Dark Lines

The Prophecy

There is no more bandages and other sanitizing substances, as well as milk for Crystal, sugar, cinnamon, pepper and some vegetables, Peter hates ordering more than one product online, he worries that they might miss something, or pick some inedible veggies, and the wrong trademark of the other products. Plus he wanted to get out of the house, for a journey on his bike.

Crystal was following him around the house, when he was getting ready to go out, so he felt bad for her, and decided to take her with him. He took his bike out, dragged it down the stairs, and rode it with moderate speed, while placing Crystal in the front basket of the bike.

After a few kilometers, there was an ambulance, and some cops near it, then when Peter came closer, he saw that there was a horrible accident, a motorcycle that crashed into a truck, “Poor thing!”, Peter commented, it might be some delivery guy. He doesn’t look like he will make it, he got injured so bad, with a broken leg and arm, Peter knew this because the ambulance workers were holding his leg and arm so carefully, without daring to move it an inch.

Then Peter continued hos way to the market, and when he arrived it was perfectly organized, with a staff who takes the temperature of the costumers, and offer a hand gel.

There weren’t allowed too many people inside either, just twenty person, so there was a long line with social distancing, that is waiting Peter and nineteen other individuals to finish, so twenty of them can enter.

In ten minutes, Peter was finished, and on his way back to his home, then he saw that same church that he saw last time, but he decided this time to go inside. As he steps in, he notices the astonishing view before him, the very high ceiling, the golden walls, the wide benches, and the huge statues, it was beyond phenomenal.

Then he saw a priest, so he walked towards him to salute him, and express his opinion on the church, but after the priest showed gratitude for Peter’s words, his smile has faded.

“Unfortunately, a nun has committed suicide for unknown reasons, two weeks ago”, the priest said, then Peter consoled him, and left politely after requesting that he give him his blessing.

When Peter got home, he remembered that exactly two weeks ago, he had passed by this church, so that person he saw on the roof was a nun, and her black veil must have flew on his face, when she jumped, so he felt guilty and bitter, he thought that he could have stopped her, or called someone for help, but he didn’t, on the other hand if he knew, he would surely done something about it, but that doesn’t spare him for the responsibility and guilt.

He made a cup of coffee, after having lunch, and closed his eyes while resting his head back, he feel horrible, the nun surely have family members, that were devasted after her death, he could have spare them the pain, but he was ignorant then, and such a selfish human being, that what was going inside Peter’s head at that moment, blame, guilt, sadness, frustration and pain.

He took a nap at 4:15 p.m., and woke up after thirty minutes when Crystal accidentally threw the ball at him, or was it on purpose, anyway he woke a bit annoyed because of the bloody ball, and because of the afternoon nap, it’s always bad idea.

Peter turned on the laptop, checked his emails as usual, and selected a movie, then went to make some popcorn and some beverages with a blanket. Peter’s phone rung three times, so he grabbed it, it was his annoying best friend, he was feeling bored, so he wanted to talk, but Peter wasn’t online, so he dialed him. They texted for fifteen minutes straight, then he turned off his phone, when they were finished.

********************

27/February/2021

Hello Peter,

I'm feeling great today, it might be because my new habit of drinking coffee right after I wake up, but yesterday I woke up feeling a bit annoyed from this nightmare, I saw a nun laying on the ground, she looked dead, without a single drop of blood. It was disturbing, but I remember that I walked over her body, without any emotion of empathy, then I went back home. Don’t worry Peter, it is just a horrible dream, I feel just fine today, so calm and energetic, I hope you’re feeling the same way Peter.

-ENAJ-

Peter snatched the letter from the mail box, after eating some cookies with a cup of tea infront of the television. When he finished reading, he was so anxious and entered in a bad mood, he only saw dark spots infront of him, he put the letter away, and shed some tears quietly, what a coincidence that she had dreamt of this, or is this a sign that he is really guilty?

He went to his room and got on his knee, and prayed for god to forgive him, then a few hours later he didn’t have appetite for lunch, so he put some food for Crystal, then headed to the church, that is near his house, he talked to the priest and confessed all what he had in mind, but the priest assured him that he wasn’t guilty, because he didn’t knew what will happen at that moment, she could have been up on the roof to have a moment of peace, then he gave him his blessings and asked god to bring peace into his heart and mind.

At 7:05 p.m. Peter was standing on his balcony with Crystal on his arms, he was meditating and surrounding himself with good vibes, and positive energy, the breeze was nice yet a little chilly, but when it got colder, he went inside.

He closed the balcony door, and brought some leftovers from the fridge, with a cup of water, he is rarely drinking water these days, so he needs to have a habit of drinking at least two bottles daily, it would be great for his body and his mind as well as his skin, he wants to look fresh when the lockdown is over.

At 11:34 p.m. he felt bored, tired, and wanted to have sufficient hours of sleep since he wakes up around 8:00 a.m., so he walked half asleep to his bed, but managed to checkup on everything.

**********************

Today is Thursday, Peter has set the alarm at 8:00 a.m., but it didn’t go off, so Peter woke up half an hour later, he didn’t have something important to do, but he wanted to keep that habit of waking up early, because he believed that the energy in the morning is something else, it’s the time of the day when the person feels alive just by waking up, and every chore or a normal thing he does then, he feels different, calmer and special, even work doesn’t feel like work in the morning, it feels like a fun activity.

He showered and got his breakfast ordered from a nice restaurant, it is a croissant with chocolate inside and a strawberry milkshake, they taste fantastic from there, just what anyone needs to be inspired and driven through the day.

Peter was wandering around the house, thinking of what achievement he is able to make during this lockdown, and what things he have to do towards his close ones, to maintain a healthy relationship, and don’t accidentally ignore them, or make them feel bad, for example; he must not forget to congratulate them on their birthdays, and he should always take a look on their status and stories, so he remains in touch with their lives, and his comment on them will strengthen their bond, and make excuses for them to talk, and express their feelings of appreciation to having one another in their lives.

Then he heard Crystal breaking something in the living room, he let out a sigh and headed towards her, she had broke a frame that had a picture of him and his friends in it, “good job Crystal”, he said in a frustrated tone, then put the frame in it’s place again but he had to remove the glass first because it wasn’t safe, and can’t be brought back together as it was before.

He went to the balcony after having lunch, and smoked a cigarette to let out his anger, he felt let down by that, it really upset him, because it’s bitter enough that he can’t see them, and can’t make memories with them for now, and memories are the most precious thing to him.

He went back inside, and held Crystal because he felt bad that he got mad, so he started petting her, and apologized to her, she is an innocent creature that never means to do harm, and she might be feeling worse than him, regarding that she is an animal that needs to take a walk in the open, and play with other cats too.

The door bell rung, followed by three fast knocks, so Peter walked towards it to see who he might be, he didn’t order anything, so it might be a neighbor that wants to ask about something.

He peeped through the peephole and saw a man who was turning his back in an opposite direction to the door, and who was wearing a long dark grey coat, and his hair had only covered the area around his head, except for three strands covering the top of his head. He was standing a bit far, Peter was still looking through the peephole without saying anything, or even opening the door, because he got weird vibes, then this man turned around, and smiled widely with teeth like fangs, and eyes that were wide opened, then he lowered his head till it becomes at the level of his shoulders, while he was still looking at the peephole then he run quickly to the left direction, away from the door without neither moving his gaze, nor moving his body, or his head towards the direction that he went to, he just moved in a horizontal motion.

Peter was shaken and shocked, he quickly checked that the door is well locked, then went to the window of the living room, he moved the curtains away and saw him, he was running across the street yet he was crippled, it was a disturbing view, why would he ran this fast, if he is crippled, then the man turned around, so Peter quickly closed the curtains, and stepped away from the window, after a few minutes he closed the window as well.

He was so anxious, he kept biting his lips and running his hands across his face, was he some creep?, a murderer?, or what?, and why he came to Peter’s door, why exactly him?, plus his expressions and his movements were surely disturbing, he knew that someone was looking into that peephole, so he was just aiming to spread fear in whoever was standing?, he must be such a psychopath to wait after he rung the bell, and to decides which stand, which movement, and which facial expressions would be assuring the one inside the house to have a good scare, and was that a wig, and did he put those fake teeth just for that?, to convince the other person in his ridiculous plays, or is that his true face, and that role is who he really is?

Peter drunk a whole bottle of water in half an hour, out of frighten, and stress, then he made himself a cup of warm milk with some cookies as well, and has slept early today.

*******************

This day is the mother’s day in the native country of Peter’s mother, so he woke up early, showered, made a smoothie of bananas and milk with honey, then sat down and dialed his mother’s number.

“Hello mother, how are you?”, Peter said while smiling like a little boy.

“I’m fine sweetheart, how about you, I’m worried”, she said back sounding sincere.

“No, mother I’m totally fine, no need to worry, I called you today because it’s mother’s day back in your home country, so happy mother’s day mother!”, he added.

“Thank you my child, hearing your voice is all I want”, his mother said.

“Yes mother, I know, I really miss you”, Peter said while wiping the tears that he shed without noticing.

“Oh Peter, my darling, I miss you very much, I can’t wait to see you, and hug you all day”, she said while sounding that she is also crying.

“Sure mother, one day, you will”, Peter said with his cracking voice, but trying as hard as he can not to sound like he is crying, because his mom won’t stop weeping then.

“Love, if you ever desired some kind of recipe, or anything at all, just tell me, I will send it to you right away”, she added with persistence in her voice.

“Okay mother, I will, hey mother I have to go now, okay?”, he said.

“Okay dear”, she said back.

“I love you mom!”, he added.

“I love you too my child”, she said.

“Goodbye, take care”, he said.

“Goodbye Peter, you too dear”, she said back, then hung up.

Peter couldn’t talk to his mother any longer, because he was going to burst into tears, her sweet and cozy voice just melted his heart, he haven’t seen his mother since half a year now, because of this pandemic, he didn’t want to expose her to any danger, he allowed himself to see her one time during all this, but then he imagined the scenario of her being infected and suffering, so he stepped on his heart, and took that decision for her sake, since he might be infected from work, or from the supermarket.

Each year, at this occasion he send her flowers, and a box of chocolate, then the whole family gather and celebrate with her, but this year obviously and unfortunately they can’t do that, but he already ordered a bouquet of flowers, with the box of chocolate and gave them her address, she will feel delighted and grateful, but she surely will feel bitter for not receiving them from her son, however she will feel his love and care that he always seeks to show to her.

Crystal came to Peter’s lap, he guessed that she definitely felt the sadness that was conquering his soul, but he felt much better with her company, then he played with her a bit, and made their breakfast, while she was watching in the kitchen beside him, and tried to put her hand in the bowl, but Peter did his best to keep her furry hands away.

At 2:33 p.m., Peter ordered pizza, and went to the mail box, where he found a recent letter, so he snatched it and went back inside, but he wasn’t going to open it before afternoon, when he would already had his lunch, and a some spare time, then make some tea and start reading.

After half an hour, the doorbell rung, he was going to open it, then stopped in the hallway, he started thinking about what had happened the other day, what he had seen through this peephole, so his heart started beating fast, then the doorbell rung again, he started getting anxious, and contemplated whether he should be brave and open the door, because the delivery guy would be gone in any second, or if he should chicken out and ignore it, even though if that was the delivery guy, because he wasn’t ready to look through the peephole again.

Then he thought it was silly, and walked towards the door, “who is it?”, he asked to reassure himself before looking through it, no one asked, he still didn’t find looking a good idea, so he asked again, “the delivery guy”, the other person answered, then Peter felt relieved and opened the door, but the guy was turning his back too, so he grabbed the door, so he become in control if there was a sort of danger, and closed the door half the way through, “who are you?”, he wondered in a loud voice, “I’m the delivery guy, sir!”, the guy answered after turning towards Peter while looking surprised with Peter’s tone, so it was really the delivery guy. Peter snatched the pizza from him and gave him the money, while looking embarrassed by the way he acted,

“it’s okay sir, we all are stressed out”, the delivery guy said, then Peter nodded and smiled politely.

After closing and locking the door, Peter sanitized the package and washed his hands, then grabbed some tuna for Crystal and filled his bowl with it, then sat in the living room, with his shameful face, and the pizza in his plate infront of him. He turned on the television to distract himself a little, but he couldn’t let go of his discomfort, and his anxiety, this can’t go on any further.

He was thinking whether the solution of his mental problem will be by hiring some security men to guard his house, or by having regular virtual appointments with a psychiatrist. Something needs to be done, he is fearing for his mental health, maybe he just need to relax, stay realistic and have logical and optimistic thoughts.

He watched the news on television, which he realized was an awful idea, because the country’ economy is weak, the medical technology is rusty, and all is just on the edge of the hill. Although, the news of the vaccine’s arrival seem promising, so all he could do is to hope for the better, and that god bless and protect his country.

It’s 5:22 p.m. now, he was making the tea while humming the beat of his favorite song, which is Arcade by Duncan Laurence, then muted the television, placed the cup of tea on the table, put on his glasses, and opened the letter.