A Chase to Remember (Marked by Love)

Giusi Eligio had never imagined that ten years of marriage could end with just a signature. Two weeks ago, his wife left with the kids, and since then, he’d been hovering, lost in the silence of an empty home. However, he still had to go to work. After all, he had to earn a living.

That night, the restaurant was full. There were parties downstairs and a lot of reservation upstarts. Eli was running breathlessly. His chest moved up and down with heavy breaths, but he kept going. The clients were waiting and hungry. On one side, you could see the spoons and plates rattling with a loud deaf clatter. On the other side, invisible to him, a blond client was following all his movements. Who was she? Eli did not know her for sure.

Sitting up, she asked sweetly, “Eli, can you please make me a margarita?”

As he poured liquor into someone else’s glass, a sudden voice pierced the silence, causing him to jolt and spill the liquid. His heart raced wide in his chest. That voice, both sweet and strong, could melt everything down.

His eyes went empty for a split second. “But how does she know my name? Wow!” Chastising added, “Oh, fool, it’s written on your badge. Good morning, wake up, Eli Whatever happens, let’s keep going. Let’s keep going. So much work to do.”

“Sure thing.” He scanned all the other clients. ‘Does anyone need another cocktail?’

Quickly leaving the drink elegantly, he rushed to another client.

“Yes, me too a pina colada.” Max moved the empty glass towards the counter.

“Here you go; these shots are on me. Enjoy!” He sighed and then ran back to the kitchen.

Today was like any other night—just crowded, not something new here.

While working, he felt as if unknown eyes were watching him, sending a deep shiver through his body. This feeling was both beautiful and dangerous. Who could it be, or what?

As he gazed into her web, its mesmerizing dance enchanted him. She meticulously crafted each strand as if she were the lead choreographer of this intricate performance. Her hair was so blindly shiny as the sun. Their distant calls reached out, inviting touch, as the aroma of gardenia flowers filled the air. The emerald eyes hunted his every step as if feeding a void soul. Within that void, the absence of direction left one feeling completely lost.

He knew he couldn’t dare to lift his head. A screaming voice inside his soul warned him against it. Ignoring that would be a big mistake.

Overwhelmed by a relentless whirlwind of thoughts, he tightly gripped his head, his fingers digging into his scalp, desperately seeking relief. Eli pinched his lower lip between the teeth and tried to smile at the customer. “How is the food? Can I bring you something else?”

However, the pain of losing his kids and his wife was heavy. His thoughts clenched tightly, constricting his breath, the frustration building within him like a pressure cooker about to explode. The pain was a growing fire, fed by his agony and regret. Sweat covered his body, and his face turned red.

“Excuse me for a minute,”, ran into the bathroom.

Unfortunately, some clients occupied the upstairs bathrooms, forcing him to use the one downstairs.

Eli’s brows knitted together and morphed into a storm cloud. Gasping for air, ready to explode. He hurried down the stairs, each skipping a dance with gravity, nearly tumbling as he missed a step.

“Almost there.”

Finally, the sink, a lifesaver, hurried to turn on the faucet, and splashed water on his face, burning like hell. He shook his head. Looking at the mirror, he was sure he saw steam coming out of him.

“Is that normal?!’ What the hell just happened? Definity, I am losing it.’Taking a deep breath in and letting out added: Calm yourself, you are okay. Just breathe.”

He was furious, disappointed, and bitten. His spirit could not make it. In his mind, memories rushed through an open faucet. He tried many times to close it, but something blocked it. That stupid faucet was destroying everything.

Facing the mirror, Eli’s thoughts drifted to the backyard, where the kids were happily playing. Oh, their laugh… It was of another word. He just looked at them, and his smile widened. Happiness kicked in as they played with their dog and fought with each other; even that pleased him. They were there. There was the world—his oxygen. Suddenly, everything disappeared, and he stepped out of the memory mirror.

Angry as a bull, he smashed that damn mirror with his right fist. All gone now into pieces, as his heart.

When Luna, one of his colleagues, heard the terrifying noise, she ran toward the bathroom. Once she arrived, her body froze at the scene. Staring in shock, her mouth opened in a silent scream.

“Are…you…okay?! What happened?!” Her hands shook, but she tried to move her body to check on him as blood streamed from his right hand.

Hiding his eyes in tears and swallowing his emotions, he answered with his head down, “I am okay. I am sorry; it was an accident.” He tried to clean up the mess to ensure no one got hurt. “I am going to buy a new mirror tomorrow,” he added as he cleaned.

“Can you please check my tables, as I need to smoke a cigarette?”

“Shocked, she said, ‘But…you don’t smoke!’”

With a heavy sigh, his voice laced with a tinge of sorrow, “Well… I do now,” his gaze dropped to the floor.

As he was leaving the venue through the back door, all the clients with hesitation turned their heads to look at Eli. It was as if they were asking in concern "Was he okay?!" When he opened the outer door, it seemed like he could finally breathe.

Flicking his cigarette near some bins filled with food waste, his dark eyes were stacked to the moon. Slipped a little further away, taking out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out, and from the other pocket, a small black lighter with a skull design on it. He lit the cigarette under its flame, watching as it ignited.

Just like that flame, for a moment, Eli wished to set himself on fire too. But no, he couldn’t. He was a father; he couldn’t leave them in the mud.

“No. Pull yourself together. They still love you. Divorce will not change anything.”

Feeling as if he was drowning and unable to catch his breath, his chest took a deep inhale. He knew he was alone now, like today, like the night. Dark, cold, and starless. Light had vanished from his life; now, there was only darkness.

Stared at the ebony sky for minutes, and suddenly, for a moment, looked like someone was watching him. A terrible and frightening feeling passed through his body. It felt like someone was behind (he could feel the breath close to his left ear). An icy shiver covered his entire being. Fear spread through his eyes, making them grow large as he turned his head back to see who it was. After that, nothing. They were only the shadows of the night, probably playing with his mind. Maybe…

But behind him, a shadow stood, hidden from the light. They observed his every move in depth, delighted by all the pain. “Hem,” that pain was so tasty. With a slow lick of the lips, he felt the pleasure in the suffering. It was amazing. The excitement reached another level, yet it was still not enough.

Eli was unaware of the shadow watching him. He had to pull his heart deep within his chest and take a deep breath. Now it was time to go inside. He could not afford to lose his job, too. Giving up was not an option; he still had to support them.

Finally, after 10:30 PM, everything slowed down. Only four clients remained: three at a table and one at the counter—a family of three and a blonde girl at the bar. Her golden hair attracted all the restaurant’s lights towards her. Eli felt a powerful magnet of curiosity that lured him into the deepest darkness of night.

In an instant, her eyes glowed with the intensity of fiery emeralds, teasing him with that perfect smile. At that moment, his blood ran cold as he forgot what he was doing or where he was.

Cleaning the bar tried to hide those feelings. Following the rhythm of the hand’s movement whispered: “Can I get you something else?”

Delicately leaning her head with an unshaken glance at him. “Maybe just another one, still too early for me to sleep.”

Not only was Eli captivated by her stunning beauty, but also by the powerful chemistry between them.

However, this was too early. His pain was still there, burning and in flames. Heartbreak, even at this age, drags you down to unknown caves. Sleepless nights seemed to go on forever, endless tears with no one to dry them, and angry screams that nobody could hear. No, his heart was still hurting with every beat, with every breath…

The blonde girl’s eyes carefully caught the white, pale ring mark on his finger, a trace of his marriage. Unexpectedly, he felt his unmeasurable pain. She leaned the glass towards him and smiled. Her gesture could kneel every man, every tree, and every building.

“I am going to call it a day; the alcohol seems to have kicked in.” She said, left the tip and carefully pushed the chair.

Eli half smiled.

“Good night and thank you,” she said

“A pleasure!” He answered back with a smile.

The restaurant was finally empty. After cleaning, he hopped in his car and finally sat on the comfortable leather chairs. The night had been there long ago, but it was pitch black. He started the car and tried to look at the moon again, but it was not there. Maybe the shadows were keeping her hostage. Who knows!

While Nayah was enjoying his every move, hidden in a corner, the view was perfect; His legs were so perfectly shaped. “And… oh no! His sexy, wide shoulders that, with one hug, can melt you down.”

Yet, his appearance was not her only reason to stalk him. She had something in mind, something huge. His painful emotions made her experience something new, and she wanted more...