Arthur quickly climbed down the stairs. He rushed out of the building and found the manager taking a taxi. He was casting a reluctant gaze at Sara’s apartment but seeing Arthur rushing out, his face went pale from fear and got inside the taxi.
Then the taxi drove off. Arthur watched the taxi disappear behind a building and sighed in relief. Although the manager still had fear, there was no guarantee what he might do next when left alone.
He needed to leave this city fast. All the previous plans need to be cancelled.
Thinking that, he nodded to himself and started walking towards the plaza he had met old man Bill the day before.
He wanted to repay Bill’s kindness. More than anything, he wanted to show that there are still people who are willing to help him like he did to Arthur. Those eighty dollar Bill had given him might not be much, but it was like a ray of hope to him in the moment of despair.
He wanted Bill to feel the same hope he had felt. He wanted to pull Bill out of the sorrow, hate and despair. Give him a new life.
Arthur felt his heart race a bit. He could not wait to surprise Bill. He fantasised what Bill’s reactions would be.
A small cheeky smile couldn’t help but form on his face. He walked through the side of the road, watching the busy city. Cars zooming past him. Rays of evening sunlight slowly turn the world into pale yellow.
The plaza was quite far from Sara’s place. He could take a taxi but he didn’t feel like it.
By the time he arrived at the plaza, the sun was almost set. Last rays of light bathing the world before nightfall.
The reason he came here wasn’t because of any grand reason. Because Bill could be anywhere in this big city. He just had a feeling that he would find Bill here. If he doesn’t, that’s fine as well. He will just hire a private investigator to look for Bill. But he wanted to at least try to look for Bill himself first.
With that in mind, Arthur first wanted to look at the area where they first met. Ask around other homeless people if they have seen someone like Bill, if he doesn’t find him, he will go back.
Arthur crossed the road and walked to the other side of the road. Many people were already out in the streets. Filling the air with clamour and festive atmosphere.
Soon, Arthur arrived on the other side. He gazed around a bit and sure enough, he found Bill sitting on the ground, leaning against a wall. The same place they had met two days ago.
A small but excited smile formed on Arthur’s face. He involuntarily increased his face and arrived beside Bill. He stopped and crouched. The old man was reeking alcohol. Arthur chuckled, thinking that the old man might have passed out from an overdose of alcohol.
"Hey, old man. Wake up. Let’s go sleep in a better place."
He said with a chuckle. The old man didn’t wake up. He grabbed Bill’s shoulder to shake him a bit but Bill fell to the side. Arthur caught him with panicked movements. Not letting Bill’s head hit the ground.
He stabilised unconscious Bill by sitting him straight again. But Arthur frowned. A bad feeling crept inside his heart. He hurriedly checked Bill’s pulses. There was none. Feeling that he might have been mistaken, he checked Bill’s breathing, there was no breathing as well. Arthur’s heart was starting to race. He put his ear against Bill’s chest, but even after a long time, there was no bit of his heart.
By now, it was clear, old Bill had passed away. Arthur slowly pulled away from Bill’s chest. He gazed at Bill’s face, there was a small smile on his face.
Arthur sat down beside Bill as well. He could not find strength in his body to move. It all felt too surreal. He could not believe that Bill was dead. They weren’t close, but Bill felt more like a family than his own family.
Arguably the first person to ever show him kindness without wanting anything back.
Arthur sat there for a long time. The sun set, night fell. Magic City came alive. Music rang, laughter from pedestrians filled the air. Everyone was living their own life. Not knowing that someone has quietly passed away. The world did not care to stop.
Arthur realised just how insignificant human lives were. And just how lonely it is to be alone. He understood now why others thrive for connection. For a place to belong. For people they can call their own. Just to not feel lonely in this infinitely vast cosmos and similarly indifferent and uncaring world.
Arthur turned his head to look at Bill’s smiling face. He wondered what he saw before his death for him to smile like this. Was he happy that he was finally going to reunite with the love of his life? Or was he happy talking this ordeal was finally over?
Arthur did not know. Arthur sighed and pulled himself together. He could not repay Bill’s kindness when he was alive. He could at least try to make sure that he rested beside his beloved.
Arthur pulled out his phone and dialed the emergency helpline. He called the police, informed of the dead homeless man. Then asked about where he could find a morgue to preserve Bill’s body until he finds the graveyard his wife was buried in.
The helpline was very cooperative. They gave relevant information. And after that, he hung up and waited for the police to arrive with the ambulance. Since they said they needed to do some legal procedures.
Arthur sat there, gazing at the colorful city. Billboards displaying ads, neon light flashing. He once again felt those people lived in a different world compared to the poor and homeless.
A while passed and police arrived at the given location with an ambulance. They put the body into the ambulance and drove off. Taking Arthur with them.
They arrived at the city hospital where Arthur was asked quite a few questions and he answered the truthfully. There was nothing to hide anyway.
After the procedures were done, Arthur paid the bills and put Bill’s body into the freezer. Until he finds where his deceased wife is buried.
Arthur left the hospital and went to grab some food for everyone. He had called Sara to not cook, he will take food parcels. He went to a high end restaurant. And ordered a few dishes that were famous.
After that, he went straight home. He was also hungry. He was greeted with the sight of the siblings watching TV together. It was Sara’s favourite show that was playing while the other two just grumpily watched. He sometimes could not understand who was the kid here.