"Long Awaited" Chapter 43: "...Of The End"

Virginia's Point-Of-View:

I notice that the crowd is getting restless and look at my watch, it's been 12 minutes since he's left. He told me to check on him in 10 so I tell Ray that I will be right back and that I'm going to get David. I jog down the hallway and find the men's restroom. I see some security guard standing outside the door and I'm about to walk in.

Guard: "Ma'am, the ladies' room is over there."

Me: "Oh puh-lease, I'm David's wife!"

Guard: "Oh, I apologize Mrs. Archuleta."

Me: "It's okay."

I push open the door and the men's bathroom and it felt a lot more odd to be in here than I thought it would be.

Me: "David? David? David!" I call three times, but no answer.

I keep walking inside and around the little corner and there is not a peep in the bathroom, no one is in here. David said he would be here, WHERE IS HE?

I run out the door, but before the guard could ask me anything I'm already down the corridor running to tell Ray. I could hear the men's bathroom door open again and I knew the guard knew now. He went inside to double check. I keep on running down the hall to Ray and I could hear the audience chanting, "DAVID! DAVID! WE WANT DAVID!"

Me: "Ray! Ray!"

Ray: "What, Gin?"

Me: "David's gone!"

Ray: "WHAT?!"

Me: "He's not in the bathroom and I don't know where else he would've went!"

Ray: "Calm down, calm down, we'll just call his pager and cell, he'll pick up and come!"

Ray takes out his cell phone and calls the pager, no answer.

Me: "Well?"

Ray: "Maybe he doesn't have his pager on, I'll call his cell."

Me: "No, I'll do it, just wait a second."

I could hear the screams from the audience growing louder and stronger so I run out on stage and grab the microphone in the middle of the stage.

Audience: "VIRGINIA!"

Me: "Uhh, hi, guys! How is everything going tonight?"

Audience: *screams*

Me: "Haha, great to hear it. Anyway, who wants David?"

Audience: *screams*

Me: "Well, just hold on tight...we're having some technical difficulties..."

A man in the audience yells, "What do you mean?"

Me: "Haha, well...I don't mean to alarm you, but we're having trouble locating David..."

Audience: "WHAT?!"

Me: "Don't worry, we'll find him, and in worst case scenario...well...we'll find him!"

I run backstage to Ray and he already called David's cell 6 times and there was no answer.

Me: "What happened?"

Ray: "I don't know where he is!"

Me: "We're going to have to send the audience home...if he's not here and not answering our calls, we can't do anything. The fans will understand, right?"

Ray: "I guess."

In 5 minutes, we broke the news to the audience and told them that when we find David, we'd schedule another show here and he'll perform for them again. They all went home and in 30 minutes, the police were at the venue...where we had no clue David was.

Police officer: "Mrs. Archuleta, do you have any idea where your husband might have gone?'

Me: "David loves to do this, he would never ever ever leave mid-show! Let alone without telling me!'

Police officer: "Okay, okay...what happened?" So I explained to them everything that had happened and another officer wrote down everything I said.

The two officers went over to question Ray and I watched from the sidelines because I did not want to think about this anymore. But soon, I find myself thinking about something completely unrelated that nobody knew but myself. Then, I find myself crying so hard I begin choking.

Ray comes running over to me and says, "Virginia! Virginia! Don't worry, we'll find him!"

Me: "No, it's not that!"

Ray: "Then what is it?"

Me: "I-I-I'm------"

* To Be Continued *