MASK

Memory lane #2

Now that I think back, a lots of things do not make sense. 

I now remember seeing that red mask many times but why didn't I thought it weird?

9 September 2018, the day I  experienced a big traumatic incident. I could still remember it back of my head.

I was in 12th standard. We suddenly planned a small picnic get together since our exams were over. 

Thirty of us batchmates went on picnic at a hill station. It was a beautiful destination, we were enjoying the nature.

Everyone sang and danced, played few games. I was also enjoying. Suddenly Rachel came and told me to take some pictures. 

-"Hey let's take a group photo. Jenney you take the photos."

-"Ok, but be careful. Don't go too far. There's a cliff behind this."

-" Alright, stop your nagging."

-"POSE."

I took the photos and show them but everyone left before I could take some pictures with them. so I felt a little sad.

-"Ok, they look good. At least something you are good at." 

-"Thanks"

Rachel left smirking and my friend Ruby came.

-"What's her problem?"

-"Let her be"

-"You are not even in the group photo."

-" It's okay. It's not new that she doesn't like me."

-" Still it's a group picnic."

-"Forget it. Let's just focus on enjoying our time."

Rachel doesn't like me for no actual reason but she did said her friends a few times that I creep her out.

I understand her as she comes from a completely different world from me, she might not find me approachable.

But hating me and making fun of me just because I am not from a wealthy family is something I couldn't understand.

But what can I do about it, so I just silently endured and ignored as much as possible.

And this was our last get together, after that everyone was gonna go to their own path where we might not even bumped into each other. 

So I didn't want to fight since I endured it all these year, today was nothing.

Then we all went to prepare our food. Some were organizing plates and utensils. Some unpacking dishes we bought.

Some taking pictures and enjoying the sight.

We were talking and working at the same time. Music was playing in the background.

Out of nowhere a very loud scream came and vanish into the air. And everything became silent all of a sudden. We stopped everything and ran towards the scream. 

While searching we found a shoe right on the edge of the cliff.

-" Isn't that Rachel's shoe."

-"What?"

We started counting.

-"Two of us are missing"

-" Who are they?"

-"Rachel and Ruby"

 All of us were stunned and started panicking. Our class monitor called the police and we were also calling them continuously.

The police came and we had to return home.

Every minute was seemed like a month. All of us were anxious. 

I was more anxious about Ruby.  

They searched everything and next morning they confirmed that they couldn't find them and assumed that they might have fell into the cliff.

All of us were devastated. We were crying and I fainted.

When I woke up I was devastated and in utter shock.

Ruby, the Ruby I just talked was gone.

I was sitting in the hospital bed zoning out at people walking outside from the window. Thinking every possible way I could accept the loss.

That was when I saw her, the red mask, again looking at me with the same expression.

Blank eyes and a weirdly silent but noisy smile that even appeared in my nightmare after that day few times.

That was the very first time I saw her so closely. 

She said something while looking at me, I don't remember that.

But I remember that I screamed and my mom came running. I fainted again.

later I told them about it and the doctor said it was because of  the trauma. I should focus on getting better and accept the loss of my friend then I won't see anything like this.

I got some medication and was discharged after a few days as I got better. I didn't saw her anymore.

Then after going home I found out that they found the bodies down the cliff and they guessed that they might fell while fighting. As someone witnessed them arguing near that area.

That's how it ended causing so much pain to us.

After that incident it took me a while to recover mentally and I took two year off because I was having nightmares and suffering from social anxiety.

I worked few part time jobs and started visiting a psychiatrist named Mary.

She helped me cope up the trauma. I was inspired by her. So I started my bachelors in psychology next year.

And slowly with time I forgot about that red mask and those nightmares.

But now I am curious about what she told me that day. I can't remember.

I am trying my best to remember or should I just ask her.

Yeah, I can just ask her, when she will come to kill me, as my last wish.