In the Shadow Of Memory

Chapter 8

Mia jolted awake to the early morning light filtering through her window. Groggy but determined, she stumbled out of bed and into the shower, hoping the cold water would shake off the lingering remnants of sleep. The quick, invigorating shower was a brief escape from the rush of the day ahead, and she emerged with damp hair and a renewed sense of urgency.

With barely a glance in the mirror, she pulled on a pair of jeans and a sweater. There was no time for a leisurely breakfast—she had an entire day ahead of her.

In a flurry, Mia stuffed notebooks into her book bag, her movements hurried and disorganized. She ran into the kitchen, glancing around quickly to decide on breakfast. Pizza! The thought popped into her head, and she made a beeline for the fridge. Opening it, she found a half-eaten pizza sitting there, and without hesitation, she ripped off a piece, slapped it onto a plate, and shoved it into the microwave. As it heated, she scanned the room for something to drink and spotted a half-finished bottle of Sprite. Perfect. She poured herself a full cup.

The microwave beeped, and Mia grabbed the pizza, taking a hasty bite and washing it down with a swig of Sprite. Every second felt precious as she gave her room one last look.

Her room, once a comforting refuge, now felt alien with empty spaces where her belongings had been. She wondered how it would look once Mark moved in—maybe less cluttered, but certainly different. The thought made her stomach churn with a mix of sadness and anticipation.

Finally, she hurried outside, the crisp morning air biting at her skin. She quickened her pace to the bus station, her watch ticking insistently. It was 7:00 AM, and Mia mentally reviewed her schedule. Her mother and Mike had agreed to help with the move, but she had a tight day ahead. Two university lessons, a meeting with Detective Jonathan to discuss the mystery, and a shift at her job—each commitment felt like a new weight added to her already heavy load.

With her book bag slung over one shoulder and her thoughts racing, Mia boarded the bus, the city unfolding outside the window. The familiar sights of the city passed by, but her mind was already on the tasks ahead, each one bringing her closer to unraveling the mystery surrounding Mason and finding her place in this new chapter of her life.

The morning flew by in a blur of lectures and note-taking. Mia had always been a diligent student, but today, her mind wandered, the mystery surrounding Mason tugging at the edges of her thoughts. She managed to jot down the key points, but the usual thrill of learning was overshadowed by the weight of the unknown. Every tick of the clock in the lecture hall felt like a reminder of the meeting she had scheduled later in the day.

As the last lecture ended, Mia stuffed her notebooks into her bag and hurried out of the classroom. The university corridors were bustling with students, but Mia moved through them like a woman on a mission. She stepped out into the crisp air, the sun now high in the sky, signaling it was close to 11:00 AM. Mia checked her watch, noting the time—she still had just enough time to get to the detective's office without rushing, but the urgency in her step remained. The anticipation of the meeting made her heart race; she felt as if each step was bringing her closer to the truth, to answers that had eluded her for too long.

As she made her way toward the bus stop, her thoughts swirled with the possibilities of what the detective might reveal. The clues, the coded message, and the eerie sense that something was just within reach but still hidden—it all made her stomach churn with a mix of excitement and dread. She couldn't help but wonder what Mason had gotten himself into, and how it was all connected to the barn, the message, and the life he'd left behind.

Finally, she boarded the bus, the familiar route now feeling more significant. The city passed by in a haze, her mind too preoccupied to take in the usual sights. She glanced at her watch again, the hands ticking closer to the meeting time, ensuring she wouldn't be late. This meeting felt crucial, like a turning point in the investigation, and Mia knew she had to be sharp, ready to absorb every detail the detective would share.