Finding His Invisible Mate

Ara

Ara

Having friends is very overrated, I mean, who needs the emotional mess. I've been on my own since turning 18, after my parents passed away two years ago. Everything was awesome and perfect in my life until that day. A car accident while coming home from their monthly date, that day changed everything. After that I stayed with my mom's sister, she had her hands full with her own life, kind of of serial dater when she wasn't working. I don't even know when she noticed I left... maybe she never did.

Now a days I live on my own on the outskirts of town, and so far after eight months, I have managed to keep to myself. I work the evening shifts at a dinner, where pretty much the only people coming in are just passing through the town.

"Hey, Ara, can you help out a little later tonight? I'm hoping to close up early with a little extra help with the cleaning," Mags said.

Mags was one of maybe three people that could put my face and name together in this town. She is always bustling around and making things more hectic than they really have to be, but she is nice and asks few questions, even when she does she rarely waits for my response. She's in her late fifties and always has a smile for everyone.

"Sure thing Mags," I said as I walked into the kitchen to grab another order.

When I came back out of the kitchen I noticed a few men had walked in and sat at a table near the back. All three were very quiet and didn't even bother looking at their menus, before asking Mags to bring them some coffee. One of them was watching me, so I ducked back into the kitchen again.

"Ara, Mags said that you could go ahead and go home early. She said their was less work than she thought there was going to be, so she doesn't need you anymore." said Dan, as he was finishing up some of the last orders. Dan, was never much for small talk, but he did make a good burger.

"Yeah, ok, I guess I'll head out now before it gets too dark." Although my house was only a 20min walk, I always preferred being home before it got dark. I always felt like someone was watching me in the dark.

Once I made it home, I locked and bolted the door. It may not be fancy, but it was home. I slipped off my uniform and got dressed into my oversized hoodie and shorts.

Crawling into bed, I couldn't help but remember the way that man at the diner had stared at me. It was almost as if he knew me, but there was no way he could know me, I would have remember someone like him.

As I slowly drifted to sleep, I heard some noises coming from outside. It sounded like footsteps. I waited a couple more seconds straining my ears to hear if there was anyone out there, and just as I was about to give up and fall back asleep there was a knock on my door.

I looked at the clock next to my bed... it's almost midnight. I started wondering who could possibly have found my little home, it was 20min from the main road. Maybe if I ignore then, they will go away.

knock knock

Of course they won't go away. As I walked to the front door I could hear a couple of men talking.

"Don't you think this could have waited until tomorrow?" said the man's voice.

"No," said another man's voice. "Kade told us to check it out, so we're going to do it."

"Yeah, but we could have waited until, you know, like... not the middle of the night."

Knock Knock

There was no way I was going to be opening that door in the middle of the night to a couple of strangers, but they also seemed to have no intention of leaving anytime soon. I turned on the porch light and cleared my voice.

"If you don't leave now, I'm going to be calling the sheriff." Trying to sound as confident and tough as possible. I held my breath and waited for a response, or hoped that they would get the hint and leave without further trouble.

"Man, I told you we shouldn't be doing this right now," I heard the first man whisper.

I heard some shuffling and after a couple seconds silence. Even though I'm pretty sure they left, I still can't shake the feeling that I'm not alone. I turned all the lights off again and made my way back to my bedroom. slipping back into my bed, I just laid there for who knows how long, straining my ears just in case the two men returned or where still sneaking around. Just the thought sent shivers down my spine.

---

As I was finally falling asleep I had the same dream that I always have. Back to when my parents were alive. Back to when everything seemed easy. Back to when it was all so safe I didn't even realize that there was another way.

Everytime I have this dream, it is the day my parents were getting ready to leave. I was in my parents room watching my mom get ready. Always elegant looking, with her dark hair loosely framing her face, Making her green eyes stand out. That night she had taken off her necklace, one that she always wore. She turned and put it on me. I wad so excited, it was like my mom gave me her most valuable and prized possession.

It was a small silver pendant, with some delicate scroll around a small green gem. I held it in my hand tightly as I gave my mom a hug. She smiled at me, the smile not quite reaching her eyes.

"Never take this necklace off Ara," my mom had said as she touched my cheek. "This necklace has been passed down to the eldest daughter in our family for generations, it can't end here."

"Mom, don't you just think you're being a little dramatic?" I said with a chuckle.

She looked at me seriously for a moment. A look I couldn't quite place, but it wasn't a look I was used to.

"Ok, Mom, I promise, I'll keep it on always."

She relaxed a bit, and went back to finishing her hair. Once she was finished she and my dad left for the last time I would ever see them.

---

I woke up, holding on to my mother's necklace, that I still wear, mostly hidden under my shirts. Always keeping my last promise to my mom. That night like almost every night, I lay there in my bed, thinking about how my life would have been if only my parents had stayed home that night.