Episode 10

HENRY'S POV

The more time passed, the more I realized how stupid I had been and how much I missed Camille.

Robert said he hadn’t found anything about her whereabouts and always changed the subject when I insisted he look further.

I don’t think he was too excited to find Camille, but he was committed to fixing me up.

He told me that I didn't like very outgoing women, like the first one, and that maybe I didn't like arrogant women, so he set me up on a date with a girl from a humbler background.

She was pretty too, with long brown hair, a calm voice, and a shy demeanor that reminded me of Camille. That's why I was very interested at first, but then she started telling me some things that made me run away.

First, she said that she liked to cook and that she was raised to be a good housewife, something I have nothing against, but afterward, she said that her dream was to have a big family and a house full of children.

Then she asked me if I wanted to be the father of her children, that I had good genetics and that our children would be beautiful.

“Crazy!”

I quickly found a way to escape that other disastrous date. I don't even like kids and I don't want to be a father. Let alone being the father of a bunch of brats.

I remember when Camille and I talked about this and I told her right away to protect herself because we definitely couldn't have children and if she got pregnant it would be her sole responsibility.

“My God, was I a jerk to say that too?”

Oh, damn! With every memory I have of the things I said to Camille, I feel more guilty. I should have been able to think of better words to say to her and thinking now, if she had gotten pregnant, she probably wouldn't have left me. Or would she?

I just know that I don't really like kids, but… I would have put up with her kid, just to have her with me.

More time passed and Robert managed to get more dates, each woman crazier than the last. Actually, maybe they weren't crazy, but rather, I was the one who couldn't put anyone in the empty space Camille left.

Because of that, I ended up refusing the dates and started to dedicate myself more to work.

During that time, I got my driver's license and started taking other courses to distract myself.

My life was totally dull and I realized that my life as a blind man managed to be better than my life now.

When I was blind the only thing I lacked was money and thinking now, I only lacked it because of my own choices, my blindness wasn't just in my eyes, I felt so sorry for myself that I didn't realize that I could give Camille a better life even back then.

“Oh, God! I'm sorry, okay? I learned my lesson, ok? Now you can bring my wife back.”

I was silent, waiting for some sign that someone had heard me. I looked at the door to my room and stood there, waiting for it to open and for her to come back.

I was already going crazy with how much I missed her and… how can I miss someone I haven’t even seen yet?

At some point I ended up falling asleep and in the morning, I woke up discouraged. I even dreamed about Camille, but I dreamed about the weird Camille from my teenage years. I dreamed about that smile full of braces and in the dream I did something I never did for her, I returned her smile.

At that moment, I was remembering the dream and going through those old memories, until something came to mind that I hadn't thought of yet.

It’s been over a year since Camille disappeared and I still haven't been to the most obvious place to find out where she is: Camille's mother's house.

Immediately my discouragement vanished and I quickly got out of bed, getting ready as if I were late, and I was.

I ran to talk to Tania, because she knew where Camille's mother lived.

Before I got there, I stopped by the market and bought a few things, I remembered that she was very poor and maybe it would be good if I brought some things.

When I knocked on the door, I was even afraid she wouldn’t be there, but to my surprise, Camille’s mother opened it.

“Henry!” she says, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“I… came to visit you. I brought some things,” I say, showing the bag.

“I'm busy right now, can you come back another day?” she says, standing in front of the door.

“I really wanted to come see you. I even brought some things, look.”

“I saw you brought some things, Henry. But I don’t need anything. Give it to someone in need.”

“Camille is here, isn’t she? Is that why you won’t let me in?”

“No, Henry, Camille is not here. She is living her life and being happy. Why don’t you do the same?”

“Because I can’t, Mrs. Hilda. I already tried, ok? I don't want to hurt Camille, I just want to talk."

She is silent for a few seconds and I continue to wait. I felt so strange, so excited, I don't know. I think I even thought I would find Camille there.

“Okay! Give me those fruits here and come in. Take your shoes off and be quiet, okay?”

I nodded and obeyed her request.

I enter Camille's mother's house and I even liked it. It wasn't a big house, in fact it was quite small, but it was very clean. The furniture was new and the decor was a bit dated, but it gave a very cozy feel.

On the shelf was a photo of Camille as a teenager, she was smiling that way that reminded me of her. I couldn't help but pick it up and take a closer look, I thought I had forgotten the faces of so many people when I was blind, but the face of that weird girl was the only one I remembered in detail and that photo only proved it was true.

“So, Henry. What do you want to say?”

“Do you know where Camille is?”

“I know, but she doesn't want to see you, so I won't tell you.”

“I understand… but can you at least give her a message from me?”

“Tell me and I'll think about whether to tell you.”

I took her mail from my pockets and handed it to her mother.

“Tell her I paid off all the debts I had, that she doesn't have to worry about that anymore.”

“Right. Is that all?”

“Tell her to show up or call… Tell her I don't care if she's ugly and tell her I want to make it up to her for all the time she dedicated to me.”

“Look, Henry, I can tell you, but I already know the answer. She will say no. Do you know what happens when a woman gets tired?"

I furrowed my brows, trying to understand what she meant by Camille being tired, but before she could continue, I started to hear a strange noise.

“What is that? Is that a cat meowing? Do you have a cat?”

“Oh my God! I told you to speak softly, now he's awake!” she says and runs inside the house.

Curious, I end up following her when the crying sound starts to get louder.

Arriving in one of the rooms I am surprised with Mrs. Hilda taking a crying child from a crib.

“What is that? Whose baby is that?” I ask surprised and bewildered.

“This baby? Well… I take care of this child to earn extra money as a babysitter.”

I examine the child little by little, he was crying a lot and at the same time sticking his hand in his mouth, drooling all over the place. He wasn't exactly a cute kid. He was bald and wore a cast on his leg, which had some metal rods sticking out of it.

“What happened to the child, why is that on his leg?”

She rolls her eyes and then says:

“He had surgery on his leg recently and that's why he's so cranky. Here, take him! You’re the one who woke him up, now deal with it!”

My jaw dropped, she left the room leaving me not knowing how to properly hold that thing that was getting me all dirty with drool, snot, and tears.

“My God, but… but how… how do I make him stop crying?!” I yell, but I don't think Mrs. Hilda heard.

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