A Gentle Disease (Joel Hokka)

(5) Strange Birds

Sonja

It was Monday and I decided to call out from work. I knew that the Blind Channel boys would be hanging around, also I had spent all weekend crying and I continued working on my victimology paper.

Then I decided to get to cleaning the house, dusting and stuff taking care of stuff. I sighed, while my black hair was piled in a bun. I rushed around taking care of other shit.

I got a text from Aleksi asking me where I was. I didn't tell him and I just told him that I called out sick from work. I decided to take a walk outside.

I rushed toward my closet and throw on a pair of black leggings with a baggy hoodie with my favorite Christian Louboutin combat boots with a burgundy beanie. My trusty headphones around my neck along with my phone.

The crisp Oulu air felt good, I was listening to Call Me When You're Sober  by Evanescence. I found myself singing along lowly.

"Don't cry to me, if you loved me
You would be here with me
You want me, come find me
Make up your mind

Should I let you fall, lose it all
So maybe you can remember yourself?
Can't keep believing
We're only deceiving ourselves
And I'm sick of the lie
And you're too late

Don't cry to me, if you loved me
You would be here with me
You want me, come find me
Make up your mind
Couldn't take the blame, sick with shame
Must be exhausting to lose your own game, selfishly hated
No wonder you're jaded
You can't play the victim this time
And you're too late

The autumn leaves were crunching under my feet, I found a bench and pulled off my rucksack and pulled out a book to read. I was reading 1984 by George Orwell, I was so zoned out in my read, I sat with a pen and highlighter. I sighed, my mind always went back to Joel.

Joel

I decided to go and see if Sonja was in the record store today but I didn't see her. Instead her red haired boss Patrick.

"Uh excuse me do you know where Sonja is?" I asked him and Patrick sighs.

"Sonja is taking a personal day off." Patrick says and I nodded, I head toward the recording studio feeling defeated.

I think she was avoiding me because I was with another person. God there was something about her. Her eyes drove me wild and those intense gazes she would give a person. Although her eyes held a lot of despair, she had a really good vibe.

I had also listened to the band that she reccomended, I remember her eyes light up at the way she spoke of Dissection. And I fucked it up, I knew she didn't trust me.

I went in and recorded my vocal parts. It was Aleksi and I, I decided to speak with him.

"Aleksi do you know why Sonja left so suddenly?" I asked my black haired friend.

"I think she told me that she was just tired. She has been working hard with her physical therapist Joe." Aleksi says. Wait what! A physical therapist.

"What do you mean?" I asked my black haired friend and he explained like what the meaning of physical therapy was.

"Oh really?" I said, more intrigued while Aleksi and I edited my vocal parts and nodded.