Never ever

5. Jason

It had been a long day at the office and I felt weary as I climbed up the stairs. I saw them as soon as I opened the door, moving boxes. Throwing by bag on the floor, I let out a sort of growl out of frustration. The light above me shatters, a scream followed and someone is yelling. I want to turn towards the door, yelling. The words already forming in my mind, when I hear her screaming them, my words. NOT AGAIN.

It is asif I'm hit by lightning. I’m woken out of a daze, I didn’t know I was in and everything seems brighter. And she is radiant. I can’t keep my eyes from her, following her through my apartment. She is careful not to step in any of the glass as she walks to the boy, whining in the corner. Why was he here? We don’t need anybody else here. She softly touching his cheek and I feel a pit in my stomach forming. She starts cleaning and works fast. What about me, don’t you want to check if i’m okay? I look down to myself, there is nothing wrong with me. My arms were impeccable, not a scratch on them. Not a single piece of glass had fallen on me. How is that possible, I was standing right beneath it when it shattered. 

“What is going on, who are you?” I finally ask finding my voice again. She’s coming towards me and i’m expecting her to answer but she just blew past me, completely ignoring me. She is standing in front of him again. 

“Come on” she saids to him with such a loving voice it makes my heart skip a beat. I want her to say more but she leads him back to the bathroom. I want to follow them, follow her, but somehow i’m glued to the ground. Now that i’m alone I take a good clear look to at my surroundings. It was my apartment but it also wasn’t mine. The kitchen looked the same and so did the couch. Although It looked so old, all of a sudden, but I had just bought it I thought. There were also so many things I didn’t recognize. What was going on here?

I stumbled to the main house. My confusion only growing bigger as I see the small differences. Everywhere I look from the tree that my dad just planted yesterday, which was almost as big as the house, to the fountain ornaments inside the oval driveway.  Nothing was just how I remembered it. My parents where upstairs but they didn’t even register my presents as I walked in without knocking. 

“Mom, Dad, what is going on?” I asked but they didn’t react. I stood there staring with open mouth when I noticed all kind of weird machines, what scientific stuff was this. I came closer to them, they looked so old and what they were saying caught my attention. They were talking about a girl called Maya and how maybe she was the one, finally. Things would get so much easier around here with the proper help. 

“And she is nice to look at as well” Dad yoked as mom hits him affectionately with her papers.

“Don’t get me started old man,” she said and then her voice changed as she continued with what shocks me to my core, “She would have been perfect for Jason don’t you think? They are the same age now.” For me? Who is perfect for me? What do you mean the same age now?

“She would have completed him, If he had been here” my dad agrees with her, smiling sadly.

“But I am here!” I scream at them in frustration, “Why can’t you see me?”

I turn around and leave them alone, it hurts me seeing them like this. I wander around aimlessly stopping as I realize i’m in my old room. It was just the same, nothing had changed here. No that wasn’t right there were two things. First was the dust covering everything. The second thing made me fall to my knees, how can this be. There on the corner of my desk was a framed picture of myself with a newspaper clipping attached to it. It's headline read young man killed at highfield road. 

 ** Maya **

The next morning I was still thinking about that kiss, sofly tracing my lips with my finger. Noah was a great kisser and I wondered if he had a lot of practice. He didn’t seemed like the type but who am I to say. It wasn’t like I had a spotless record and it occurred to me that you didn't have to be with alot of girls to have had the practice. One would suffice. 

“AAH guys complicate everything” I said to myself as I leave my worrying thought at the door and leave to have breakfast with mrs. Green. 

I didn’t think she would be outside, there was a chill in the air and the skies darkened with the ominous promise of rain. It would probably be a slow night at the restaurant if the weather stayed like this I thought as I let myself in. 

“Good morning?” I called out.

“In the kitchen” I got a reply and walked in seeing mrs Green slaving behind the stove, a sight I had not expected or even imagined. 

“I was in the mood for some pancakes,” she says like it it the most normal thing in the world, “Would you like some with banana or chocolate chips?” 

“Wauw, both please,” I say taking a seat at the counter, “I thought my days of walking up to a cooked breakfast where over now that I moved out.”

“Did your mother bake you pancake before?” she asked not knowing the sore subject. 

“No my aunt did, she is a chef and loves to show off her skills” I explain.

“Well I would love to get your opinion on these, it has been a while since I have made them. William and… Well william mostly sticks to a liquid breakfast these days” she said and her voice showed her usual concern when talking about her husband's condition but there is also something else that makes her smile milder. Like she just remembered something she had forgotten and it was making her sad. I didn’t push it, I wouldn’t want people pushing me to tell my unfortunate family story. When she wanted to tell me I would listen. 

The pancake were a delicious, just the right amount of chocolade and I could see that she was pleased that I liked them. We ate and talked small talk before getting al seriously. She wanted to know about Noah and laughed out loud when I could not stop blushing. It was nice to hear her laugh, it made her just a bit more down to earth. After that we talked about my other job, how many hours did I work and what kind of shifts there were. I explained it all and after we cleaned up she showed me a whiteboard that she got for me. There was already a calendar on it and I had to write my hours down so they would know when I wasn’t available. She also gave me the monday’s off, the restaurant was also closed on monday so it would give me a dat to myself. I thought it was very considerate of her and didn’t argue. There was also place for us to write messages to each other or like it she wanted me to clean a certain room. It didn’t matter much to her how many hours I worked for her as long as the work was done. She trusted me with this responsibility. 

She took the board and I followed her towards a small scullery, hanging it at the wall.

“Whenever you have a day planned, like a date with a certain boy, you can put it on the calendar and we will know you won’t be coming that day. I will do the same” she said winking at the date part. She was having a lot of fun with it.

“So in here,” She continued showing me around the small kitchen, “is everything you’ll need. Cleaning product and other supplies.”

“How about the groceries?” I asked thinking I would rather go one day a week than everytime they needed something from the store.

“In this cabinet,” she said opening the one on her right, “will be our administration”

I saw some binders, a small money save and a wallet. Also on the inside was a small whiteboard with cheese already written on it. I was impressed with her organisation skills. 

“So can I choose a day a week to go to the store or would you like me to get the cheese right away?

“Why don’t you plan for one day a week by writing it on the board and if there is anything we need right away we would ask you either by note or personally.” 

“That will work for me.”

“Do you have any other questions?” She asked after a while. It seemed all clear to me when one question occurred to me? 

“Can I play music while I clean?” I asked and she started laughing again. 

“That was a question I didn't expect” she said still breathing louder from laughing, “I don’t mind and I don’t think William would but why don’t you check the situation. For example when he is resting. I trust you will know what to do.” I nodded understanding, I could always put my headphones on I thought. The only thing left to do was get a tour of the house.

Most of the downstairs area I had already seen but I didn’t interrupt mrs. Green as she showed it to me. When we walked upstairs we could hear voices talking to each other. 

“O good you can meet Manuella, I think you already saw her when you first came here.” mrs. Green said and walked off to a room to her left. She knocked on the door before sticking her head inside, probably checking if it was clear for me as well. She opened the door further and the same young woman, who I saw before, sat with mr Green at a table. They had made a secondary living room upstairs. Only here we're all kind of medical equipment.

“Manuella, I want you to meet Maya. She will be helping me out with housekeep from now on.” Mrs. Green introduced me. Manuella stood up to shake my hand. She had dark curly hair pulled back in a messy bun. Her warm dark eyes looking at me and a beautiful praline skin tone to finish off her beauty. Her movements were graceful and fluid which made me think she could be a dancer. I was somewhat envious of her.

“Good to meet you” She said her voice harder than I had expected.

“Thank you, you to. If there is anything I can help with just let me know.” 

“You might be sorry you’ll offered” She teased, winking at mr. Green.

“No she won't, You are just an angel and would never give her something horrible to do.” Mr Green said grinning. There was clearly some banter in that comment seeing her reaction but it must have been an inside joke. 

“Have you been working long with mr Green?” I asked instead. She looked at him before she answered that she had been here from the beginning.

“You really have a way with words maya,” Mr. Green said and I looked at him confused.

“Do I?”

“Yes, letting it sound like I still have some merit here instead of being a helpless old man” He explained and it made me smile. I didn’t even realise I was doing so, just good manners.

“You may need some help mr. Green but it’s clear to me your mind is as sharp as ever. I’ll bet you have some great stories to tell as well.” I said genuine interested in what he had to say.

“Ow my, don’t get him started. You will be late for your shift tonight” Mrs. Green yoked before her husband could say anything. 

“another time perhaps” He said instead, “Maybe we could put it on the calendar, Story time with a cup of coffee.” 

“Make it a cup of tea and i’m in.” 

“Deal.” He said laughing

After saying goodbye mrs. Green went on with the tour. She showed me the bath and bedroom and then went to the last room on the first floor. She didn’t open it and her whole demeanor change. She stood there for a second mentally preparing. 

“This is our son’s room, we haven’t been in here for awhile.” she started speaking softly, her hand still gripping the handle hard. 

“We can skip it if that’s what you want” I asked carefully placing my hand on her shoulder. She let out a sigh and push down, the door slowly opening. Before looking at me she swiftly wiped her hand over her cheek. A tear I thought. It was a normal teenage boy room, well not normal. Even though there was dust everywhere, evidence that it had indeed been a while, the room was clean. So far as I remembered from every boys room i’ve been in clean was not a normal description. Dirty clothing, sport equipment or even plate with moldy leftover I had seen it al. 

“We have talked about it and have decided it’s time. We would like you to slowly clear out this room but maybe just start by cleaning it.” she said after a moment of silence. They may have talked about it but to me it seemed like she wasn’t ready to let this go. I took a couple of steps inside and she held her breath. 

“What happened to him?” I asked my curiosity taking over.

“He was in a car crash not so far from here, he died at impact” she whispered so softly I almost didn’t hear her. 

“Is this him?” I asked her pointing at a picture on the desk. He was handsome and the confidence in his eyes and posture told me he knew he was. His honey brown hair was neatly cut and he had gorgeous greenish eyes.  

“Yes, that is Jason.”