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redsforever · 4 years ago

Text

Keys

It was late December in the town across the hills. Christmas decorations had already lighted up the central market and people could be seen buying gifts and bargaining with the shopkeepers. Sam had been living in this same town since the past 24 years. From racing up to school with her friends to first kiss behind the tunnel, all the memories of her past were still afresh while she walked down the same road to go to the library. As she searched for the latest addition of her favorite magazine, she heard a familiar voice. It was her old friend from school who had moved to a big city in order to pursue his music career. She overheard her old friend talking to the librarian about how he was feeling homesick and decided to come back for holidays. Sam turned around to take a look at him, same old charming smile and same hand gestures yet the dressing style seemed very different. She took a step forward to greet him but he quickly said goodbye to the librarian and rushed towards the door carrying his books. “Might be in a hurry”, she said to herself. She went through the magazine section only to find that the new edition hadn’t arrived yet. A little bumped, she got out of the library while thinking about the dress she was going to wear for the upcoming Christmas party at her best friend’s house. She was really excited for that, mostly because her longtime crush was going to show up. She recalled bumping into him last Thursday at the gas station but couldn’t talk much because she and her mom were already running late for a family function.

She was opening the front gate to enter her house when she heard police sirens. She had read about it in the newspapers, a 38 years old man was found dead on the highway connecting town to the capital city. “How unfortunate, I hope they catch the killer”, she murmured to herself and rushed inside as she saw the policemen approaching her house. Even if one is innocent and hasn’t committed a crime, Police sirens and jerseys produce a strange anxiety and stress. She opened the door with her keys and saw her dad in his study room, reading the book she had gifted him on his birthday. She was about to ask him if he’s enjoying the book but the doorbell rang and he went to open the door. She stood beside him as one officer talked to her dad. They had come to inquire him about the dead man. They were talking about the progress in investigation and how they suspect the killer to be living in their block. She was horrified with the thought of a killer being so close. “Sam”, her mom called her out from her room. She went to her room and looked at her mom who was staring at the sky from her window. Her mom turned around and asked about the policemen in her house. She was usually a cheerful woman but now her somber expressions were strange for Sam. She didn’t try to overthink and went in her room to work on the song she had written.

The evening turned into night and she looked out of the window to see her beautiful town, festive lights, honking cars, chatter of children going back to their houses and the giant mountains surrounding the area. Suddenly she heard police sirens again at her front gate and ran towards the door. Her dad opened the door and the officer informed him that Sam and her mother were prime suspects in that murder case. Her heartbeat increased and she could feel a throbbing headache. She ran towards her mom in hysteria and shouted, “Mom, police is here to get us, they think that we have somehow killed that man”, she started running around while crying. Her mom said nothing while Sam tried to collect important things in order to escape. “If they have arrived with so many cops, they’re probably going to arrest us and won’t listen to our explanation, but why do we even need to explain anything? We haven’t done anything”, she started shuffling through her purse and burst into tears. Her mom tried to get a hold of her and says “Sam, you got to sit down and listen to me”, “We don’t have time for that. We have to get in the car from the backdoor but what if they have positioned some cops there as well? What are we going to do mom?” cried Sam. “Sam we are dead already.” Shouted her mom. Sam looked puzzled. “We couldn’t make it to your uncle’s anniversary, our car crashed on the highway and we both died there.” She could hear her mom explaining the events but wasn’t able to comprehend anything. A high pitched ringing noise started entering her right ear and in that moment she recalled how a drunk man came in front of their car and her mom lost the balance. She could now understand the pattern. How lately she wasn’t feeling hungry, how the gardener didn’t wave back to her last Sunday or why her old friend at the library didn’t notice her. She hugged her mom and screamed,” I didn’t want to die, this isn’t fair.” Her mom tried to console her. It took days for Sam to realize that her existence was only limited to her mom. She’s now a ghost, a dream ,a walking past who could go to town’s same old central market and scream at the sky only to get unnoticed by the people around her. Her mom knew that it’ll take some time for her to accept the reality which she was no longer a part of.

“To Sam”, shouted everyone raising their glasses for the toast. “I remember how excited she was for this party”, said Hazel while holding back her tears. “When I reached at the airport, for a brief moment I forgot about everything and started cursing her for being late again.” , said Neil. “I am pretty sure she’s still here, listening to our talks and probably preparing a comeback”, chuckled Titus while stirring her glass of wine. As everyone stood up to take a group photo, Sam took her usual position and posed for the camera. She stared blank at the Polaroid which couldn’t capture her. Neil turned on her favorite song. Some started singing along and some slow danced to the song. Sam sat beside the Christmas tree, smiling and gazing at her favorite people while a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Sam it’s time to wake up, we are already late for the function”, shouted Sam’s mom from her room holding the car keys.

#dream #story

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