shadows

black was her shadow (2)

Emilia was an orphan. She arrived at the orphanage in a wicker basket. Delivered by whom and exactly when no one knew. She grew up in the orphanage, watching others being adopted. But no one wanted her. She learned quickly to depend on herself.

At ten, she won a scholarship that would put her through school. That became her way of paying for tuition. School. University. Scholarships paid for all of her education. That was just how smart she was.

It was at school, as a ten year old, that she met Fanny. The two were from opposite worlds. But quickly became friends. By eleven, they were best friends. Fanny was the world to Emilia. And Emilia meant just as much to Fanny.

Today was the day everything Fanny knew about her best friend would be shattered.

After the phone call, Fanny changed out of the suit. She took off the jewellery. She shook her head like a rattle drum until her hair slipped out of the perfectly brushed style for office into a more comfortable mess. She put on a pair of jeans and a tee. This was the casual her. The her that Emilia knew and loved most. And then, she rushed toward Emilia’s new apartment. Emilia had messaged the location. Fanny followed the map to an old building standing between other buildings. This was nothing at all like Emilia’s previous apartment, the one that Emilia loved. There was no view. No park. No walkways. The apartments had no balconies. This was the kind of place Emilia would never live at.

Fanny was already tempering her expectations as she entered. There was a lobby, but she wasn’t sure it could be called one. It was more an empty hall with a few old sofas and chairs. Clearly unused and uncared for. She called the lift. Went up to the fifth floor. The lift opened to a hallway that felt dark even though it was well enough lit. The building just oozed oldness.

Fanny walked to Emilia’s apartment. Knocked on the door. And when the door swung open, and she saw her old best friend, the surprise was complete.

This wasn’t the Emilia she knew.

-

Emilia didn’t try to stop. She wasn’t surprised by the memories that rose like a flood. She even expected it. Fanny was the only connection she had in the world. For the longest time, Fanny was her whole world. She hadn’t thought of her friend for more than a year. Now, it all came rushing back.

She couldn’t stop smiling. All those years through school and university. And then she came to the fight.

The two friends had made a short film. Neither wanted to do that for a living. Neither believed they had any talent. They came across the flyer for a film competition. Orange sky fest. They loved the name. And that was all the reason they had to participate. They shot a short film about a girl making a short film and finding herself becoming the girl in her movie. The two were the actors and directors and music directors and everything else. They were genuinely surprised when they made it through the first round, and then got shortlisted for the next round. Theirs was one of the fifty films that would be showed at the fest. That won them an invitation.

They had gone for their film. They met many people. Interesting. Boring. Creepy. Scary. And Emilia met a married man, who was also handsome and rich. Emilia began an affair with the man. Fanny didn’t approve. She couldn’t stand by watching Emilia get closer and closer to the man. She demanded Emilia stop. Emilia wasn’t interested. Fanny wouldn’t stand by to witness Emilia destroy her life. Emilia said she wasn’t asking Fanny to stay. And so the two friends split.

Emilia wasn’t smiling when she came back. Here she was. A different person. Pregnant. Alone. Not in any relationship but the one with her little boy. And excited about starting a relationship with her old friend. And that had her smiling again.

Just then, there was knocking on the door.

She got up. Walked over slowly. Opened the door. And greeted a face she didn’t realise until that very moment how badly she missed.

“Hi Fanny. Thank you for coming.”

Her eyes welled up. And her lips curved deeper at the shock on Fanny’s face.

“What is this?” Any asked, pointing an unsteady finger at Emilia’s stomach.

“Swallowed a ball,” Emilia answered.

“Not funny,” Fanny fumed. “You didn’t get this fat, did you? No. You couldn’t have. Wouldn’t be only your stomach that got fat. You’d be fat all over.”

“Yes. Right about that. Did get fat. But not so much.”

“You’re pregnant.”

“Yes.”

“How long?”

“Due next week. At least according to my doctor. I think, it’s happening today. The little guy’s coming out today. He can’t wait.”

“Damn. How could you not call me before? The guy?”

“He doesn’t know. Found out after ending it. Had no intention of calling him.”

“The truth. Please.”

“At first, I wanted to show up at his home with a baby. Tell him it’s his. And made some kind of demand. Then, we spent more time together. The little guy and I. And I fell in love. I don’t want that man anywhere near my little boy. Not the man. Not his family. Nothing. This little guy is my baby. I have him. He has me. That was enough.”

“So, it’s been more than nine months since you broke up.”

“Yes.”

“And you didn’t call me.”

“No. I didn’t. After how we ended things, could I have? You didn’t need such a terrible friend.”

“But you needed someone. You didn’t have to go through it all by yourself.”

“No. I had to.”

“Why did you leave your apartment? You loved it. And this is nothing in comparison.”

“It isn’t. But I had to leave. One, I needed a new start. Two, this is closer to the hospital. The cheapest. I needed to save the money for the little guy. He is most important now.”

“You didn’t get anything from the married man?”

“He did give a lot of money. I didn’t want to touch any of it. Not after I had this little guy. I guess I found my pride.”

“More like you didn’t want the father to learn of your pregnancy.”

“That too.”

Emilia gave her friend a tour of the apartment. Didn’t take long. Fanny watched in fascination as Emilia made them tea. As they sat drinking the tea, Emilia continued to the actual reason for reaching out.

“I had a dream. The strangest ever dream.”

Emilia told Fanny everything. And Fanny listened intently, watching her friend trembling.

“So, you’re saying, you’ve lived the day many times already.”

Emilia nodded.

“Yes. Something like that. I don’t understand it myself. I just know, I won’t make it through the day. I think it’s this little guy who’s made this possible. He wants me to live. And I have to try my hardest. I wouldn’t be doing that if I didn’t ask for your help. You are my superpower.”

“That I am,” Fanny shamelessly admitted.

But she was having trouble wrapping her head around what she was hearing. She was having trouble believing.

And Emilia could see that.

“You don’t believe. You want to. But you can’t. I understand. How about this? Did you drive here?”

“Yes.”

“Drive me to the hospital?”

“Now?”

“Yeah. I don’t feel very good. I think I need to go to the hospital.”

Fanny was stunned. It took her a moment, but then she quickly worked up a jitter. She got up. Rushed over. Helped Emilia to her feet. And to the door.

They were at the door, when Emilia screeched to a halt. She was staring wide eyed into the mirror on the wall by the door.

“What is it?” Fanny asked.

She looked at the mirror too. Saw nothing remarkable. Certainly not anything warranting such a big reaction.

“You don’t see it?” Emilia asked.

Her face was white. Her voice weak, shaky. Like she had gotten a bad fright.

“See what?” Fanny asked, not sure she wanted the answer.

“In the mirror,” Emilia said, lifting a finger toward the mirror. “Behind me. So huge. So tall. So wide. The dark shadow. You really don’t see it?”

Emilia was serious.

And Fanny felt afraid too. The dream. The day repeating in a loop. The dying. None of it scared her as much as the shadow.

“A dark shadow?” Fanny asked weakly.

Emilia heard fear. And she was able to tear her eyes away from the mirror. To turn around. Look at her friend.

“Yes?” Emilia said.

“A dark shadow,” Fanny repeated.

She was trembling now. Her hands tightened around Emilia’s arm.

Fanny was no stranger to the dark shadow. And she believed now. Emilia was in mortal danger.

“We need to get you to the hospital,” Fanny said determinedly.

But she was on feet too weak to walk. She was leaning onto her pregnant friend for support.