CHAPTER 24:
It had been days since he had seen Julia. In fact, when he returned to the Station, William had been besieged with work. There was so much going on and yet he was moving in slow motion. He arrived extremely early, and he left extremely late. He imagined that Julia also had a lot of work, but he missed her terribly. It was very hard for him not to see her. Also, he could not sleep at night. He dreamed of many different things. From the party, from Alfredo, from Julia. He sometimes dreamed that instead of Alfredo, it was Julia who got caught in that chimney.
He knew that all his colleagues had noticed his gloomy and dull mood. He felt himself rocked in a kind of moderate depression.
But tonight, he was going to the Brackenreids. He had been invited by his chief inspector and he had accepted. He had wanted to refuse but he felt that he needed to clear his head and that it might help him. He was very fond of the Brackenreids, and he was so relieved that they had not had the opportunity to go to this reception. In the end, it was all down to a thread sometimes...
He had walked for long minutes in the dark street, his hands in his pockets. He had not wanted to take his bicycle or a horse-drawn carriage. He had felt in that mood where one wants nothing. Just walking in silence with an empty head.
He raised his eyebrows in surprise when he finally arrived outside the Brackenreids. He had not realized how far he had already come. He had come here instinctively. William sighed. He was happy to have something to do, but he also wanted to collapse on his bed and never get up. He had never been like this. He was rather a man full of energy.
Besides, he would have preferred to see Julia, whom he had not heard from since they were released from the hospital. He did not understand this silence. He knew they had both been besieged with work, but he thought she might have come to see him at the Station. Or was he the one who had to come to see her in the hospital? Was she waiting for him to come get her? William mentally slapped his forehead. She was probably waiting for him to come, while he was waiting for her to come.
The young man forced himself out of his thoughts. He took a deep breath and knocked on the Brackenreids' door. He tried to prepare himself to smile.
"Ha! My pal! Come in!"
William smiled this time with a real smile. He had done well to accept the invitation. He was happy to see his superior.
"Go! Come. Margaret is waiting in the living room with someone…" he smiled at him mysteriously.
William frowned.
"With whom?"
"Haha!"
Thomas took William by the shoulders and led him to the living room. The young man turned his head towards him, confused by his attitude.
"And there you go." Thomas declared, pleased with himself, finally making him enter the room.
William looked inside and felt his heart skip a beat.
"Julia…" he whispered completely bewildered.
She was there. Julia was standing in the Brackenreids' living room in one of her gorgeous dresses. William literally remained frozen in place while she was in the same state as him.
"William…" she sighed in wonder.
She had missed him so much, but since she had not heard from him, she had not known how to react. Had he forgotten her? Or was he waiting for her to make the first move?
She just stared at him, her eyes shining. Then, suddenly, she saw him eagerly advancing towards her, and her limbs immediately thawed. He suddenly took her in his arms, and she hugged him back.
"My love…" he whispered in her ear, feeling so lucky to have such a woman in his life.
She sighed in relief as she buried her head in his neck, breathing in his scent. The two young men lifted their heads and pressed their foreheads together, inhaling and exhaling slowly, the relief of seeing each other overwhelming them.
Margaret smiled at this touching picture. She had never seen William so unhappy and extinguished, but right now she had never seen him so happy either.
They pulled apart slowly and looked into each other's eyes, joy now showing easily.
"Go the two lovebirds! We're going to sit down to eat." smiled Thomas.
Note: I hope you still like my story!
