Dark Lines

5/February/2021 Hello Peter, I’m Jane, remember me?, we used to go to school together, the elementary one. We were good friends, we played a lot in the playground, we used to share our lunch too, and pass notes to each other in class, then the teacher would punish us by forcing us to stand on the wall with one leg up for thirty minutes, I hope you remember me. I recently recalled these days of innocence and pure joy, so I decided to get in touch with you, well not in person because of the lockdown of course, but I managed to have some leisure time and write you the old fashion way, since I don’t know your phone number, but anyway I prefer this ancient communication, I feel every word when I write it down with a pencil and touching the paper, you may ask how did I know your address to be able to send you this letter, well I remember it from the old days, you were such a true friend to me Peter! -ENAJ- Peter was checking his mail box this morning, and found this letter among other bills that are the only things he usually receives from the mail box, so he was surprised. When he was sitting in the kitchen while checking his emails and messages, but he put it away when he noticed that it was from an old friend of his, he read it carefully with interest and with memories rushing into his mind, and pictures drawn with every line he reads, and at the end he noticed something that made him smile, it was Jane’s name written backwards, just like they used to do in their childhood, “what a ride full of reminiscing, Jane!”, he said to himself. Peter then remembered that she didn’t mention her address, so he can write her back, he barely remembered her before she started telling him about the memories they shared, let alone remembering her address, plus the mail office is far from his home, and with lockdown he couldn’t deliver his letter anyway. Peter headed out of the kitchen towards his room, so he could put this letter in his drawer, he thought that it would be impolite to throw it in a spot that he might forget it in, and it was a spirit lifting thing from her to do, especially during these lonely days. Then, he turned on the heater and snatched some snacks, and some soft drinks from the kitchen, and grabbed a table to rest his feet on, because it was time to relax, just him, the snacks, the blanket and the television. ******************* Peter woke up, but still in bed deciding whether it is worth it to get up, or not, after half an hour he finally gets up, he showered and threw a clean hoddie and a new sweat pants on, then he washed the dishes from yesterday, and the cup that was resting in the sink for three days, that was waiting for Peter to be in the mood to wash it. He made a smoothie out of milk, sugar and cinnamon, then he grabbed a plate and placed the raw cereal with the dried fruit beside, just the way he likes it. He sat in his chair, and started eating fast, because he needs some proteins after his daily morning exercise, he is watching some action film he started on his laptop. Now he is half through the film, but he suddenly felt a bit guilty because of not replying to Jane’s letter, she might think that he is rude, and careless, but he can’t do nothing unfortunately, not until the lockdown ends. It’s 10:15 p.m. now, he is doing some work on his laptop, while smoking his third cigarette of the day, the usual quantity for him. He looked outside his window, it’s like a ghost town, empty streets, pitch black night, “I wouldn’t want to be out there now, that’s for sure”, he thought to himself, then he closed the window, and the curtains, he was going to bed, he turned off the lights, then he heard a noise coming from the backward when he was half the way through the corridor, “annoying cats!”, he said, then went to his comfort bed, and slid under his soft sheets, and fell asleep as soon as he closed his eyes. ******************* 7/February/2021 Hello Peter, I hope you are okay my friend, you haven’t replied to my letter, but I’m sure that you have a good excuse for that, you might be busy, I don’t know a thing about neither your personal nor your professional life, so I can’t make bad assumptions about you. And you sure remember my address don’t you?, it’s ten minutes walking after you pass by the museum, so whenever you are free, you know where to send your letter. I have a job as a waitress, in a pizza restaurant, it is my second job, you know my dad, actually I don’t know if you recall my dad, he is the huge man that you bumped into at the field trip, the one that all the teachers, students and their parents went to, anyway my dad is a bit controlling and stubborn, so I took a while to be able to work, and make money by myself. The first job was great, but my dad was worried because I finish my working hours at 5:00 p.m., which was late for him, don’t get it wrong, my dad is nice, but he acts tough, I’m waiting to hear from you soon! -ENAJ- Peter was taking out the trash, when he decides to check his mail box, he wondered if she might write him again, he snatched it from the box, and went inside, he made a cup of tea, so he can read it with relaxation. It took him five minutes to read it thoroughly, he felt that warm, reminiscing emotion again, it was like going through time, and grabbing some random memory from the past, a good one. But Peter was still not able reply, even though she had told him her address, but it will take him a whole hour to be there, and the mail office is still far, he wouldn’t want to pay fiscal fine any time soon, the bills he has to pay, the rent and the food are enough, and almost exceeded his salary. He did remember her dad, he had a frowny face, with a unibrow, but he didn’t talk to him, so he hadn’t experienced any offensive attitude, but he sometimes noticed Jane coming to school, with a sad face, as if her favorite toy was just stolen from her, he used to feel bad for her, so he used to draw on her notebook a smiley face, so she can cheer up a bit, and it did work at that that. Peter got up, intending to place that letter on top of the previous one, which made him feel more guilty, because now there are two of them, she might have took hours writing them, or took effort to deliver it to the mail office, but it isn’t his fault, he had promised himself that he will reply as soon as he has the chance to do so. Few hours later, Peter is still going through the work files, he had to put his glasses on, because there are a lot of numbers, and many hours infront of the screen. It’s dinner time now, and work is done, so he got up, stretched his arms and snapped his fingers, that were nearly numb, then he opened the fridge, he stood there, scanning the food, and after two minutes he finally decided that cheese, eggs and toast, plus a cup of milk would be perfect now. He chose a cheerful song, and turned the volume a bit, and put the plate on his lab, it felt just like putting the cherry on top of the cake, he started swaying and moving his head along with the tunes, and having every bite in slow motion, making sure he taste it with all the buds of his tongue. He heard the siren of the curfew going off, “it is so loud and creepy”, he thought, this siren now forbids even the fly from going outside, cops are placed everywhere now, with Tasers, sticks and fiscal fine ready for you to pay. He closed the windows, and checked the locks, turned off his phone, and the lights as well, then grabbed a book, his glasses, even though he us only 24 years old, but he likes these simple activities that nourish the brain and soul, rather than nourishing his social media accounts with probably vain and useless images, with smart or as it should be called fake captions, at least he will find himself silly there, but he is sure that there is some great minds, that prefer using their phones to spread knowledge and awareness. He has reached page 30, but the light of the lantern started to annoy him, and the words in the page are starting to jump out of it, so he closed it, placed it next to him and covered himself entirely with that thick blanket.