I'm still in the living room. In the exact same spot I was a couple of hours, doing the exact same thing I was doing - chatting with Perry about anything that came into our heads. For some reason we just keep finding things to talk about and when our mouths were getting tired from talking too much we found some crappy online games and played them. It's harder than it looks given that Adobe doesn't support flash player - a software that allows one to play games online. We still managed to find some off-brand versions of online board games, from checkers (because Perry doesn't know how to play chess) to Guess Who. Now we somehow stumbled upon this website with this game where you had to match a person's mugshot with the crime they'd committed.
"It was a woman?" I said, feeling flabbergasted.
"Apparently," Perry countered.
"Why would she do that?" I questioned. "What kind of woman abuses their own family?"
"You don't know the full story, maybe she was protecting herself from her husband or wife."
"Then shouldn't she just report this to the police or maybe do something rational?"
"I don't know Fredrik."
"Well the woman does look smug compared to the men."
"Hmm..."
"Hope she never gets parole," I grumbled, staring at the woman's picture.
"You were just questioning her actions moments ago?" Perry reminded me. "Now you... Nevermind. You do you." She started to rub her eyes. "My eyes are killing me. It's like they're about to pop out of my sockets."
"That can happen if you spend too much time online," I uttered as Perry continued to rub her eyes. "Perhaps we should look away from the screen and close our eyes for a bit."
Perry snorted in agreement. "I'll lay down whilst doing it."
Once Perry's face disappeared from the screen, I adjusted my position on the couch before closing both my eyes.
"Are you there?" Perry asked.
"Yep," I answered curtly. "Are your eyes closed?"
"Um-hum."
"Now what?"
"You tell me. You're the one who came up with the idea."
"I..."
"Also be quick. My body's really fatigued and I may subconsciously fall asleep."
"Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay....."I stammered frantically. "I...Um..... Why can't watermelons get married?"
"Erm... Why?" Perry said casually.
"Because they cantaloupe."
"It's bad. So bad that it's actually funny," Perry chuckled in her raucous tone. "Why am I laughing at this?"
"No idea," I said as I started to laugh as well.
"Are you laughing at your own joke?"
"Is there a problem with that?"
"Nope. It makes you more human."
"It's crazy but I feel like I've known you for way more than a day," I admitted, still keeping my eyes closed. "You're also the first person I've shared my thoughts to."
"I don't really tell people about my past either," Perry commented. "People just don't get it and judge me."
"I didn't judge you."
"I know. That's what makes you different from the others I met."
"You're also different and I like it. Your past does not make me think less of you. I think you are the bravest and empathetic people I'd ever met, though you can be irritable and bonkers from time to time. You're a great person Perry and I'm glad to have met you..."
"Persephone!" Perry interjected abruptly.
"Excuse me?" I blurted in confusion.
"It's my real name," Perry clarified. "Persephone."
YOU ARE READING
Christmas Connection
Short StoryAfter finding out that his parents have contract COVID-19 during Christmas eve, Fredrik has no choice but to spend this Christmas alone. At least that's what he thought, but after finding a website where you can chat with others online. Fredrik meet...
