41st Kiss

Three days had elapsed since I last heard from Arianne. Kevin had detained me with the police briefly, yet I didn't spend a full day behind bars. I secured my release swiftly as the complaint against me was retracted. Upon regaining freedom, my immediate mission was to locate Arianne. I scoured her residence and even visited the restaurant she frequented, yet she eluded me. An enraged Jiro rebuffed my inquiries, and Arianne's father was nowhere to be found. I exhausted every conceivable location she might be, yet she remained elusive. Driven to desperation, I engaged a private investigator in the hopes of swift resolution, yet thus far, silence has been the only response, amplifying my frustration. The ache of her absence weighs heavy on my heart, defying articulation.

As Joshua rapped lightly on my bedroom door, I released a heavy sigh. His voice, tinged with familial concern, penetrated the silence.