The Abandoned Antique Store

#Enjoy my writings

Stranded in the lonely streets of old Paris, stood the isolated antique store, withering its age just like the rustic treasures it holds. The trembling rusted hands of the clock began ticking as the day went on. It was calm as always, no living soul on the street, no sweet sound in the air, the place stood still as if it was frozen in time.  

The old withered man, Dale kept wiping the dry antique statue without any hope. His longing eyes hoped for his wife Lexi to return back into his soulless life. The loneliness in his day's past youth, made him suffer slowly as he was living a pointless life. As the day went on, cluelessly, something new happened. The bell on the antique store rang as a sharp black shoe entered the store. The old man raised his weak eyes to see the pale face under the plain black hat. The strange man with a black coat over the black shirt with dull black pants came into the shops. His colorless face showed no emotions. He was a blank dark person. 

Dale looked up at the black figure of the strange man. He said,

'Hello, what makes you come here, young man?' 

His dry and soar voice answered, 'Do you remember Ric, sir? He sent me here.'

He confusedly stared at him for a while. Suddenly, he remembered something. A few long years ago when this stranded street was once lively, when Dale was a young man, a small boy walked into the store. His innocent face wept restlessly. Dale bought him in and comforted him, gave him some pieces of bread to eat, and took care of him. The young kid, Ric looked up with his weeping eyes, and asked with his trembling voice, 

'Who are you to me?' 

Dale understood that the kid had no one to look after him. He said, with a bright warm smile on his face, 

'I was a stranger to you, from now on, I will be your guardian.' 

The warmth of his genuine love spread across the room and calmed down the suffering heart of the innocent child. As countless years, months and days ran away, they became closer and closer to each other as if they were family. 

That was when something unfortunate happened. The war. It was a war destroying every hospitable home nearby. The residents of the place ran out of the place in fear, everyone except Dale and Ric. While Dale and Ric hid under the carved wooden table, Dale wept restlessly and told his friend,

'I don't want to leave my unique store, it is important to me, I will wait here for my wife. I know Lexi will come back.'

'Please take Ric with you and take him somewhere safe, away from the war.' 

Ric's eyes were filled with tears as he knew that he had to go. His friend agreed for he knew that Dale was a warm person with a good soul. And that was the day, 14years 5months, and 26days back, that Dale lost all contact with Ric. 

Now, at the abandoned antique store, he met face to face with a man who claims to know Ric.

He said, 'Yes! Yes! I remember Ric. Is he safe? Is he doing fine in life? Does he need help? Oh, Is he coming to-'

His troubled worries were interrupted by the stranger who handed over a note. A plain white note that was sent by his wife Lexi. 

He stood shocked. Speechless. 

His trembling hands finally grabbed the letter and he was filled with emotions. He had his hopes held high. he thought maybe finally Lexi might return. Although, his aged mind pondered over one thing. How did Lexi know Ric?

Dale went ahead and read the mysterious letter. 

The letter said: 

 

Dear Dale, 

Lexi here. I have been living with Ric for a few years now. I didn't know that you had taken care of him while he was lost. Dale, I think it is important for you to know that Ric is your own son. When I left for the town nearby, I found out I was pregnant. I couldn't contact you and didn't want to impact your work in any way either. I know you have been working hard ever since. 

When your friend, Joseph, came to the town, I saw him with a young boy. He looked familiar. Then I realized, it was my son Ric. I was very glad that he came back home because he got lost in the hustle for war all around the town. 

Even though I knew you took care of Ric, I didn't want to come back. I didn't want to live the same life in which I have to struggle every single day. 

Thank you for taking care of Ric. 

Forgive me.

With love, 

Lexi 

A drop of tear crawled down his wrinkled cheeks. He could not even cry to the fullest, because his heart felt like it was frozen. He had no choice but to ponder over why Lexi left him alone. All these years when he waited and waited and waited, was it all for nothing? 

He slowly glanced at the fading sun outside his rustic store, as the man in black rushed outside the door. the hands of the old dusty clock ticked 'tick-tock tick- tock' as the dull day went on into the darkness. 

By 

S.Sahana