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Alone
The late nights spent alone wandering the corridors of Genomex. Genomex was quiet and at peace at this time. Funny, the things you think you hear and what you don't in such silence. Only the sounds of the heels of his shoes echoed throughout the facility.
Eleven years he'd been here as security chief of Genomex. For six of those eleven years, Mason Eckhart went home to a wife and three children. A son named Grey and twin daughters, Dierdre and Michelle. His wife's name was Jackie. Then something went terribly wrong. He wasn't sure. He was doing all the right things, wasn't he? He cared for and provided for his wife and family.
He had come home earlier than expected. It was Wednesday. The middle of the week. Neither had heard the car drive up or heard the front door open and close. He removed his jacket and then the tie. He saw no one was around and merely assumed Jackie was running errands and probably giving Andrea her ride home. He began walking down the hallway toward the bedroom. It was always the first place he went to when he came home.
He opened the door and saw them lying snuggled together: his wife Jackie and his most trusted friend, Adam Kane. He began to yell and scream. Profanities came forth from his mouth. The pair were in a panic. Excuses were being made. Lame excuses. "It's not what it seems." "It's not what you think." They could explain. How long? He wanted to know. How long? Where are the children? At least she had the decency to have them out of the house while this was going on.
Then he did something he'd never done before. He was never one for violence. His fist rammed into Adam's face. Jackie screamed as Adam fell to the floor, almost hitting his head on the nightstand. He turned to her and walked right up to her grabbing her tightly on either side of her arms and began shaking her and asking her why she had done this to him. To the children. To their home. He slapped her hard. Adam came lunging at him pulling him back and this time it was Adam who struck him and he fell on the bed. The same bed where he had just found the two lovers lying in. Adam grabbed Jackie by the hand and both walked out of the house and left him laying there beginning to feel ill and nauseated and coughing. He became ill.
When it was all over, the house was still and quiet. He had never heard such silence. He couldn't bare to walk into the bedroom. A room he once shared with a woman he thought would always be there as his wife, the mother of his children, friend and lover. She was supposed to be there for the rest of his life. 'Til death do us part. Yes, it seemed like death and felt like death. He walked past the bedroom and continued on into the living room where he laid down on the couch. He thought of the children. How he wanted to hold them so much right now and never let go. He held on tightly to the throw pillow and tears were beginning to come down his face.
Jackie was afraid. She couldn't go back to the house. Not tonight. Mason never hit her or anyone for that matter, ever. Adam told her everything would be alright. But for now he felt it'd be best if Jackie went to stay at a hotel. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Couldn't she stay here? "I need you." she said. Not under the circumstances. It wouldn't be right, Adam said. Jackie had no money or her credit cards or her clothes. It had all happened so fast. Mason wasn't supposed to come home like that. He always came home by six. Adam practically rushed Jackie out the door of his apartment. He took her to a nearby hotel. He gave her some money. But he didn't bother to get off the car to walk her to the hotel manager's office at least. He sped off.
Jackie called him later that evening. She needed to hear his voice. She needed reassurance. "We are still going to get married, are't we?" she asked. Adam seemed to hesitate for a moment and answered her yes, they'd be getting married. She smiled. She continued on about how she hadn't meant to hurt Mason this way. But Mason just wasn't there. He was consumed by his work. His own children didn't even recognize him. She couldn't take it anymore. Then she met Adam and Adam was always there to talk to, to listen, even make love. Mason hadn't touched her or held her or kissed in such a long time. She forgot the last time he did. Adam suggested she get a goodnight's sleep because she would need it. Things were different now.
Jackie hadn't wanted to think about that. She would have to go back to the house. The ringing of the phone made her jump. She picked it up hoping it wasn't Mason. It wasn't. It was her friend Sheila calling her telling her she was about ready to leave the children at their respective destinations. Jackie said not to take them. She'd be by and take them herself. Sheila said she'd be waiting for her.
Mason went frantic that morning looking for his children. He went to Grey's school first. He wasn't there yet. He called Sheila. She lied and said Jackie hadn't been by. Others said they hadn't seen Jackie. They were telling the truth. He hoped and prayed his children weren't with "him"! If they were, he swore he'd kill him!
Jackie had taken everything she could think of. She didn't seem to care whether it belonged to both her and Mason or just Mason. It was gone. Everything was gone. Then she had the nerve to call the house and Mason answered. Where the hell are you? He asked. Jackie wasn't coming back. She was sorry. She hung up. Mason flung the phone against a wall. He never saw his children again.
Adam was right. Things had changed. Adam didn't want Jackie anymore. Besides, he had to work with Mason and it would make things difficult and complicated. It was best they went their separate ways. Jackie was heartbroken and devastated. What had she done?
The world of Mason Eckhart grew colder and darker weeks later when he found himself fighting for his life courtesy of Adam. His immune system had been completely destroyed. He didn't know whether he would live or if he would die. He would much rather die. But then that would give Adam what he wanted. He fought and was determined to live from that moment on.
Mason Eckhart woke up. It was 4 a.m. Soon Genomex would be routinely welcoming its employees to its complex. He put back the files he had been reading in the Archives shelves. He pulled himself up and straightened up buttoning up his suit jacket and straightening his tie. He began taking the usual long stroll back to his personal quarters before going to his office.
The next evening....
The late nights spent alone wandering the corridors of Genomex. Genomex was quiet and at peace at this time. Funny, the things you think you hear and what you don't in such silence....
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