Through The Night

4

As I made my way to work, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment that Jennie wouldn't be at the café during the day. I had been hoping to catch a glimpse of her, but it seemed like she had other plans. When I arrived at work, I found the investigation team already there, beating me to the punch. I will let them go home early, considering the fact that they went to work early too.

For the next few hours, I roamed the premises, searching for any possible leads. Riley followed me closely, ready to assist me if I needed anything. I found myself walking out to the backyard, which was empty, except for a pile of ash near the trash bin. I could see that the ash was already starting to scatter, and it seemed like it had been there not long enough.

"Riley, get me my gloves," I instructed him, and he scurried inside to retrieve them for me. As I approached the ash, I realized that it could be a crucial piece of evidence. It could have been the result of a simple burning, but it could also be evidence that had been disposed of. This was going to be a tough one.

Later, Riley informed me that the team was going out for lunch, and I decided to join them. We drove to a nearby diner, and as we sat by the large window with a view of the bustling street outside, I couldn't help but be amused by the large crowd that had gathered. I hadn't seen a crowd like this in a long time, especially since I went here in the countryside. As I munched on my fries, I tuned out the team's conversation about a case they had handled last month. My mind was still resting from work-related thoughts.

Suddenly, my attention was drawn to a girl walking through the crowd across the street. For a moment, I thought it might be Jennie, but I shook the thought away. Rosie had told me that Jennie didn't go out in the morning, so it must have been my imagination.

After lunch, we resumed our search for leads, and by 6 pm, I had sent the team home. I made my way back to my apartment, and as I entered, I was filled with a sense of guilt. I hadn't attended mass at the church, and I felt like I was sinning when I go with them to church, not because of my sexuality but because I wasn't fully focused during the service. I quickly texted Rosie, but I was already late, so she would probably read it after the mass. I decided to take a nap for a couple of hours to refresh my mind before doing my paperworks later.

As the night settled in, I rubbed my tired eyes and dragged myself out of bed. I took a quick shower and dressed in something comfortable, knowing that I wouldn't be at the café for too long. On my way there, I checked my phone and saw a text from Rosie, telling me to rest if I needed to.

As I approached the building, I noticed the lights were on and the sound of soft music playing from within. I pushed open the door and saw Jennie, cleaning the same spot she was at last night. I couldn't help but wonder if she loved cleaning there or if she was expecting me to drop by at this hour.

"Hot chocolate?" Michael, the guy working with Jennie, asked with a smile. I nodded, feeling the chill of the night seep into my bones. I made my way towards my usual stool and noticed that Jennie's head was down, as if she didn't know I was there. The song Through the Night was playing, and I couldn't help but smile at the familiarity of it.

I leaned against the counter and asked, "Is it always dirty right there?" but Jennie didn't respond, she just moved away to start cleaning another part of the counter. "I feel like I saw you this morning, but Rosie said you barely go out in the mornings," I added.

"I'm working," Jennie replied curtly, as if to end the conversation.

"I can see that," I said with a smile, as Michael placed my hot chocolate in front of me. I slid a couple of bucks towards him and added, "Don't worry, I wasn't asking why you were out earlier. I was just making a statement and you don't have to answer. I'm not investigating you." I chuckled, sensing that Jennie might feel like I was pressuring her to open up about her life. I didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable, so I decided to take things slow and let her come to me in her own time.

As I took a sip of my hot chocolate, I heard the kitchen door creak open and saw Jennie's dad walk in. "Oh Lisa, you're here," he said with a warm smile. "If you're hungry, you can ask Jennie for some pastries." He continued, "I was at the church earlier with my wife and I talked to Rosie and their friends about what happened last night. I'm not even surprised that you're already friends with them. They're just friendly. That's probably why you stood up for Jennie last night, you're probably friends too." Michael chuckled, but Jennie looked up at her dad, causing him to turn around and attend to his work.

" I was looking for you earlier at the church, but Jennie butted in to tell me you weren’t around,” I look at Jennie but she immediately turn to her dad

"Mom's probably looking for you, go now," Jennie said, gently pushing her dad away. I couldn't help but smile, realizing that Jennie had noticed my absence earlier. I took another sip of my hot chocolate and felt a warm feeling spread through me, not because of the drink, but knowing that I had made a connection with Jennie and her group of friends.

"I thought he was referring to a different Lisa," she said with a gentle tone, finally speaking in a more relaxed manner. "Don't let it get in your head." As she spoke, she continued wiping down the same spot on the counter with a damp cloth, her movements slow and methodical.

I couldn't help but smile and picked up my cup of hot chocolate, taking a sip of its warm, comforting liquid. "Well, I wasn't there earlier because..."

"I'm not interested," she cut me off, her tone firm. She rolled her eyes and continued wiping down the counter.

I chuckled, unfazed by her abrupt dismissal. "I'm not defending myself," I said. "I'm just talking to myself. It's up to you if you want to eavesdrop." I paused, taking another sip of my hot chocolate before continuing. "Anyway, as I was saying, I wasn't there earlier because I feel like I'm committing a sin. When I go with you guys, I find myself not paying attention and just staring into space. It feels inappropriate."

She looked up from the counter and met my gaze, a look of intrigue in her eyes. "You're not religious?" she asked.

"Does being religious mean that I have to go to church every day?" I retorted, a small smile playing on my lips.

"Do you pray often, not just when you need something?" she asked, her tone curious.

"You could say that," I replied. "But tell me, as someone who is religious, do you consider it a sin if someone is gay?" I watched as her gaze drifted away from me and towards the distance, as if lost in thought.

"Have you killed someone?" she suddenly asked, her words taking me by surprise.

"No," I replied, taken aback by the unexpected question.

"Then no," she said simply, as if her answer was the most obvious thing in the world.

I was caught off guard by her nonchalant response. I had expected her to be shocked or at least surprised by my revelation, but she seemed unfazed. "Isn't it prohibited?" I asked, trying to understand her perspective.

"Some people do a lot more horrible things than just loving someone of the same gender," she said with a shrug. "Being religious doesn't make someone a better person. Some people turn to religion to change their past, some pray for something they desperately need, and others grow up in religious families. But at the end of the day, we're all still the same."

Her words were deep and insightful, and I couldn't help but be struck by the wisdom and empathy in her voice.