C25 A Woman Looks Like Her

Ryker Luis Monterealez POV

I rudely drank the wine in my glass. I want to get drunk, like I can't get up from bed, or maybe I'll be paralyzed, but my body has a really high tolerance for alcohol and I don't get drunk even if I consume a case of alcohol.

My life is useless. Useless without her.

It's been four years without her, but still it feels like it was happened yesterday. With each passing day, it also gradually kills me.

It's been four years since the tragedy happened in the grocery story near our subdivision. Yaya Celia said that armed men took Zarie, put her in the van and did not chase after. This is also the Van that Amanda used when she escaped.

That same day the news broke, my world and had collapsed. This Van was found on fire. I don’t want to believe that Zarie was one of those. It's hard for me to believe that she is one of those persons who are burned in that fucking Van. When the belongings of the people inside the vehicle were taken out and my wife’s ring was seen on the finger of a burnt body, I still couldn’t believe it. I do not want! That's not true, she's not my wife. I had it autopsied, something that made my world even more ruined when I confirmed that the autopsy result was Positive. I've been depressed, I can't live without her. Even my son, I was neglected due to the despair of living.

AS USUAL, I will enter the headquarters office. They will greet me, but I have no response to them, no living eyes will meet them.

"G-general, Major Arnold, was hospitalized. He had an encounter with someone. He had a gunshot wound to the thigh. You need to go there."

I didn’t answer him, instead I just left in front of him. They are used to be that way, when they say something I don’t respond. I just do what they say.

When I arrived at the hospital where Arnold was taken, I immediately looked for him. I immediately found out what his room number was. When I entered his room I saw him stunned by the absence of mine and when I sneezed he just woke up being stunned.

"R-ryker?" He asked in shock.

I didn't speak, I just looked at him before sitting in the chair next to his hospital bed.

"H-how are you?"

I still didn’t answer because I knew he knew the answer to his questions. I get an orange on the table before peeling it.

Arnold sighed. "I-I'm going to your house to play with Zseto. I miss my godchild."

I nodded at him. A long silence prevailed to us until he spoke again.

"I-i think... I saw her,"

I didn't flinch because I didn't know what he was saying.

"I think... I saw Zarie,"

I stopped peeling the orange. He caught my attention on that matter. My vision darkened. I clenched my jaw. I close my fist tightly.

"What are you saying? You're not funny."

"L-look Ryker, I know you, we're best friends and if anyone knows everything you've been through, it's me and I won't make a barber story if I know it's not a good thing or a joke."

My lips parted as I stared at him. I couldn't speak. My throat went dry.

"W-where did you see her?"

"Just now, that's why I was stunned earlier. I've been thinking about her. She was the Doctor who removed the bullet from my thigh. I don't want to believe it, but no matter what angle I look at her, I can see her, your Zarie."

I don’t know what engulfed me, and I hurried out of Arnold’s room. I quickly went to the information table.

I knew I was a fool praying that she would be Zarie. Yes, I saw the Autopsy result, but I would hope they were wrong. Zarie is still alive! Hope increased in my body that she was still alive.

"Nurse! May I know who was the Doctor who treated Major Arnold?"

"Wait a minute, General, I'll just find it."

The female nurse quickly searched for the person who had treated Arnold. The woman frowned before looking up at me.

"General, the doctor who treated him has resigned now. There is an emergency here and there is no Doctor available, so the resigned Doctor treated him."

"W-where is she now?"

"She's just leaving, but you might still catch up with her."

I moved quickly out of the hospital, but I didn’t catch up. I was able to tweak my own hair because of the frustration I was feeling. Every corner I roll my eyes, hoping to see her. In my despair, I suddenly stunned in my position. I was statues with the woman I now see.

Am I not dreaming?

She was inside the Café next to the hospital. Queued and bought.

I quickly entered the Café, I looked for her, but she was no longer in the queue. My eyes caught her out of the back exit of the Café.

I quickly followed her, but I ran into an elderly woman. I apologized to her before turning my gaze to the exit door, but she was gone.

Shit!

When I got out of the exit, my eyes searched for her, but I never saw her again.

Damn it! She disappears so fast.

I am sure! She was the one I saw. Her smile, her face, her every move, and every opening of her mouth earlier I knew everything. I memorized her. I know her!

I rudely back to the hospital information.

"Nurse? What's the full name of the Doctor who treated Major Arnold?"

"Wait, General, let me see."

I nodded at her and waited for her to see her name.

"I've seen it." She looked up before answering my question. "Her full name is Hazel Aleriya,"

I was swallowed.

'Hazel Aleriya?'