I am living in an alternative reality. I am a captive in a dark alley. They passed by, like bees waiting to sting. I could hear their buzzing. But how would I know which one would strike? Nobody knew. They had no pattern.
I crouched closer to the wall, hugging the shadows. Dawn was breaking; then they would come for me, unless I ran. I looked down at my feet. When was the last time I ran? I biked faster than I ran. Heck, I could fall asleep faster. No, I had to think of something else. If only…
It feels like eons ago, but it was only yesterday. Or is time playing tricks with me in this parallel universe? I told him, “Please don’t put my bike like that, it has fallen once.” As always, he ignored me. “Imagine your mother’s voice instead of mine.” That would get his attention. Nada. And so it fell. None of us heard or felt it. We kept driving into the depths of darkness, the other two bikes intact. I was furious. But what good would that do? I tried to imagine its fate. I hope it didn’t cause an accident; it was too dark for the cars whizzing by.
I shook myself out of those thoughts. And then the world changed. We couldn’t go out without fear, a constant companion. I see friends return to civilization, one by one. I stay put, waiting for signs. My tribe is dwindling. I feel disoriented, like I am in the wrong place, we all are. Now here I am, lurking in the dark. Waiting, watching. It will come, slithering in the cold and swallow us whole.
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