It's Too Late Now || Short Story

#2 The parcel

After receiving like twelve calls since morning, I feel totally worn out right now. My life was seeping out of me as I kept staring at the spreadsheet on my computer screen.

I could hear two of my colleagues arguing over something unimportant beside my cabin and the noise of it was simply adding up to my annoyance.

Do they need to be taught now how to behave in a public place? Seriously!

I sighed and continued looking at the sheets on my table and then at the screen.

I tried to think of something better to lessen my stress. Today is Friday, which meant I will get two days to relax after today. The mere thought of it was alone enough to make me feel better, but as I was enjoying being in my thought about the weekend, the phone rang.

This time, not the office phone. My phone.

I huffed and received it absentmindedly, without even bothering to look who it was.

"Hello?" I asked.

The voice on the other side was familiar to me but I don't seem to remember who. "Hello, Mr. Wilson?" The voice asks as if he had called me without even knowing whose number it might be.

"Yes?" I stopped typing to focus on the call.

"Ah, yes. Um...," a pause, "actually there is a parcel for you. I came to your residence but you are not here so... where do I leave it?"

A parcel? For me?

Weird!

I rarely get any nowadays. To be honest, I get none, except for my salary of course and that too just monthly.

Who could it be anyway?

"Hello?" The voice speaks again. I realized that I hadn't answered him yet.

"Oh yeah. You can keep it outside my doorsteps. I will be home in 2 hours or so. So, I will get it." I said, realizing instantly how irresponsible that sounded. But there are very few people in my locality so thefts are even the rarest.

"Uh, fine. But I needed someone's signature for the proof that the parcel has been received."

I sighed. That's the problem. Who would sign it for me?

"Um, is it possible for you to come again in the evening?"

"Okay. Then I will bring the parcel then." He says but I cut him, "No, No! Keep the parcel! I meant... just come for the signing thing."

"Just for the sign?" The man asked and after some time, says, "ah, alright! I will come around 6."

I will reach home by 5 so it's fine. "Yeah. Okay... Thanks!" And I hung up.

After keeping the phone on the desk, I looked up and was startled to see Rick leaning on the cabin wall and staring at me. Rick was my boss. And his look was questioning me. So I said, "I had a parcel at home. The delivery boy called for the sign and-"

"Hmm, it's fine. But are you done with it?" He asked, gesturing at the sheets before me, scattered like a hurricane just passed by.

"Almost. Just a page and a half left, I guess," I answered nervously, instantly getting back to work.

"Good. If you're done early, you can go home then," he says smiling slightly. My face lit up and I looked up at him. His smile was rare so if he was showing me one, it meant he was in a good mood today. A really good mood. I wonder why.

He walked away and I returned to my work.

In an hour, I was done, and going home one hour earlier was too much happiness for me to handle. I greeted Rick goodbye after submitting the files and sending him the spreadsheets through email and waved at others before exiting that place.

As I walked to the bus stop, I wondered if I should buy a hot chocolate on my way. It's chilly out here and having something warm would definitely be the best. And also it's been a while since I had it.

But I debated against it, as I has a lonely parcel left outside my door, too vulnerable to be stolen.

The bus didn't arrive of course. I was early today. So I booked a cab online and in 10 minutes, it was here.

After getting into the cab, I again informed my address to the driver to which he gave me a weird look as if to say 'you think me that dumb, huh?'

I took out my phone to check my notifications since I had started a ritual of switching off my phone at night to sleep properly. Though there aren't many people who message me either.

Just mom, dad, my brother- Derek, and my best friend- Karen.

Pretty few, right? I know.

And also a few of my colleagues sometimes- though just for work, you know.

But right now, to my surprise, I had many messages from a person. Is it really her?

I had even forgotten that I had her number saved, until now...

Caroline's.