It had been a few years since he had last visited St. Moritz. Lisa Lisa, or his mother rather, had bought the hotel. But it was him who inherited it from her and decided to restore it turning it back into the nice hotel it probably once was. Tonight was the night before opening day. Joseph only had experience in the real estate business so he was going to hand this hotel over to one of his friends for safe keeping. But for now it was all his.
He was crouched in the center of the main lobby. The floor had been given new carpet, and at his wish, a huge white cross was placed in the center surrounded by an intricately detailed circular design. At the moment he stared down at it lost in thought. The room was cold and dark; he had planned to only stay here for a few minutes. Those few minutes turned to many as he found himself stuck remembering that time so long ago.
"Hey, Caesar," Joseph ventured to say. It almost scared him how loud his voice sounded in the silence.
"I think you already know I'm married. Suzie Q's a dream. A ditz of a wife, but a dream. Wish you had been there at Venice with us," as he continued to speak his voice drifted off and cracked. Joseph covered his mouth trying to stifle his feelings. He removed it to say,
"Christ, I just wish you were here at all!" Before he broke out in tears altogether. A few minutes spent crying and he was out the door. Suzie Q would be waiting for him at the hotel they were staying at.
A few months later…
Joseph and a few of his real estate colleagues were at his penthouse in New York celebrating a recent rise in sales. Alcohol was being passed around and everyone was in high spirits. Especially Joseph who was probably drunker than everyone else there after taking up a game of who could do the most shots. He stood swaying with an arm around a friend as a record was being played. Suzie Q was in another room letting the boys have their fun.
Joseph looked in a corner and thought he saw a familiar face.
"Oi, oi, oi you should come, too, y'know! T'have fun an' stuff!"
"Jojo, what are ya yellin' at?"
"Huh? Ain't it obvious?"
"Jojo, there's no one there!"
"No one there, but Caesar's…" Joseph blinked and indeed no one was standing in the corner he was referring to. His mouth opened, shut, and through gritted teeth he let out a yell. He shoved away the friend he was leaning on and gripped his head continuing to try to hide his screams through gritted teeth. The record was stopped, and his friends formed a concerned ring around him. One ran to get Suzie Q to help with the situation. She came in and dismissed them, telling them Joseph had been having bad nightmares as of late. Drinking heavily must have brought them back.
Of course that wasn't the real reason, but it was reason enough to scatter the party. Suzie Q held Joseph tightly to her chest as he went from screaming to sobbing.
"It's okay Jojo, I'm here. I'm here."
"Why? Why did it happen? Suzie…Caesar…"
"Shh, everything will be all right. Remember I'm here, Jojo."