Lost soul (Short stories)

The bracelet

Why is it dark in here?

Why am I in here?

Is this the place that they so called dream?

I tried to wake up.

I tried to run and make myself be free from this darkness.

But to no avail.

I am still here.

As I am tired trying to make it out here.

I stop and pause.

I tried to think why and how did I end up here.

But here's the bonus question , I still didn't know.

So sit and wait for my rescue.

I wait and wait for how many hours, I don't even know.

It's just that I hate to keep trying because I know in the back of my mind, I am still here.

I am still alive.

I can still be alive.

Last Summer, it was fine sunny day - a typical summer day. As Hannah makes her way to her favorite store something caught her attention. She stops and find her way to the corner. She look at it as if it is her first time to see such creature to her enjoyment the owner of the shop notice it.

"Hi" as he started the conversation.

"H-i" was surprise and reply back.

"I can't help starrin at you, looking at my fish like that. So you find the one that attracts you? I can help you choose, if you want to. I'm happy to help" as the owner keep up on the conversation.

"It's just that these fish, uh" as she snap her finger trying to remember a word that fits her adjective to it.

"A beautiful fish? It's a beta fish"

as he taps the container.

"Well kind of because she is indeed" she chuckled.

"Mind if I take home this one?" it's just that the feeling of having it makes her heart jumping.

"Pleasure to serve it to you, a fan of fish?" as he tried to open a conversation.

"That would be 300 PHP and if there something you need. I am Patrick".

"Just wondering.. How can I keep it alive?"

"Do you have an aquarium?"

"A fish bowl" she smiles back.

"That will do and make sure you feed it with these" as he handed her the food for the fish.

"Thank you" then she makes her way out of the shop.

Hannah is still amaze on the fish that she didn't notice that she didn't yet done the reason why she goes out. So she ordered online and fill herself before she goes back to her work.

As Hannah stares at her screensaver.

The memories starts to flashback.

She feels grief and loneliness and she didn't know why.

The melancholy feelings starts to creep in whenever she's alone and she can't help it since there's no one to turn to.

So she decided to play with the fish.

"Are you not afraid nor feeling alone?. Are you ok with just you on that fish bowl?. Did you feel emptiness and didn't even know how and why do you have on?" then a deep sigh

"Because I am. I feel empty even though I am now living in my dream. To be alone. To be far from home. To finally be myself but why am I lonely?"

a knock on the door caught her attention then she remembered she buy online food to fill her refrigerator.

She walks on the seashore to breath fresh air.

She feels the warm and yet cold sand and waves that touches her feet.

She looks at the sun as it slowly sets on.

The rising sun signifies new beginning and new life just like what she wants to have.

As Hannah was walking on the shore, she met someone - Amanda.

A brunette girl about 5'6 inches tall who gave her a smile.

"Hi, Are you need here?" As Amanda starts the conversation.

"Yeah been here for quite sometime now"

"I can see. This is my secret hiding place" Hannah looks at here as if she tresspass to someone's unathorized place.

"No worries, no harm done. This place is for everyone and I want to share the beauty of the sun. It's not that I own it" Amanda chuckled.

"Amanda by the way" as she stretch her hand.

"Hannah here" as she shakes it.

"I love the sun, the radiance, the beauty it holds, we might get sunburn if overly exposed but the sun is so beautiful that I can stop myself and feel awe about it" as Amanda tries to get Hannah into conversation.

"Yes it is" she simply replied.

"Is there something wrong. I just can't help asking.

I'm sorry but" then she stops.

"No, it's ok and I'm ok" she assured.

"If your feeling lonely, come here because it can give you a new beginning and a hope to move forward again" as Amanda tries to walk off.

"Thanks" Hannah said.

"Pleasure is mine. See you around" then Amanda bid her goodbye.

As Hannah walks on her way to the market she passed by with Patrick.

"Hi there, buying stuff?"

As Hannah looks at him with unfamiliar look Patrick told him that he is the one that assists her on the fish shop.

"I'm sorry it's just that I was a little off and remembering faces is not my middle name" Hannah told him feeling sorry.

"It's alright it's not that I stand out. By the way heading home?"

"Not yet, I will stop by at the bookstore over there hoping I can get inspiration there"

"Writer?"

"Kind of"

"Is it what they call writer's block?"

"I hate to admit it but yeah"

"mind if I accompany you?"

"You don't need to. I'm pretty much handy in direction and I might as well ask if I have to. But thanks for the offer"

"See you around"

"You too."

Hannah walks off and find herself at the bookstore.

Since having books on the bookshelf makes her believe that she was once a writer.

The next day, she goes with the same routine.

She happens to stop by at the fish shop and buy her pet it's food.

"Hi there. again" as Patrick greets her.

"Hi." as Hannah simply replied back. "Mind if I ask you something?"

"No big deal. what is it?"

as he looks for food of the fish.

"Mind if I fill on the open position? I just can't happen to look for an inspiration right now and I guess making myself busy

can let my imagination be fill in"

"oh- oh yes. You can. Do you mind if you start tomorrow?

that will be a big help for us"

"Sure."

"Here is your order that would be 40 PHP and see you tomorrow"

"Yes tomorrow it is"

Hannah now starts as a clerk in Patrick shop.

"You hired her because you like here?" as her uncle notices Patrick looking at Hannah. "Those eyes is glittering now unlike the last time" as his uncle continues.

"No, we need someone and she gladly offer her help. so I took it"

"Nah. I know you both of us can manage for a long time"

"Uncle" he tells his uncle as he wanted to stop him.

"I already finish that shelf. Is there I can help you with?"

Hannah interrupted them.

"His heart."

"Sorry?" Hannah tries to confirm if what she heard was right.

"That heart shaped fish bowl. You know it's very rare and its so much covered in dirt. mind if you clean that up?" then his uncle wink at him.

"Ok" then Hannah proceeds to do it.

As she was heading home, she met Amanda.

"Hi Hannah" she greeted first.

"Hi" she responded back.

"I can see you've been busy around" as she keeps us to Hannah.

"Yeah, I just got off from work and a little exhausted" she chuckled.

"Oh I see, Are you free on Sunday?"

"Why?"

"Just. I just want to be friends with you. I happen to passed by often so having you a friend is no big deal?"

"Sure, no big deal"

"That's it so bye bye my house is just around the block and I guess yours is on the path"

"Yes bye. so I guess see you on Sunday"

"Yes, Sunday it is"

As she goes back to her home, she prepares herself a dinner then heads on the bed.

Hannah was on the beach.

Watching the sunset.

She felt the cold breeze.

Its so cold that even his feet starts to froze.

She tried to walks off but she can't.

There something in the sun that makes her mesmerized by it.

Then a loud alarm wakes her up.

It's raining outside and its literally freeezing if you didn't wore a jacket.

There's nothing to manage and clean on the shop since it's raining no customer would come out to buy a fish for a pet.

"Want me to drop you off?" Patrick offered as Hannah tries to walks off without an umbrella.

"Don't mind me, I can manage"

as she was shy to take his offer.

"There's someone I need to come over now and he's around your way. So I don't mind accompanying you"

Since the rains never stops to pour, Hannah takes on his offer.

"You will walk on this rain? what are you a walking sunshine?"

"It's just that I don't want to inconvience someone."

"No harm done and I'm the one who offers my help"

Hannah starts to sneeze since she was caught on the rain earlier.

"This" as Patrick hands him the towel.

"This is newly washed so feel free to dry yourself up"

"Thank you"

"You mind if I ask if you have something to do on Sunday?"

"Yes, I promise to a friend that I will accompany her"

"Oh I see, then on your next day off. I guess?"

Hannah would not want to agree on his offer but Patrick is a sweet guy and she looks up to him like a big brother.

"Yes that would be fine and here is my place. thank you for the ride" Hannah told him

"Yes, I guess the sun will reveal its beauty again because I can clearly see the rainbow"

as he pointed out on our street sign.

"Yes"

"That's suppose to be a joke but I guess you didn't buy it"

"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't mean to"

"No need to feel sorry.

I'm just kidding. See you tomorrow"

As Hannah walks on her home. She saw Amanda passing by soaking wet.

"Amanda are you ok?" as she hurriedly walks on her way to stop her.

"Yes" the. she collapse.

Hannah hurriedly took her in and immediately warm her with warm water.

As Amanda gain her consciousness she wakes up Hannah by gently pats her head.

"Your awake" as she tries to fix her face.

"Yes. Sorry for the intrusion and for the inconvenience."

"no need to. your my friend. Hot coffee"

"No need to. As I was walking home I was caught on the rain and didn't notice that I didn't bring my umbrella" she chuckled then sneeze.

Then they both say in chorus "Bless you" then they both laugh. Then they start to share their common interest.

Then Hannah looks at Amanda's bracelet and she can't help thinking what's in it that makes her mesmerized.

"Did you see it?" Amanda curiously ask Hannah.

"No, it's just that I am fan of any funny or extraordinary things" as Hannah shyly explained.

"This is a gift. A gift that it's very rare for someone to see it" as she shakes it."

"And why is that?"

"Well its a secret. When the time is right. I will tell you my friend?" she told her then hug her tight.

"Oh is it that mythical?" As Hannah tries to ask her.

"Theres no need for you for find it our now but I promise you if the time is right. I will"

Then a kettle whistle to its might.

"Well thats the hot water. Let me get it and make us our coffee"

"Yes that would be great"

As Hannah goes to her kitchen.

Amanda can't help thinking but looks at its bracelet then smiled at it.

"Finally I found you."

As Hannah walks on her work. She passed by Patrick who have a lot of stuff that he tries to carry.

"Need a hand" as Hannah offered.

"No need to. Its a man's duty"

"But I can" as Hannah took the not so heavy box.

"Where should I put it?" she asks.

"Just there and by the way good morning" as he smiles back.

"Oh yeah, good morning"

"You seemed pretty odd right now because you initiates the conversation"

"Your thinking too much. I am not"

"This sign makes me wonder why is it you.."

"hmm?"

"No my eyes is just playing tricks on me that I happen to be caught on guard by you."

"Huh? did you just spill a pick up line?" as Patrick uncle asks him.

To his surprise Hannah is now at the counter helping for bill out.

"No, it's. forget it"

"No need to. I will just pretend that your just practicing your skills on making a move on someone."

"uncle"

"Just a friendly reminder. If you will do it. Say it in front of her and don't be shy to confess it. You might end up confessing to one of our fishes. who knows you might marry one?" as he was teased by his uncle.

"This time I will for sure."