With my heart heavy in dread, I approached the looming, dark door; the only bit of light coming from the gleaming golden knocker. My fist gripped the engraved gold and made three heavy, low thuds.
The door creaked open a few silent moments later and I saw her: the Intended.
Her face was downcast, shadows spilling over her stiff black dress. After a year of knowing of Kurtz's demise in that black forest, she still wore the strict clothes reserved for mourning.
"May I help you?" she asked meekly, staring at the cold stone ground.
"My name is Marlowe," I answered with great reluctance, "I knew Kurtz in his final breaths."
She looked up immediately with her bland and empty eyes widening.
"Please come in," she said in a hushed tone.
I entered and she led me into her living room. The lights were dim and the air felt thick with sorrow and longing. The darkness was barely kept at bay by the candles that were scattered about.
The Intended sat on the edge of an over-sized chair, her face pale, and I on the sofa across from her.
We sat in uncomfortable silence for what felt like an eternity. She finally looked up at me and cracked the silence with a sigh.
"So, Mr. Marlow, you knew my fiancé?" she asked solemnly.
I looked into those glassy eyes but before I could speak, she continued.
"You were present at his passing?" she asked in a whisper.
I swallowed hard. "Yes."
She seemed a little hesitant. "Please, what were his final words?"
I could feel my heartbeat increase. She obviously needed closure, but I couldn't bring myself to disrupt her world.
"Please," she begged again with more intensity.
I closed my eyes and nodded once. I felt I needed to confess this awful truth to the woman who most deserved to know.
"The horror," I whispered, "the horror. Those were his final words."
This is great! I like the intensity.
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