Chapter 117: CLOSURE

Suzan strolled into the cinema. She was dressed in a simple purple shirt and blue jeans. She had green contacts on, and she had a face cap, and she had made sure to do her makeup in a way that completely changed her face. She knew she was successful when she was walking towards Kiya and there was no look of acknowledgement on her face.

As she made an attempt to sit on the empty seat beside Kiya, her voice interrupted her. "That seat is taken," she said.

Suzan smiled and responded, "Yes, it is, by me." Kiya's face suddenly turned to one of realisation at hearing her voice. She gave her a scrutinising look as though making sure she was who she thought she was, and after a few seconds, she spoke. "Thank you for coming, Suzan," Kiya said.

Suzan took her seat and let her eyes scan the cinema. It wasn't packed, but there were quite a number of people. An action movie was playing in the background; it was quite loud, but Suzan was guessing that's the whole point, they would be able to talk while the movie is playing, and no one will feel disturbed.

"So, you are an agent, huh?" Suzan asked, a hint of disbelief in her voice.

Kiya nodded as though she were a child who had been caught in a lie.

Suzan let out a dry chuckle as she asked, "Why am I here, Kiya? Surely, you didn't ask me here to help you convince Asher to forgive you because you are certainly not dumb enough to think I would do that, and also I've not seen him in weeks."

Kiya was shocked at that revelation, and she hoped that Asher was fine wherever he was, considering no one has seen him in weeks.

"No, Suzan, I'm not here to ask you for anything. I have something I think you deserve to see, though," Kiya said.

Suzan rolled her eyes as though not believing her, so Kiya pulled out an iPad and handed it to her. Suzan tapped the iPad, and a video started to play as she watched.

Tears were now streaming down her face as she watched the content of the video. And for once, in a very long time, she felt as though she had answers to all her questions. She finally found the closure she had so desperately sought out all these years. The closure around which she built her life.

After the video ended. She just stared into the space as the contents of what she just watched replayed in her mind. Suddenly, she felt a mix of emotions, but for the very first time, she felt justified that she had loved Asher, because, indeed, he wasn't a bad person, and now she didn't have to scold herself for how she felt about him.

"Why?" Suzan whispered enough for Kiya to hear.

Kiya was taken aback by the question, but she guessed Suzan was asking why she showed her.

"Because you deserve to know," Kiya said. "I know the whole story of how you and Asher came to be friends revolved around you getting to know what happened to Caroline, and from my investigation, I know you have made it a life mission of yours to find out what happened to her, and I think you deserved to know."

"What do you want in return?," Suzan asked. She suspected Kiya didn't show her this video out of friendship; surely she wants something in return. She probably wants her to help beg Asher, or she wants her to tell her where Asher was.

"Nothing, Suzan," Kiya said sternly. "Listen, I know we didn't have the best relationship, and as shitty as this might sound, I was just doing my job, and I wasn't going to let how you feel about Asher get in the way. I don't hate you, Suzan, and like I said, you deserved to know what happened to the person you once called your best friend. I'd like to know too if I was in that situation."

"Was it all a job to you?," Suzan asked, and Kiya was caught off guard by the question.

"Of course not," she responded. "As hard as it might be to believe this, Suzan, I fell in love with him."

Suzan chuckled. "Believe me, I get it," she said. "We are not so different after all. I came into his life to investigate what happened to Caroline, and then I fell in love with him, and maybe our cases are not exactly the same, but you have to admit, they are very similar," Suzan said, and she and Kiya burst out laughing, which caused them to get a few stares and glares from the audience.

After they quieted their laughter, Suzan turned to face Kiya as she said, "Thank you." Kiya nodded.

Suzan got up and was about to leave. Then she turned around one last time as she said, "Just give him time, Kiya. He is hurting right now, and I'm sure you can understand, but one thing about Asher is that if he really loves you, and I think he does, he would eventually forgive you. I can't promise you that he'll want anything to do with you after, but I can assure you he will forgive you."

Kiya let out a fake smile as she nodded and responded that forgiveness is more than enough.

Suzan nodded and walked away.

Kiya felt Amarah's hand rest on top of hers as she gave it a light squeeze. Amarah had been there all through the conversation but just stayed quietly watching the movie to give Kiya and Suzan some sort of privacy.

Suddenly, Kiya felt a wave of nausea wash over her, and she immediately got up from her seat and ran out of the cinema as she ran to the restroom just outside, with Amarah following closely behind her.

Immediately she got to the bathroom, she hauled everything in her stomach into the toilet bowl while Amarah held her hair back.

When she was done, Amarah helped her clean up, and as they were about to leave the restroom, Amarah held her back.

"Listen, Kiya," Amarah said. 'We've been so distracted with everything that's been going on, and we've not considered the one thing that could be responsible for this: your repeated vomiting." She stretched out a little box to Kiya, and Kiya's eyes widened.