358: HEALING HEARTS LUKE’S POV Intrigued by the mesmerizing voice, I followed the sound into the building, stepping into a dimly lit bar. The ambiance was cozy, with soft lighting bringing about a warm glow over the space. I approached the source of the music, and my eyes fell upon a stage where a woman stood, bathed in the spotlight. She was captivating, with long, flowing hair and a voice that seemed to reach my soul’s depths. Her presence commanded attention, and I found myself drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Leaning against the bar, I watched in awe as she poured her heart and soul into each note, her voice weaving a spellbinding melody that enveloped the room. It was as if time stood still, and for a moment, all the worries and frustrations of the evening melted away. Lost in the music, I felt a sense of peace wash over me–a feeling of serenity amidst the chaos of the world. And as the final notes faded into the air, I found myself applauding along with the rest of the audience, a sense of gratitude filling my heart. As I approached the stage, I was really drawn to her presence. “That was incredible. You have a gift.” I complimented her with a smile. She turned to me, smiling. “Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it.” “I’m Luke,” I introduced myself, extending my hand. “Nice to meet you, Luke. I’m Harriet,” she said, taking my hand in hers. That was when I saw something on her arm. A heart–shaped birthmark. As I gazed at the heart–shaped birthmark on Harriet’s arm, a sense of familiarity washed over me. It was the same birthmark that I had seen on a little girl’s arm many years ago. It bore a striking resemblance, from the shape to the placement on her arm. I found myself lost in thoughts, wondering if there was some sort of connection between them. Perhaps they were related, or maybe it was just a mere coincidence. Hell no, this wasn’t any coincidence. This was the same mark on the little girl who had helped me escape from the men who abducted us. That happened years ago. I was still little at the time. And I had been searching for the person who had this mark. Who knew I would meet her one day without stressing myself? “This mark on your arm,” I said lowly, slowly, and softly, still fixing my eyes on Harriet’s arm. “It reminds me of someone.” 358: HEALING HEARTS 2/4 “Who?” She asked lowly, giving me a curious expression. “Are you the person who helped me from those kidnapers during Christmas?” eyes Harriet’s widened immediately. “Hold on, are you the little boy who went missing with me?” It was confirmed. It was her; she was the girl who saved me back then. I nodded and hugged her right away. “Wow, I can’t believe I found you. After all these years, After all these many years, I’ve been searching for you for so long,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper, overwhelmed by the flood of memories and emotions. Harriet returned the embrace, her arms wrapping around me tightly. “I never forgot about that day. I always wondered what happened to you.” Tears welled up in my eyes as I pulled back slightly to look at her face. “Thank you for saving me. You were like an angel back then.” “You’re welcome, Luke. I’m just grateful we both made it out of that situation.” We stood there for a moment, enveloped in the weight of our shared past and the serendipity of our reunion. The din of the bar faded into the background as we lost ourselves in each other’s presence. Finally, Harriet broke the silence, her voice soft. “We should catch up. There’s so much to talk about.” I nodded eagerly. “I would love that.” “But first of all, you don’t know you abandoned me, right?” She playfully said. I laughed. “You were afraid. However, when I went to seek assistance, I didn’t see you or the men again. Where did they take you?” Harriet let out a deep sigh. “Luke, those men wanted to take me to the forest. However, their distraction allowed me to escape. I ran as fast as I could, heart pounding, until I stumbled upon a road. That’s when a man in a truck saw me and stopped to help. He took me to safety and made sure I was okay.” I nodded, listening to her words. “I’m so glad you got away. Who knew what those men would have done to you?” h it was terrifying,” she admitted. “But meeting you again tonight, it’s like a miracle.” i nodded, smiling at her beautiful face. “It truly is.“I never thought I’d find you after all these years.” 358: HEALING HEARTS 3/4 We had a moment of silence, the weight of our shared past hanging heavy in the air. But there was also a sense of newfound connection, a bond forged through adversity and the passage of time. “But I’m just thankful that we got out of that one alive,” I said finally, breaking the silence.” And now that we’ve found each other again, I don’t want to lose touch.” “I feel the same way. We have a lot of catching up to do.” She smiled at me. “So, are you a singer?” I asked her slowly. Harriet chuckled softly, shaking her head. “No, I’m actually an actress.” Surprise flickered across my face. “Really? That’s amazing. I had no idea.” “Yeah, well, I haven’t exactly risen to fame yet,” she admitted with a sheepish smile. “But I’m working on it.” I grinned, impressed by her determination. “That’s still incredible. I can’t imagine how tough it must be to pursue a career in acting.” “It has its challenges, for sure,” she agreed, nodding her head slowly. “But it’s what I love to do, so I’m willing to put in the work.” “I admire that,” I said sincerely. “It takes real courage to chase your dreams like that.” Harriet smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Luke. It means a lot to hear you say that.” “How long have you been in the business?” I asked her. “Well, it’s been three years now.” “Three years?” “Yes, I just came here to practice singing since I’ll be doing that in my upcoming movie.” “Nice.” “It sure is,” she said in a whisper. “How about I help you boost your career?” “Really? How?” a billionaire,” I smirked at her. Harriet’s eyes widened in surprise, her expression shifting from curiosity to disbelief. “A billionaire?” 358: HEALING HEARTS 41A I nodded, a grin spreading across my face. “Yeah. I’ve got different companies across New Haven, and let’s just say I’m not short on cash,” Her astonishment was clear as she processed the information. “That’s… Incredible” I shrugged nonchalantly, trying to downplay my wealth. “It’s just money. But it does come in handy sometimes.” Harriet’s gaze softened. “Thank you, Luke. That’s incredibly generous of you.” I waved off her thanks, feeling satisfied at the prospect of helping her achieve her dreams. Hey, what are friends for, right?” She chuckled, a warmth spreading through the air between us. “Right.” “Anyway, I’d love to hear more about your acting career,” I said, eager to change the subject. “What kind of roles do you usually go for?” Harriet’s face lit up, and she launched into an animated description of her past roles and her aspirations for the future. I listened intently, captivated by her passion and drive. Go
