Dark Lines

Taste the Sour

The following day, Peter got up, exercised, showered, then got dressed and fixed his hair with a bit of perfume, and headed to the kitchen to boil some eggs, grab some vegetables from the fridge, then he sat in the living room while listening to some music, till the eggs are well boiled and the tea is heated.

He was eating slowly with some anxiety for what he is going to do, pay Jane a visit that is, then spend the rest of the day at his parent’s house, he is longing for them so much, but he is feeling weird that he can actually be free, no longer act cautious, no longer have fear and hesitation, then there was Jane, what will be here status, what will she say when she sees him, how will she be looking?

After finishing his breakfast with Crystal, he got out with Crystal, locked the door well, then rode his bike to his parent’s house first, to say hi and enjoy a warming moment with them, as well as dropping Crystal there until he gets back from his other visit, he will probably be sleeping at his parent’s place, the first time he will try to sleep in a long time.

When he was riding his bike, he was enjoying the familiar feeling, being among people, connecting with nature, without feeling afraid, without boundaries, touching everything, the leaves as he passes next to the trees, passing by the walls, without worrying if he touched it or not, without going crazy about germs.

He is now in a very familiar neighborhood, his parent’s neighborhood, he parked his bike, and got off of it, held Crystal and knocked on the door that held a sign that says

“Stevens’s house”, which is his last name, three seconds later, the door was opened, his mom started screaming and showered him with kisses, then pulled him inside, he greeted his dad and his brother, they talked and talked, then he told them that he has a quick business to finish, then he will be back, and he told his mom about the times of feeding Crystal, and what types of food she eats.

Jane’s house was only a few blocks away from his parent’s house, he was beyond ready to see his old friend, he is excited to talk to her in person as well, but he hoped that he won’t say something wrong or hurt her feeling unintentionally, because he knew that he can act weird sometimes and say awkward things.

He is infront if her house now, he walked up the few steps to reach her door, and he started knocking, once, twice, third time, forth time, when he was about to knock the fifth time, a voice interrupted him, saying; “No one is there”, he walked closer to this woman, and asked her where they were, then she asked him who he was, and when did he came to visit them the last time, he told her that he never visited them before except for one time, and that is when he was just a kid, he told her the he was an old friend of Jane, then she invited him to her house, to be more comfortable with the conversation.

The woman made three cups of coffee, for her, for Peter and her husband, then she sat and let out a sigh and looked in a weird way at Peter. She said that the Parkers family, which is Jane’s family, are no longer living here, they moved a month ago, and nobody knows anything about them, then Peter asked about Jane, where did she go?, “to heaven”, she said, Peter raised his eyebrow, and blinked real fast, then asked her what did she mean, she told him that she is dead, but he denied it, “you’re kidding right?”, he said back, but she was looking as serious as she can look, “I wish I was, son”, she added, looking really sad, then Peter asked her to explain the letters that he received from Jane till 22, March, that is about a month ago. “Jane died on 19/February, it can’t be, maybe someone was pranking you!”, she explained.

“The one he wrote them knew things from our childhood, besides no one has the time or the patience to prank me with such sensitive matter for mire than one month”, he said.

“Well honestly, I don’t believe in ghosts and spirits son, but some say that they see some weird figures at night in that house, and unusual movement around the house, so that’s all I can say to you, I’m really shocked and confused as you are”, she said.

“How did she die?”, he asked, looking so hurt and disappointed.

“The neighbors heard screams that day, Jane’s screams and her dad’s, they sounded like they were having a fight, then it was clear that he was beating her up, as usual, we tried to interfere so many times and even call the cops, but neither he tolerated our interfere, nor the police have been useful and helpful in that matter. No one knows if it was an accident or something on purpose, to throw her in the chimney, where it unfortunately she was burned to ashes. There were no one in the house except him and her, so he ran away after realizing what he have done, and before anyone catches him, but some neighbors were witnesses on the sounds that they have heard, and of him escaping”, she explained with sorrow on her face.

“The monster, he must die, what had happened to him, did they catch him”, he wondered while looking so frustrated.

“They are to this moment trying to find him, and his name and picture are allover the country, so hopefully he will be behinds the bars soon”, she said.

“God damn him wherever he is, and her mom and brother, where are they?, what did they do?”, he asked.

“Well, her mother couldn’t stand the insults that people were throwing at her, after the crime, they called her names; abuser, monster, reckless, irresponsible, despicable and way more with many accusations, she might be innocent, and wasn’t okay with what her husband did, but she never was a good mom, she never stood by her daughter, never encouraged her, so I think she deserved what was said to her, that caused her to move out of this town, to a far away one. For her brother, he didn’t come often to his house, so it was easy for him to never come back again, regarding that crime that has happened and that his family has fallen apart, so he didn’t see any reason for him to come anymore”, she answered.

“That us sickening, and heartbreaking, I can’t believe this!”, Peter said while looking that he is suffering and his heart will jump out of his chest.

“Do you want me to give you the keys to their house?, I have spare ones, maybe you want to see Jane’s stuff”, she suggested.

“If I may, madam”, he said, then took the keys and walked slowly towards Jane’s house with his head down, feeling crashed inside.