Astraea

Lorcan stopped his car in his usual spot not far away from Miliani. It has been weeks and he hasn't seen the lights on the second floor of the boutique. He usually comes in the afternoon and stays until midnight and never has he seen the lights turned on.

He thought that maybe she was out, but she never came even after midnight.

Every day, he comes but fails to see any sign of her presence in the boutique. Two days ago, he did what he has been keeping himself from doing. He used his thermal camera to see her presence behind those walls. And he found no one except for the sales assistant and other customers on the ground floor which he was sure that it was not Lydia. He is very familiar with Lydia's physique.

Even after it turns dark and everyone at the boutique left, still no signs of her.

Where is she?

Fear gripped his heart at the thought that she was gone. That he cannot see her again. He felt empty. He has always been empty since that day. It has been more than two months since he last saw her and it was not in a nice way. Only these past two weeks he dared to call her, but to his heart's dismay, her phone is turned off, until now.

It has been too long and it is slowly killing him. It is just too much and he cannot take it anymore. He stepped out of his car and in a long stride he made his way towards the boutique. He didn't even notice Brylee's car that is parked in front of the boutique.

He was about to open the door of the boutique when he saw the sign on the front door. It says, 'For Sale'

Then the door opened and Lorcan heard Byrlee's voice.

"Thank you, seriously, if my wardrobe would allow me to, I will buy everything in it!" She said to the sales assistant who laughed at her. When Brylee turned around, she was startled to see his Uncle standing in front of the boutique in a complete mess.

As days go by, Brylee along with her sisters start to talk about how Lorcan's situation is getting worse day by day. His hair is always unkempt. His eyes were bloodshot. There were dark circles under his eyes. His skin, dry and dull.

His mental state is the worst. He is always staring blankly. His body is there but his mind is somewhere else. He doesn't seem to remain focused and is always distracted.

"Mr. Villan?" The sales assistant said, making Brylee look at her. That made Brylee wonder if the sales assistant knew of him, then his Uncle Lorcan must have probably been at Lydia's place a lot of times.

Ignoring Brylee's presence, Lorcan snapped at the sales assistant. "What's this?" He asked pointing at the signage in the front door.

"I don't believe it! Why would she put this place for sale? She worked hard for this! Where is she? I need to talk to her." Lorcan started to become irate and Brylee felt the need to step in.

"Uncle Lorcan, she really did. It is now up for sale. For a couple of weeks now." Brylee said trying to sound calm though she is already scared of her Uncle, something is wrong with her Uncle, and she knows that she cannot persuade him to calm down.

"Shut it, Brylee! Now many times should I tell you to stay the hell out of my business?!" Lorcan growled at Brylee making her take a step back.

Then Lorcan forces himself inside the boutique. Fear had already filled the sales assistant's body that it made her frozen to her spot. She had never seen Lorcan this angry. He has always been cold and aloof. And sometimes, calm, but only in the presence of Lydia. But this time, he is anything but calm.

"Lydia!" Lorcan made his way to the second floor of the boutique and started to call out her name.

"Uncle Lorcan!" Brylee quickly followed him. "Oh, God! Help me."

At Lydia's workroom, Lorcan found the place empty. Her sketches were gone. Tape measures and fabrics that were usually scattered in her work desk were gone. No dresses or suits were hanging on the cabinet. No unfinished dress draped on the mannequins.

He already has an idea of what has happened but he refused to believe it. He barged into Lydia's bedroom and found that it was empty as well. He immediately walked towards her closet only to confirm his fear.

"Uncle..." He heard someone called him but his mind doesn't seem to recognize the voice as he was too occupied with his thoughts.

"Uncle...she's gone."

Gone.

He heard the word but refused to sink it to his head.

There was a long silence. Brylee just watched as Lorcan sat on the edge of Lydia's bed staring at the empty closet.

"Uncle..." Brylee was about to say something when she heard him speak in a low voice.

"Where?" He asked.

Brylee shook her head. "I don't know. Know one knows." She said.

Then she heard him snickering. "Since when did you stop poking your nose into other people's business? If I didn't know you better, I would believe you. But I know you. I know what you've been doing. I know that you are trying to find out what happened between me and Lydia. And I know that you won't stop until you find out the answer."

Lorcan paused. His gaze remained on the empty closet.

"And I also know that you will try to find out where she is once she's gone." Lorcan continued. It was ironic how he hates Brylee for being nosy, but at this moment, he hopes that she had been more nosy.

"She's hurt. And I know that I had to stop to let her move on." Brylee said, dawdling her words.

There was another long silence.

Brylee shifted her foot from one to another. She has been standing at the doorway, watching as her Uncle stared calmly at the empty closet.

Then she realizes. Her Uncle is being calm? Eerily calm. She should be relieved but she is not. She felt shivers in her spine because she knows that her Uncle being calm is not good. He was always fierce and never calm.

"Leave." She heard him say.

"Uncle?" Brylee frowned with concern.

"I need to be alone."

Brylee pondered for a moment before she nodded her head. "Okay." Maybe, he really needs to be alone, inside Lydia's bedroom. In front of her empty closet.

So, Brylee left him not without leaving him a last glance.

As soon as he heard Brylee's car leave the place, a tear fell on his cheeks. It started as a weep. Then he broke down, he sobbed like a child for the first time. He is too angry. Angry at himself. He's never been angry at himself like this before.

And at the same time, he felt miserable and hopeless. He never wanted to push her away, yet he did. He never wanted to lose her, but in the end, he did.

He just wanted her to be safe. He just wanted to protect her. He is in a dangerous job. He held a dangerous life. He doesn't want to drag her into it. It is simply too dangerous. He doesn't want to keep her close even if he wanted to. She could be used as leverage against him. And he cannot bear the thought of her being hurt because of him.

So when she told him that she loves him, he pushed her away. He didn't want to, but he had to. And he did.

She's gone.

She left.

She left him.

He should be happy because that is what he wanted. But he is not. He felt empty. He was oblivious that all this time, he thought that he still has his heart but it turns out that he didn't. She had already taken its place permanently. And now that she's gone, it's empty. He wouldn't have known until she's gone. He wouldn't have known if he had not felt the emptiness.

He stood up and sighed trying to convince himself that it is better this way. She is far away. She will never be seen with him. She'll be safe without him around her. Being away from him will protect her, even if it will kill him.

It is better this way.

It should be.

It has to be.

But he wanted to do one last thing. Something that he has never done to her because he respects her. He respects her privacy. But he has to do it in the hopes that the memory of her sad face the last time he saw her will be replaced by her beautiful smiling face.