All wounds heal in time - An original story

                    

This was not what he had in mind for his first day of work. To be late on the very first day, will not impress anyone. Once again he had a restless night. 

Lately he didn’t sleep well, and he didn’t know if it was the excitement about the new job or the loneliness that kept him awake.     

His alarm didn’t go off, or perhaps he snoozed it, he wasn’t sure, but it was now a race against time to get to work, without making a complete fool of himself on the first day. This was the job he craved for such a long time.  

Ever since he was a child, he had always been fascinated by people and photographs.  

Old photographs always intrigued him.  As a child he would spend hours just looking at them. He had such a vivid imagination, and would sit for hours imagining the personalities behind the pictures. 

His mom died when he was fourteen, and he grew up with his dad. Dad got remarried when he was eighteen, and right after he left home.  

No one could take his mother’s place and his new stepmom wanted to change everything. Why did things always have to change? His father sent him to university to became an accountant. It was the most boring job in the world. Funny enough he got a job at one of the most prestigious companies in the city and he became their top accountant. It was there that he met Danielle.  

Danielle was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She had beautiful long brown hair and the bluest eyes that entered your soul.  They dated for exactly eight months before they got married, and lived in a studio apartment in the main part of town and even shared a cab to work in the mornings.  

Life was great and they'd been trying to have a baby for the last six years. That never happened. They had been to the best doctors in the area, and they all gave no reason why Danielle could not get pregnant. After so many years of trying, Danielle stopped caring about everything.  She started to go out with her friends more often.  He should never have allowed that.

Six months later Peter was left heartbroken. His whole life crumbled when Danielle left him for a young apprentice at work.  It was painful to see her every day and the fact that he actually hated his job did not help. He had to find a new goal in life to survive. He couldn't stand seeing her daily and quit his job without even thinking about it. 

He sulked for a few months and then rekindled his love for photographs.  He started to build up a portfolio and by accident he saw a post for a photographer at a newspaper in a smaller town not far from the city.  He applied and was very surprised when they offered him the job.    

He sold the apartment, packed up his things, and moved into a small little house close to the beach.  It was with mixed feelings that he closed the door to the apartment that he and Danielle shared, but he knew he had to push forward and get away from everything to start his new life. 

He had to find a new reason to live and be happy again.   

Peter was excited as he drove down the highway. The office building was just around the corner and he tried to find a parking as close to the entrance as possible. He took a deep breath and walked into the building.  The office seemed very busy this time of the morning. 

“Hey Peter, come through to my office. I am glad you could join us ” Meredith, the editor in chief shouted across the room. He wasn’t used to such a lively office and excitement spilled over him. 

“Come meet some of your co-workers!” Meredith waved at a few people to step closer. 

“This is Dan, he is the main peanut around here, and this is Mary our crime reporter. I want you to follow her today, she would be able to show you the ropes. "

Mary stepped closer and shook Peter’s hand. 

“Thank you Meredith, I am glad to meet you all and be here. I really look forward to working with both of you”

Peter was very pleased with himself. Everyone seemed friendly and he was extremely glad to be here. He was so used to a quiet boring office and this was all new to him. He has not finished unpacking and everything at home was still in a bit of chaos, but at least he was making progress somewhere in his life.   

One day at a time......  

“Let's grab a drink after work today”  Dan said as he left the office.      

“We have to go ” Mary said, “We can take my car. There was an armed robbery this morning at the local grocer. Someone was killed. "  

It was silent in the car. An awkward silence. 

“So what brings you to this little town?” Mary asked. “Wait, let me guess ... Boring job, divorce?” 

He faintly smiled and didn't even look at her when he answered. “Actually... both…but that’s life. 

They found a parking close to the shop.  

“Take a deep breath, Mary said. This could get ugly. If you feel faint, rather walk outside. The police is still here, so it means the body was not yet removed. I see no sign of the coroner yet."

Peter felt excited but scared at the same time. His first crime scene.  

Peter was armed with his camera and Mary with a notebook. They showed their press passes and got permission to enter the scene.  Peter's breath got caught in his throat. This was not a scene he was prepared for. He immediately smelled the stale blood and he had to rush back outside to throw up. 

Mary followed him outside, and supportively rubbed his back.  

“This could get bad, if you don’t feel up to this, I can take the photos”  Mary said, totally unaffected by the horror scene inside. “You will get used to this.” 

He turned around and walked back inside. Nothing would get him down this time. He took a few photos and then walked outside. Mary was already waiting for him at the car. 

"Did you get what we needed?" Mary asked, while she checked her rear back mirror and slowly pulled out of the parking lot.  She started rambling something about it getting better with time, but he was just relieved that it was over. Peter didn't hear a thing she said. All he could think of, was the lifeless body lying on the floor.  Nobody deserved to die this way.  

Did he make a mistake? What if he couldn't handle the pressure? Then, a vision of Danielle flashed through his head and he knew that anything was better that to see her every day. 

He could really use that drink now that Dan promised. 

They pulled into the office parking lot, and Mary went straight to her desk to start sorting out her notes.  Peter sat down behind his desk, plugged in the camera and downloaded the photos to his computer.  It took him hours to edit the photos and he was satisfied when he emailed them to Meredith.  Seconds later he received an email back from Meredith.  

" Good job, I knew I made the right choice." 

Peter felt proud of himself, and he knew that he was now where he belonged.  Seconds later Dan knocked on his door.  "Ready for that drink?"  

"I've been ready for the last three hours" Peter said.  

Today was rougher than he expected, but he knew that he was now in the right place.  A place where he could forget about Danielle forever.