The Search For Mateo

I carefully examined the images. The dress I had given Emma was worn by a woman who was standing behind Mateo, I noticed. Emma was not the lady who wore the floral outfit. I was simply staring at the image.

Who is she?" I spoke.

Emma grabbed my hand and took me outside the house. Julia was also with us. I looked at her. Where are you taking me?" I asked while freeing my hand from hers. Umm... Steven formed our group to find Mateo.

Well, I am not feeling great. I think you should take me home," I said. Before Emma says anything. Alberta jumped into the conversation. You should go with them. We are short of people. She said this while grabbing my hand.

I nodded my head. Umm. I want to go home". She put her right hand on my right cheek and kissed me on my forehead. "You will feel better."

I looked into Alberta’s eyes. I told her that I would go with them with a head gesture. Bethany called Alberta. And she went with her. Emma tells me to go ahead. After going some distance, I stopped because there was a forest in front of us.

Why didn't you stop Julia? I look at her in astonishment. Maybe you do not know that we are not allowed to go here," I said. Julia was passing by us. "There is nothing like this. Let's go ahead; it is already too late. We have to find him before nightfall." Emma said.

Emma was looking agitated. I started following Emma without asking any questions. Julia was walking with me. She was in a pleasant mood. It was strange for me. She was incredibly happy. We entered the forest. Seeing Julia's happiness, I could not stop myself. So, I asked her. What is the reason for your happiness?

Julia stopped and started blowing dust from her feet. Hmm... I do not know. Why am I feeling happy? I cannot tell you the reason. While we were talking, we heard the voice of Emma. We look ahead. There was nobody there. Where did Emma go? I spoke.

Um, she was here a second ago," Julia said. I started walking to my right, and I saw a tree. It was big. When I looked at it. I have felt like I was here before. I was simply gazing at the tree.

Then Emma puts her hand on my shoulder. I look toward her. What are you doing here? How long have me and Julia been looking for you?" Emma said.

Hmm... I remembered something. I spoke. She did not pay attention to what I was saying. She started talking again. You know how much time has been wasted because of you. We came here to find Mateo. I have been looking for you for two hours."

I rudely cut her off. Did you hear what I said? Danny, please do not talk like this. At least not today. I am already worried about Mateo. Emma said. I looked at her with a surprised face. I narrow my eyes.

What are you trying to say?" I asked.

Without saying anything to me, Emma starts walking ahead.

"I am talking to you," I said. Her eyes were down. She does not look at me but speaks. I am not in the mood to quarrel with you. I am thinking about Paula. She was devastated because Mateo is her fiancé.

After that, she stopped talking. She started sobbing. Julia comes to me. Look what you did—you made her cry. I guess you talk rudely to everyone." Julia hugs Emma, saying this to me.

Seriously, I am a bad guy here," I said while walking ahead.

Emma stood up, wiped the tears from her face, and approached me. "Look at me!" Emma yelled. I turned my face toward her. What has happened to you? How are you talking to me like this?" Emma asked.

Ohh... I thought we were friends. I spoke. Yes, we are friends. Emma said. I nodded my head. No, we are not friends. We are just people who used to know each other," I yelled.

Wow, now I know how you felt about our friendship," Emma said. I shook my head. What friendship are you talking about?" I spoke. There is no friendship between us. If you are my friend, then you listened to me back there when I was trying to tell you something.

You are wrong about me. Emma said. Hmm... No, I am not wrong. I was shocked because I thought you were on my side, like I could tell you anything," I said. Emma suddenly grabbed my hand. Yes, you can tell me anything. I jerked her hand away.

No, I cannot believe you because you shut me off back there like I am a crazy person. You are not curious about what I was trying to tell you," I said.

Julia laughed and spoke. Do not forget that we are here to find someone. Emma looked at her. "Well, she is right. We are here to find Mateo," Emma said while walking away from me.

Fine, you are not interested, but I will tell you anyway. When I saw that tree, I felt I was here before," I yelled.

Emma stopped and closed her eyes tightly. She turned her face toward me. Emma nodded her head. That is why I ignored you back there because you only care about yourself, and you are hurting yourself and other people around you by making stories like that," Emma said while sobbing.

Great, so I was right. You are thinking that I am crazy," I said. Emma rubbed her forehead with her left hand. I did not say that. I want you to understand what you are saying before saying it to anyone because every word that comes out of your mouth does not make any sense," Emma said.

I shook my head. I want to spend some time alone," I said while walking to the left side. Where are you going?" Julia asked while grabbing my hand. I jerked Julia’s hand away. "I will go this way," I said.

Fine, do whatever you want. Do not blame us if you get lost in the forest. I will not come to rescue you," Emma said while taking Julia in another direction.

I started walking ahead. I was alone. Why does this all look familiar to me? Why did it feel like I was here?" I was mumbling in my mouth. I was just thinking that Emma tapped on my shoulder. At first, I was scared. But when I see Emma, my blood starts boiling.

"You said yourself that you are not allowed to come here," Emma said. You came back to fight me. I asked Emma, surprisingly. You told me a second ago that you were not in the mood to fight me"

Emma was just looking at me. I just want to know if you are not allowed here, so how can you say you were here before?

Julia cut Emma off. She told you a while ago, but every time she comes to you, you start fighting with her. Julia was still in a good mood. She is calm. After hearing this, we started walking ahead. We were all quiet. As we walked a little further, Julia stumbled and fell to the ground. It was a pile of leaves, but when she was trying to stand up, she saw something under the leaves and started screaming.