Where the Sun Sets
Chapter 25
It wasn't until the wailing of the siren could be heard that Harold had realized
he was still sitting alone in the cafeteria. He glanced down at his watch but it was
pointless. He had no idea what time it was when he had come in the room, so there was
no way for him to know just how long he had been sitting. Long enough for him to go
over every piece of information from the Dal Santo murder his mind would allow.
He had let that little girl down. He had let down her mother. He was directly
responsible for the death of Juliet and for every rotten thing that had ever happened
to Antonia throughout her life. If only he had sent a car out right away. If he
had, maybe none of this would be happening now. Harold ran his hands across his
face. His right hand followed up, allowing his fingers to glide across his hair.
The image of her face, as he reached back into the closet to retrieve her. Her
eyes were so large and full of understanding. They told him everything her
expressionless face did not. He knew she had witnessed the tragic event. He knew
she had watched from the very beginning to the bitter end. He knew as he spoke those
simple words, "Everything is all right now." that nothing in her world would ever be
all right again. He literally had to crawl way back into the closet to get her. He
placed his hand out to her but she didn't go for it. She never moved, just sat,
staring with those big eyes. She didn't seem frightened. She didn't seem relieved.
When he picked her up she never wrapped her arms around his neck or held on to him in
any way. He couldn't read her at all. The hospital staff said she was probably in
shock.
He couldn't get her off his mind for days afterwards. When he had gone back to
the hospital to check up on her she had already been assigned to St. Agnes. They did
not recommend his going out there. They said seeing him might remind her of the bad
images. He knew she wouldn't need anyone to remind her, that she would never forget
what happened in that house. But he respected their wishes and stayed away. He needed
to apologize to Antonia. He needed to tell her it was his fault her mother died. He
needed to explain why he waited to send out a car.
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