Twilight,
I lived in a relatively quiet neighbourhood so I didn't meet a lot of people on my way. I did see Mrs. Grayson watering her peonies though and Mr. Stevenson as he returned from work. I also saw young Nathan as he took out the trash, mumbling about interfering mothers. I smiled and waved and kept on my way. The sun was setting and it was such a beautiful sight, it made me wish I'd brought my camera along.
I turned into another street. The street lights were coming on and pets were being let out for the night. One of the pets being let out was a cat. I didn't know the breed types but this looked like a Persian. I thought to stop and pet it but my legs seemed to have a mind of their own. They kept moving forward. Dismissively, I thought to myself that perhaps it was time I got myself a cat.
Soon I made a turn. This street wasn't as brightly lit as the one I had walked by. There was actually only one street light on, and it was flickering. The bulb had obviously seen better days. And somehow night had instantly fallen, shrouding me in darkness. Gone was the beautiful sunset I had been casually admiring and in its place was a moonless, starless night. I could barely see where I was going but like before my feet continued to move forward. Cautiously and slowly but forward nonetheless.
A bark startled me. I turned to see this beast of a dog running towards me. It had huge green eyes and fangs the size of tusks. I felt fear wrap its icy hands around me and I stopped. I couldn't for the life of me run for cover. I was trapped by fear, frozen. Then suddenly as if reaching the end of its chain, the dog was yanked back at the neck and it stopped. Now immobile, it stood just two feet from me howling and growling and still within fear's grip, I remained standing there unmoving.
I do not know for how long I remained there. It felt like years, but it very much could have been only minutes. I realised that up until this point I had had a relatively sheltered life. I knew bloodhounds existed of course but I had never come face to face with one. I had never been so close to dying too. Faced with my mortality and the ease of it all, I felt down for my left foot. It was still there. Lax and atrophied but still there. I tried to move it, it wouldn't bulge. It was like the ground beneath my feet on hearing my resolve had turned to quicksand, keeping me prisoner. I yanked harder and freed my left leg. I did the same with the right one. Then the left again.. And just like that with one foot in from of the other, I was moving again.
This time I didn't take as much time admiring my surroundings for I had turned another corner. I focused more on watching my feet and making sure that I didn't stumble and that I didn't fall.
The further I walked the more I could feel something nagging at me. Soon I realised what it was. It was déjà vu. I had been here before. As soon as I figured that out, the buildings began to appear as if drawn before me by an unseen hand. The houses were all identical. White picket fences, green doors. All that distinguished one house from the next was the number on each door. I kept on walking.
79, 80, 81... My pulse quickened... 82, 83 .. And right there where there should have been an identical white fence and green doored house was a black door with note taped to it. The note said, "Taking a walk, back in a bit!"
Juicy Raindrops! ♡
Full circle
I stepped out on my front porch and stretched my arms. The sun was shinning, the birds were singing.. It was a good day for a walk. I pulled my front door and stuck a note on it. With that, I was on my way.
I lived in a relatively quiet neighbourhood so I didn't meet a lot of people on my way. I did see Mrs. Grayson watering her peonies though and Mr. Stevenson as he returned from work. I also saw young Nathan as he took out the trash, mumbling about interfering mothers. I smiled and waved and kept on my way. The sun was setting and it was such a beautiful sight, it made me wish I'd brought my camera along.
I turned into another street. The street lights were coming on and pets were being let out for the night. One of the pets being let out was a cat. I didn't know the breed types but this looked like a Persian. I thought to stop and pet it but my legs seemed to have a mind of their own. They kept moving forward. Dismissively, I thought to myself that perhaps it was time I got myself a cat.
Soon I made a turn. This street wasn't as brightly lit as the one I had walked by. There was actually only one street light on, and it was flickering. The bulb had obviously seen better days. And somehow night had instantly fallen, shrouding me in darkness. Gone was the beautiful sunset I had been casually admiring and in its place was a moonless, starless night. I could barely see where I was going but like before my feet continued to move forward. Cautiously and slowly but forward nonetheless.
A bark startled me. I turned to see this beast of a dog running towards me. It had huge green eyes and fangs the size of tusks. I felt fear wrap its icy hands around me and I stopped. I couldn't for the life of me run for cover. I was trapped by fear, frozen. Then suddenly as if reaching the end of its chain, the dog was yanked back at the neck and it stopped. Now immobile, it stood just two feet from me howling and growling and still within fear's grip, I remained standing there unmoving.
I do not know for how long I remained there. It felt like years, but it very much could have been only minutes. I realised that up until this point I had had a relatively sheltered life. I knew bloodhounds existed of course but I had never come face to face with one. I had never been so close to dying too. Faced with my mortality and the ease of it all, I felt down for my left foot. It was still there. Lax and atrophied but still there. I tried to move it, it wouldn't bulge. It was like the ground beneath my feet on hearing my resolve had turned to quicksand, keeping me prisoner. I yanked harder and freed my left leg. I did the same with the right one. Then the left again.. And just like that with one foot in from of the other, I was moving again.
This time I didn't take as much time admiring my surroundings for I had turned another corner. I focused more on watching my feet and making sure that I didn't stumble and that I didn't fall.
The further I walked the more I could feel something nagging at me. Soon I realised what it was. It was déjà vu. I had been here before. As soon as I figured that out, the buildings began to appear as if drawn before me by an unseen hand. The houses were all identical. White picket fences, green doors. All that distinguished one house from the next was the number on each door. I kept on walking.
79, 80, 81... My pulse quickened... 82, 83 .. And right there where there should have been an identical white fence and green doored house was a black door with note taped to it. The note said, "Taking a walk, back in a bit!"
Juicy Raindrops! ♡
