UNTITLED MASTERPIECE

PART ONE: BODIES

DARKNESS

There he stood, the changes in his life had happened so fast, alone in the dark, in a strange place. It was beautiful, much more than he ever imagined would be his, but it was his, lock, stock and staccato floors.

It was obvious that he and Clair were in their final stages of relationship when the offer came, a new job, a new place and a life without her— or any one he had come to know. He was confused, angry and ready to chuck it all and start anew. He did.

And now he stood in his own home, something he thought he’d never have; after a full day’s work at a new job, paying more than he’d ever dreamed, and in a new city on the other side of the country, far far away from the mess that had become what he once was. His grandmother had always told him that if he stayed true to his own heart that one day every piece to the puzzle would fall into place, and the finished picture would dazzle him beyond even his wildest dreams. She was right.

Faster than lightning bolts and instantaneous Internet connection his life was now something he didn’t recognize. It still hadn’t settled in. It still wasn’t comfortable, but it was his, and he just knew that everything was finally right. It would just take some getting used to that was all.

Like the job, the house came out of nowhere. An elderly woman walked into his new office accidentally thinking it was her realtor. Her husband had passed away and she was moving across the country to live with her granddaughter. She and her husband had built the home with their own hands, every corner; every crack and crevice their dream come true. Now she was alone, and wanted it to go to the right person, she was in no hurry; it had to be the right person.

He had escorted her to the correct floor, and she had taken an instant shine to him, regaling him with stories of her beloved Herman and how they had built this dream together, with love; how leaving broke her heart, but staying hurt even more. She only hoped the right person would come along. She didn’t need the money, she claimed, she just wanted to make sure that the house would be a new start to the one that had been destined to carry on the legacy.

As soon as he had introduced her to the right people, she kissed him gently on the cheek and thanked him. He was so kind, and so lovely, he reminded her of her dear Herman. He turned a little red and thanked her. He explained that he, too, had just been uprooted and was starting over, and he was honored that his first encounter in his new life was someone with a legacy of love so great that it gave him hope his own future would be golden. He squeezed her chubby arthritic hands and returned to his office.

He had barely sat back down at his desk when the woman appeared again. She said she had changed her mind and didn’t need the realtor after all. She handed him a set of keys, and asked if he could get away long enough to drive her home so she could call her daughter, pack a bag and catch the next