CHAPTER 33

[THIRD PERSON’S P. O. V]

Lucifer sat on a table he booked for himself at Rossario’s, a café. He ordered a latte for himself, absentmindedly looking out of the glass wall of the café, facing the street. The place was cozy enough. Light brown – cream shaded walls, along with a dark brown hardwood flooring. He loved to come here with Levy, whenever they had free time to spare.

His order came on in, after a few minutes as the waiter placed him a cup of cold latte on the table, leaving quickly. He sighed, taking hold of the cup as he sipped a good amount of the coffee with his straw. He was waiting for someone. The café’s door swung open, as George entered. He was a tall boy, with blonde curls that descended to his forehead, a muscular built body, and grey eyes. He was quite attractive.

His hooded eyes searched for Lucifer in the crowd, and came to a halt when they spotted him, sitting alone, drinking coffee. He made his way to Luc’s table, as he pulled a chair and sat himself on it, facing the forlon guy. Lucifer saw him, but didn’t say anything.

The day was dull and dreary. Seattle did really get hot in the summers. Lucifer sighed another time, finally putting his empty glass of coffee away, as he folded his arms on the table. He was about to say something and George didn’t know what is was. But, considering his expressions, which happened to be a blank face, with red rimmed eyes, he knew that the news wasn’t good.

“I’m leaving town, George.” He finally spoke in a low tone, still gazing out at the streets, buzzing with people.

“Wait, what? And why? And where’d you go?” He questioned him, looking obviously surprised as he didn’t expect this.

“I’m moving to California tomorrow.” He paid heed to George’s last question only, blatantly ignoring the other two.

“Lucifer, why? Why all of a sudden?” He bent forward, holding Lucifer’s hand in his. He wanted to know why.

“I can’t live in this town anymore, George.” His eyes were already brimming with tears, as he took his hand out of the other man’s grasp, furiously wiping away his tears. He didn’t want to live here anymore.

“Lucifer, I —” He tried to make a consolation statement, but the other man waved his hand in a dismissal gesture, stopping him from saying whatever he was about to say.

“I loved him, George! I loved him. I loved Levy. And look what happened.” His voice cracked with every word he said, as he felt a shortage of air supply. He couldn’t breathe.

George stuck his warm palm on the guy’s back, who now had his head buried on the table. His sporadic breathing calmed down, as George gently massaged his back. He looked up to face him, with a painful tear stricken face.

“Turns out, he didn’t even tell me goodbye.” He added, as he put his hands over his eyes but hot tears still managed to slip down his cheeks. The other man didn’t know what to say to this. Even he had been extremely upset about all that which had happened in the past few days.

“On Friday morning, he was in my arms. His lips were on mine. I thought I had him. I couldn’t have been happier. But, on Friday night, he’s gone. He’s gone, George. He’s gone!” He cried again, this time absolutely breaking down, as George looked at him with water moist eyes. He couldn’t bear this.

“I remember how he used to hug me. How I buried my face in the crook of his neck to inhale his smell. All the deadly temptations, it laid in him. How he saved me from bullies when we were kids, how he knew the perfect word to say whenever I was having a bad day. Never did he once think about me, George. Not once. He killed himself for his brother. And me? What about me? What reasons do I have to live? Who will I look upto for the rest of my life? What will happen to our football team? His uncle? The school? I remember how my tensed muscles immediately switched to relaxed state when he used to hug me. We used to talk every day. His hazel eyes, the unruly, silky auburn hair. God, he was perfect. How could one not fall in love with him?” His bitter tone just elevated with every memory Levy left him. Every other moment that would threaten to haunt him for the years to come.

George sat there, tongue-tied as Lucifer went on sharing the broken shards of memories which were the last thing that would remind him of their star quarterback. Even he wished to leave this town now and probably he would. He’d have to have a nice chat with his parents to make the final decision. He mentioned how every landmark of this city would remind him of Levy.

“He once said that we three would make out of this alive. Guess who’s the only one who didn’t.” His watery eyes threw a brief glance at George who shut his eyes in the painful realization. Levy was the only one among the three of them who didn’t make it out alive. Or didn’t want to make it out alive.

“I was driving the car when that incident happened. I was the one who accidentally killed his dad. I was the one who let him go to his house alone when we both knew that the killer was probably Reign, which wasn’t true. Instead it turned out to be Matt. But in either ways, George, I knew that sending him alone was dangerous!” He slapped his hand on his face, tears still streaming down his cheeks. His voice cracked, his eyes all red, his nose blotched.

“It’s not your fault, Lucifer. He didn’t die due to the killer. He died because he killed himself, as post mortem says. The wound on his left arm, indicated a direction of the slash which was to the right, done by his dominant arm. This is not your fault.” George replied, while Lucifer looked up to him with a sad smile pasted on his pale face.

“I’m not living in this sinister town anymore.” He added, running a hand through his unkempt hair. He was a complete mess. “His voice, his face, everything he once told me, haunts me every night, George. I have nightmares. I can’t sleep. Last night I dreamt how we were lying on the meadows with his head placed on my lap, and I talked to him and he wouldn’t answer. I coaxed him to say something, but no avail. Then, I realized that he was dead and I screamed and screamed but nobody came for help and I woke up with sweat all over my body. This can’t go on, George. It can’t.” His face distorted in a painful manner, as he buried his face in his hands, and silently wept.

It was as if, the azure eyes which once used to be full of joy, was dull then. The crystalline blue, slowly giving way to a blunt shade. His lips were quivering, hands trembling, and he caved at every word he spoke. George knew it would be good to let him go. Staying in that town, won’t do Lucifer any good. He fished a couple of dollars out of his pocket, as he paid the bill.

He stood up from the table, while George whispered him a final goodbye. He hastily pulled open the glass door, scrambling away as fast as he could. He had bags to pack for his journey tomorrow. The sky was a midnight blue shade, stars twinkling across the horizon. Powerful winds howled across the town, and the street lanterns swung as violent winds gushed past them. This was the last George saw of Lucifer. His silhouette crossing the buzzing road, before getting in his car. But at last, life must go on.