, let’s go inside to talk. I’m sure you have plenty of things to tell me!”

For a moment, Thomas felt peace inside him. Maybe doing some effort he could regain his old life. He still remembered all the good moments that they spent together.

“Mathieu, just a question: Why are you living here now? I knew that Camille used to live near that street, but this house, it’s too big for you…”

Suddenly, something grabbed his leg. He looked down and saw a little kid with sparkling blue eyes that was staring at him. He should be 2 years old as he could not even stand up.

“Mathieu, who’s that kid? Is he another of your cousins and your uncle asked you to take care of?”

Mathieu smiled and took the kid into his arms.

“No Thomas. Not this time.”

Thomas stared at him, disbelieving of what Mathieu said.

“And, who is him?

“Haven’t you realized yet?”

“No, I haven’t. I’m not joking…”

“It’s my son Thomas.”

Thomas turned pale. He could not conceive that his friend was already a dad when 2 weeks ago they were drinking and going out together. The kid took a lock of his hair to bring him to reality.

“His name’s Thomas… We named him in your honor.”