A Cold Autumn Night

#2

My Friends

I have friends in my head. I’m sure everybody has them.

They can be good, they can be bad, or maybe even both. It also depends on how you handle them.

I have many friends in my head, but I can only introduce a few of them. I’ll be very glad to introduce them to whoever is reading this!

Joyce is one of my best friends. She was always there to make me smile, and remind me of the wonderful things that happened to me. She always tell me things like, “You can do it!” Or “Good job!”. She allows me to look at the positive side of things.

But sometimes, when I don’t handle Joyce well, sometimes people will call me selfish. When people play tricks on me that I don’t like, she will tell me to go along and smile, to not be mad at them. I don’t like that, so I will have to handle Joyce well.

Sam is another friend I have who lives in my head. I don’t quite like him, since he is quite the opposite of Joyce. He reminds me of the bad memories I had, like the time I was in a competition and lost, and I cry. He makes me cry. And I don’t like it. People will call me a ‘crybaby’.

But Sam can also be nice. Sometimes Sam will motivate me to do better, and because of that, I will be happy with the result.

Joyce and Sam work together from time to time. Sometimes they remind me of a memory which both sad and happy. Remember the memory I told you about that competition I lost? Well even though I was sad, Joyce told me that at least I had fun! Which looking back, I did have fun. Which makes me happy. Even though I was sad that I lost, I was happy that I had fun preparing for the competition.

I want to introduce one last friend: Fran

Fran is helpful sometimes. Sometimes my friends urge me to go on a scary roller coaster ride. But Fran tells me not to, as it is scary. I listen to her no matter what my friends say. In the end, my friends might come out crying or sick. Fran helps me avoid these situations from getting me into trouble.

Somethings though, when I listen to Fran, people will make fun of me, taunting me and calling me a ‘scaredy-cat’. I don’t like that. So I will tell Fran that I can do it. Though she might urge me to stop, I won’t listen to her and will face my fears. There may be good and bad outcomes, but at least I have the experience.

Well that’s all the friends I’m able to introduce you to. I would love to introduce the rest of my friends, but their not ready yet. For now, you will now know Sam, Joyce and Fran. Thanks for reading!

#11

Thanks Inky

I can’t breathe.

My chest hurts so much, I can barely hear the pen I dropped on the ground. I could hear my heart thump so loud in my ears…

It hurts.

Someone help. Help help help help help someone help.

Hundreds and millions of thoughts are screaming at me I can’t hear any of them.

I’m sweating.

I’m trembling.

My hands are shaking.

All I see are flashing colours.

. . . . . . . .

“Miao”

I blinked. The flashing colours slowly faded away.

The thoughts are suddenly quiet.

Two pairs of confused black eyes look at me, my hands shakily reach out and I run a hand through her soft fur.

Shakily exhaling, I hugged Inky as she snuggled her face into my stomach.

Something about her always…relaxed me.

My heart calmed.

Thanks Inky.

The End~

Photo courtesy of New York Times

Sneakers

           Timothy walked down the pathway of his neighborhood, which was on Kangaroo street. Colourful leaves littered the pathway and danced along with the wind. Timothy wore a black cardigan and a red scarf and blue pants. Typical autumn evening.

          “Garage sale! $20 for one sneaker!” Timothy’s friend, Nate, yelled out from across the street. He was holding a garage sell, again. He always held that every month, that sneaker-head. Timothy shook his head and headed towards his house. Nate spotted Timothy immediately and motioned him to come forward. He has eagle eyesight, I swear. Timothy grinned at that thought and pushed his way to Nate through the crowd. Nate then yelled, “Alright! Garage sale is closed! I repeat, garage sale is closed! Make your purchases now!”

          Soon, everyone had parted like waters and the streets were almost quiet. Rustling of leaves and the sound of the wind whistling were the only sounds to be heard. Only a few cars would pass by, breaking the almost peaceful silence. 

          “Quiet. Isn’t it?” Nate commented. “Yeah... It’s peaceful.” They sat at a nearby bench and watched colourful leaves fall ever so slowly, carried by the wind. It was so quiet, and that was how it was in autumn. Timothy closed his eyes and immersed himself in the almost-silence. I wish it would be this silent. Timothy thought, grinning slightly to himself.

Till Nate ruined it.

          “Alright. Quit the drama, you idiot. I wanna show you something cool.” He got up and started walking to his house. Timothy sighed, annoyed, but eventually followed, unwillingly.

          They entered the sneaker-head’s bedroom, which was full of the different kinds of sneakers you could ever imagine. Nate had shelves and shelves of sneakers, enough to open a small store of his own. He even had a small storeroom to keep extra sneakers he can’t wear anymore, which he then put up for the garage sell to sell them. “Wait here, I’m gonna get something.” He then disappeared into the storeroom. Timothy sat on the bed, and looked around the room. Nothing had changed, but he swear that he did not see the ‘10+ sneaker’, which was one of the many sneakers Nate adored the most. You grow out of em’ real fast. Timothy looked out of the window, apathetic.

          “Here they are! Thought that you might fit in these.” Nate rushed to Timothy, in his hand holding a pair of shiny sneakers. Blue edged the sole of the shoe and on every side of the shoe was a strange symbol. It had a two snakes coiled up, eyes closed like they were sleeping. It was in good condition and a really nice one. Timothy’s style. He tried them on, it fitted! “Nice shoes dude! Where did you get em’?” “Oh, some lady sold them to me, surprisingly cheep.” Timothy looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. Nate held up his hand and gestured to the shoe. “What? It’s good. And glow-in-the-dark!” ”Whatever. Thanks dude, how much?” “Nah. It’s for free!” Timothy jumped up from the bed. “Thanks a lot dude.” They shook hands and Timothy headed home.

          What Timothy didn’t know, was that these shoes were magical. An he’ll be take for a ride.

#7

Without Him

I hope you are okay.

I didn’t even notice I had paced from the front door to the couch for the umpteenth time. I took a deep breath and told myself to just sit down and relax. I walked over to the couch and plonked myself on the soft cushions. I closed my eyes.

But the next thing I knew I was biting on the pillow I squeezed like a teddy bear. I couldn’t help it. Sammy had been gone for a week, some may consider it short, but I really miss him. He always bring me such comfort and closure, love. He made all my fears go away. Without him even for a day, I feel like non-existent eyes were watching me through the few cracks in the walls. At night, when it’s dark I always had that irrational fear something would jump out from the dark and whisk me to somewhere horrifying.

I could barely eat and sleep without Sammy. I constantly texted and called him to check on him, it’s not like he can’t take care of himself, I’m just...a little paranoid. I can’t help thinking that something bad was going to happen to him anytime soon. The times when he didn’t respond to the texts I sent for 5 minutes already made me super worried. Everyday my mind just tortured me, hindering me of doing anything.

I felt so vulnerable alone. Every half and hour I would go around the house to check if the locks are still intact. I kept thinking I see something in the the corner of my eye and it really freaked me out. There was one day where I sat in bed for 2 hours straight, dazed, unable to move. Every day waking up without Sammy felt like hell.

That night I lay in bed, waiting in anticipation for tomorrow. The empty space beside me felt... well... empty. But Sammy will come back, tomorrow. I tossed and turned, unable to find a comfortable sleeping position to drift off.

Sammy is going to be okay. I reassured myself over and over again.

Ding! My phone received a message. “I’m on the plane! Don’t worry! I’m fine!” I smiled. The empty space beside space didn’t feel so empty anymore.

#5

An Unusual Emergency Call

I had been working as a police officer for quite long. One of my jobs was to respond to the emergency calls. I would respond to the call, and send help where necessary. Everything had been going quite smoothly. But I still do remember one very unusual emergency call.

As usual I picked up the phone.

Me: 999, what’s your emergency?

Unexpectedly a little girl’s voice responded on the other side of the phone.

Caller: H-Hi. Um, my mummy collapsed. And she’s not waking up.

Me: Your mom collapsed! Is she breathing?

Caller: I’m gonna check.... She is breathing. She is breathing! When are you going to come?

Smart kid. I thought.

Me: Help is on the way, don’t worry! Could you tell me where you live.

Caller: I-I don’t know...

Oh no... what was I going to do... no location at all. Then I remembered that this was a really small town so I asked:

Me: Sweetie, could you please go outside for me? There should be a sign there showing your street. Could you please tell us the street and describe your house?

I didn’t quite hear much but I now knew she was on Queen’s Street, and she had a wind chime on the front door. Thank god. I hope I could locate the right house.

Me: Thank you! We are very near it’ll only take us about 3 minutes. What’s your name dear? How old are you?

Madison: Madison. I’m 6 years old. Is mummy gonna be okay?

Me: Okay Madison. Your mummy is gonna be just fine be calm my dear. Help is on the way! What’s your mummy’s name? What happened to her?

Madison: I-I don’t know what happened. Just heard a loud sound. And then I saw her on the floor sleeping with some blood on her head.

Me: Your mummy is going to be just fine. What’s your mummy’s name Madison?

Madison: Um.. Mika.

Me: Okay. You are taking care of mummy right? When you hear the police sirens please tell me okay Madison dear?

Madison: O-okay. Oh! I hear sirens!

Just like that, the line went dead. All heard was the beeping of the phone. I thought since she said the police arrived, I assumed that they would be fine, I hoped.

The next day, the news about Mika was shown on television. Thank god she was okay. But I never got to see Madison. I asked my friend about it. She was confused. She said, “There was no little girl in the house, we only saw Mika.” I told her, surprised, that the person who picked up the phone was a 6 year old girl named Madison. My friend suggested we go visit Mika, see if she was able to tell us anything about Madison. I told her maybe it was just her neighbour. My friend raised her eyebrow. I sighed.

My friend and I visited Mika in the hospital. After some small talk to make Mika comfortable. My friend went straight to the point. “Mika, do you have a daughter name Madison?” Mika froze at that question. She smiled sadly. “Yes I do have a daughter. Madison died at the age of six. I miss her so, so much.” Wait what. “But Mika, I just heard your daughter call for help when you were unconscious.”

Mika smiled even more. “Madison may have passed away. But she will always be there to protect me, like my own little guardian angel.”

End~

Photo courtesy of New York Times

Hope

                   I met Hope in the rescue center for dogs. He was placed in a cage between two well groomed and beautiful dogs. He was very different from them. When I first saw him, I was shocked! He barely had any hair and he was skinny to the bone. While other dogs pressed their pretty faces onto their cage doors. He sat in a corner, away from the light. So I had to take a second look at the cage.

         When I first looked at him, I felt pity. I thought that the reason he stayed at a corner is that he had no hope on people adopting him. That was why I adopted him. And that was why I named him ‘Hope’.

         Hope was skeptical of me at first. He avoided me for the first few days. But I gave him space and time. Slowly, he warmed up to me after a week. He started to sit on my lap and lick my face. I gave him the adequate amount of food he needed, and if he wanted more I would give him. He was a sweet dog overall. But more time passed, and his hair or size didn’t seem to grow. The veterinarian said that it was harmless and he would be fine.

         Hope was a sweet dog. On bad days, he would snuggle at my neck and lick my tears away. On rare days, where I wanted to be alone in my room, Hope would wait outside the door till I got better. He was a patient dog and would be there to help me when I got hurt. Like a time where I fell and broke my leg and couldn’t move. Fortunately, Hope was there. Even for his small size, he managed to bark loudly enough to get my neighbor’s attention to get help. So I consider him my savior and comforter.

         Most of my friends favored him despite his appearance. Of course some still despised him. But still, I hosted a party at my house and sent invitations to all my friends. I smiled after I sent the last invite. This is going to change on how some would view my dear Hope. I then started getting ready for the party.

         When my friends arrived, I could tell by their faces that I’d succeeded. I had placed paper moon and stars all around the living room. The walls were covered with wallpaper that were black and starry. Like a night sky or space. There, sitting at a table, was Hope wearing a small but majestic cape, sitting behind a sparkling crescent with the words: There is hope in every living creature.  I then turned to my gawking visitors and calmly said, “I don’t think I got into the origin on why I named Hope, ‘Hope’. He looked so helpless at the center. Like many people had rejected and made fun of him. I gave him hope when he had none left. I gave him food and shelter and love. And hope.” I took a deep breath. “Give him a chance. He may not be beautiful. But he needs love and hope. So give him a chance. Hope.”

         My friends all stared at me with tear-filled eyes...

#1

Family of four

“Ugh, your taste in hotels is garbage.” Ugh, this woman. “ DADDY, I’M HUNGRY!” “MOMMY WHERE ARE WE!?”

You could just feel the love radiating out of Edward’s family. Edward’s family consisted of Edward, his wife Peppy, 8 year old Peter and 6 year old Cassandra. Peppy had the idea of going on a family overseas trip. Harmless, right?

The family was chaos. Peter and Cassandra were restless throughout the plane ride and the journey to the hotel. It wasn’t a good time for the family. As if things couldn’t get any worse, Peppy complained about the design of the hotel, criticising Edward’s taste in hotels, even though it was Peppy who chose the hotel. While Edward was trying his best not to loose his patience, the family of four went up to the front desk.

“Edward Orsion and Peppy Orsion?” The tired-looking front desk person, whose name tag said Bob, asked in the most mundane voice. Edward nodded. Bob searched around in his desk drawer, and froze suddenly. Peppy tapped her foot impatiently. Knowing Edward will never hear the end of Peppy’s complaining, he leaned forward and politely questioned, “Sir? Is there something wrong?” At the sound of his voice, Bob snapped back from his stupor. He sheepishly grinned and said, with finally some emotion in his voice, “Sorry sir, my mind just drifted off a little.” Peppy scoffed. Bob handed Edward the keys and said, “Room 4, on the second floor.” Edward grabbed his suitcases and dragged his kids and wife towards the old lift.

Room 4 was beautiful. In Edward’s eyes anyway. The only thing that captured Peppy’s eyes was a painting of a beautiful family of four. A male and a female holding hands, with two beautiful children by their side, a boy and a girl. “That family is so perfect. Why can’t we be like them. Why can’t you be like the....” Edward tuned out of his wife’s rant. He walked around the room. A living room, a small kitchen and two small bedrooms, with even smaller toilets in each bedroom. It was pretty decent to Edward. Cassandra and Peter were on the tattered sofa switching between channels on the television to find something entertaining to watch. Edward sighed. He just hoped that the next day would be better.

Edward woke up, surprisingly later than the rest of the family. He washed up and went to the kitchen for breakfast. Peppy was drinking some coffee, while the kids drank milk with two packets of chocolate beans beside their mugs. Wait, I don’t remember bringing any chocolate beans. He questioned Peppy about it and she said, “That front desk guy gave us some chocolate beans, and I figured the kids would like it.” Edward thought nothing of it and continued the day.

The city tour later that day was a disaster. Cassandra and Peter were really nauseous and sick. They kept vomiting and complained about headaches. Eventually the disastrous day finally came to an end. Edward tucked the children in bed, but they took a very long time to fall asleep, causing Edward to stay up coaxing them to sleep. He was exhausted. On the way to his bedroom he passed by the living room. The picture of the family of four caught his eye, it looked different. Terrifyingly different. The four members began to show some signs of...decomposition. It was frighteningly real. Too real. Edward shook his head in disbelief and horror. Refusing to believe what he just saw and concluded that it’s the cause of his lack of sleep, he rushed to his bedroom to sleep.

“EDWARD!!! THE KIDS WON’T WAKE UP!” Edward snapped awake at Peppy’s cries. He jumped out of bed and stumbled towards the kids’ bedroom. Sure enough, the kids lay in bed, motionless. Peppy knelt beside the bed trying to shake them awake. Their eyes won’t budge. Edward stayed calm and walked towards Peppy. He shook the kids, coaxing them to wake up, like how he would have done if they try to feign sleep. They wouldn’t wake up. Edward was unsettled by this. Then suddenly, he was reminded of the picture he saw the night before. He gulped. No, it can’t be. He epresvhed out two fingers and placed them on both children’s necks.

No heartbeat.

Edward slumped onto the bed, silently crying.

“Their dead Peppy. Their dead...” “Now’s not the time to make jokes idiot!” All the same Edward could feel Peppy lean forward. Then he heard her wailing. Everything clicked though. It had to be that darn chocolate beans. It was the first thing Cassandra and Peter ate before they started showing symptoms.

And it was all caused by Bob.

Edward gritted his teeth. He stood up and grabbed blankets, laying them on the children. He then grabbed Peppy’s hand, helped her stand and both of them rushed to the front desk to confront Bob.

Down at the front desk, Bob stood there as he suddenly heard a woman’s wail. He smiled. That was fast. He smiled. He took out a photo from his desk drawer. It was a family of four. Bob, hand in hand with his wife, with his children by his side, a boy and a girl. He had a flashback to the dreadful car accident. His smile faded.

Suddenly he heard the lift coming. Bob smiled again. He gathered two knives and got ready.

End~

#10

Stupid

ALYSSA smiles sadly with downcast eyes.

Alyssa: Stupid. You’re so stupid

Points to head.

Alyssa: You think bandages can fix this wound? No. Of course not. Are you that naive? Or do you think I’m just that dumb?

ALYSSA throws her head back and starts laughing.

Alyssa: (Mocking sweet voice) Omg yesss let’s be besties, I soooo forgive you ahahaha. (Returns to normal voice) (frowns) Seriously? Stop wasting your time on me, idiot. Haven’t you learnt that?! Stop leeching off me. Go away.

ALYSSA turns away and sits on the floor, clutching her knees to her chest.

Alyssa: What do you want? Could you just leave me alone. You’ve done enough damage… (sniffs)

After a while of tense silence, ALYSSA gets up and turns around. Her expression has changed to anger.

Alyssa: (sneers) WHAT DO YOU WANT SO BAD, HUH?! YOU’RE JUST GONNA COME BACK, TRY TO MAKE ME YOUR LITTLE TOY AGAIN! WATCH ME SUFFER AND CRY. I HAVE KNOWN BETTER, DON’T EXPECT ME TO FORGIVE YOU WHEN YOU COME PATHETICALLY CRAWLING BACK TO ME.

ALYSSA is out of breath. She calms down, and turns around. After a while, she turns her head to the side and looks down.

Alyssa: I can never forgive you. I’m not going to sympathise with you ever. I’m better now, but I shouldn’t have been friends with you ever. Find someone else to give you a second chance. But...

ALYSSA looks back in front of her.

Alyssa: You don’t deserve one.

ALYSSA walks away.

End~

Photo courtesy of New York Times

Moving

          “Isn’t it boring here, Noah?” Elijah complained.

          “Patience Elijah. Soon enough, a huge wind is going to blow us away from here.” Noah reassured him for the umpteenth time with an exasperated sigh.

          Both Elijah and Noah had been in Antarctica for many years, standing in the great vast of water, only moving a little by the winds that could have knocked any human down. Due to their great size, they haven’t been moving a lot recently. Elijah had been very impatient. He was just a bit smaller than Noah, he really wanted to explore the world.

But the winds weren’t cooperating.

          “Seriously Elijah? It’s better here. We can survive here before those dreaded humans come and destroy us.” Peppy piped up indignantly. She was the smallest ice berg there was. She was always annoyed with Elijah, for all he kept talking about was to explore the world and complain how boring Antarctica was.

          “I don’t think all humans are that bad! And I hate all the boring white here...” Elijah continued on and on and on. Peppy and Noah sighed in defeat.

          One day, Elijah and Noah were just chatting about their day. It was one of those rare days where Elijah wasn’t complaining the ice off about how boring Antarctica was.

That was when the howling started.

          It wasn’t audible at first, the wind wasn’t too strong, nor was the water current. But slowly, is started picking up faster and faster. It was like a blizzard, Noah and Elijah could barely see anything. Then they started moving little by little. They saw Peppy speeding past them, screaming as she went. Elijah and Noah started moving faster and faster. It was the biggest storm they ever had.

Then all light had disappeared.

          “Elijah! Wake up! Look where we have arrived!” Elijah groaned and woke up to bright light and warmth. It was really unlike Antarctica. Elijah gasped upon finding out where they were.

          They were floating in warmer waters next to colourful land! Well, not really colourful, but it wasn’t white! At last! Something other than blue and white! Elijah stared in awe. A red house stood further away, and another white house peeked from behind. What humans called ‘cars’ were standing around on the land. Human were looking at us and talking muffled words. “I think they’re talking about us!!” Elijah exclaimed excitedly. Noah didn’t say anything.

          They floated in the warm waters, not moving. Soon, night came and all the human went home. Elijah and Noah stood floating in the waters all alone. “Hey Elijah, I think I’m starting to melt...” Elijah looked over in a panic just in time to see a small chunk of ice falling down from Noah. It dropped own and splashed loudly in the sea.

Both looked at each other in horror.

#4

My Happy Balloon

Throughout my childhood, I always held my Happy Balloon. Sometimes it deflated just a bit, but it always expanded after a day or so. It floated with me the whole way.

When I was a teenager, things got a little bit rough with my Happy Balloon. They were people who would try to pop it by stepping on it. It was a bit dirty, and sometimes it would deflate for a long, long time due to some holes in it. But Cassie would come. She would pick up my Happy Balloon, and put plasters on the holes, my Happy Balloon would then return to normal again, smiling. It was all thanks to my dear friend Cassie.

Then I went to college. Cassie and I went to the same school. One day we saw some people messing up someone else’s Happy Balloon. Cassie and I quickly ran to get help. When the people went away, Cassie and I went and fixed up the person’s Happy Balloon. It was as good as new. The person thanked us and introduced herself as “Lessie”. Lessie, Cassie and I became very good friends! Or so I thought.

Cassie, Lessie and I helped each other, we were best of friends, ready to protect one another. But soon, I noticed Cassie and Lessie started to drift away from me. I felt my Happy Balloon start to deflate little by little, day by day. Then finally, they popped it. Without my Happy Balloon by my side, I felt sad. I had no more friends, and no Happy Balloon.

I was now working at a convenience store as a job. One day, the new guy came up to me. He had a Happy Balloon by his side, it reminded me of when I had my own Happy Balloon. He came up to me and told me his name: Jonathan. Jonathan asked if we could be friends. I was skeptical about it, but I accepted it.

I expected Jonathan to be like Cassie and Lessie. Drift away from me after a while. It’s been 3 months. He hadn’t drift off yet. He had been so kind to me, he had protected me. He even gave me a Happy Balloon. It’s been forever since I had my Happy Balloon! We were best of friends.

It’s been 2 years. Jonathan still hadn’t drift off yet. Neither did I. We had ups and downs, but nothing deflated our Happy Balloons. Nothing at all. Not even when Jonathan finally told me about his medical condition.

He had cancer. Something that cannot be cured. He had this for 3 years. He didn’t want to tell me as he thought it would deflate my Happy Balloon. I cried of course, I was a little bit mad at him for not telling me about it, but not for very long. It didn’t deflate my Happy Balloon one bit. I wanted to make his last few months with me the best months in in entire life. We went everywhere, to the places we always wanted to go, took pictures, memories.

Before he died, we went to our hangout. The swing under the apple tree on Silent hill. We looked at the beautiful scenery. It was so peaceful. Then Jonathan told me, “Promise me, that even if I am gone, you would hold on to your Happy Balloon. Remember that I’ll be up there, looking after you.” I cried and hugged him for a very long time.

I kept my promise. I visited his grave, holding onto my Happy Balloon that Jonathan gave me. When I saw Jonathan’s Happy Balloon floating next to his headstone, I cried, I knew he was at peace now. His death didn’t pop my Happy Balloon. And it will float by my side even after death.

End~