The eyes of eons. [Slow Editing]

Chapter 13

      The most trying day of my life was over. I had a feeling that I’ve lived through a hurricane of a third category...incredible peace, then all damaging storm, then a slight clearing, a storm again and a serenity at last. And boy was I glad that it was over or what? 

     Monday morning, the first thing I did was to grab a shoebox with discs and randomly pick something to listen to. My fingers withdrew Mozart and even though not being in a mood for rococo, I didn’t exchange it on any other composer. I jammed the CD into the slot and as usually stepped back anticipating the thrill of the melody to start doing its magic. 

     The first sound came out and my heart sunk in. Yes, I needed it like a drug. I needed the music to entice me and take to the place I needed to be.

     The melody at times was tragic, but as light as air, filling me with oxygen, forcing to breath. My heart revived and again began pounding in my chest. I came alive. 

     Here and there I noticed some mess. Ignoring the plea of my consciousness to leave it as it was, I shut the thoughts in my head and went ahead with my desires. Dancing around the apartment I started gathering all the trashcan worthy items: From the coffee table in the living room, I collected five dirty glasses, some napkins, leftovers from food, and brought it all to the sink. Then I made another trip and from the bar cabinet picked up another glass which still contained some golden liquor on the bottom. That was Victor’s glass. I took a sniff of the inside of the glass and the odor of strong alcohol, somehow mixed with the scent of Victor’s cologne, punched me into my nose. The effect of that was the same as of Victor himself. Too much to bear. I winced and wrinkled my nose feeling like the whole room started smelling like whisky and blackcurrant. As overbearing as it was, it was also unforgettable. Strange...

     Doing home chores accompanied by an ethereal melody was pleasant. I washed the glasses and placed them back on the shelf. Making each of them sparkly clean, somehow made me feel cleaner myself, lighter from inside - intangible. Suddenly from nowhere came a desire to cook. I wiped the stove surface and inclined my body on the kitchen bar absentmindedly staring into the empty space. I started sensing those already familiar jolts.  The pull of music started sucking me into something invisible, something magical, something outside my emotions.  

     To let it to take me away, I needed only to let go off the reality, to close my eyes and dive into the world of unlimited possibilities...a dreamland. I shut my eyes down and supported my head with my hands completely leaning on the surface of the counter. My consciousness began sinking into the nothingness.

     “Alex,” Alexandre’s voice snapped me out of my meditation. I lifted my head and foggily glanced at him. He was standing in the front parlor at the entry to the kitchen, looking very handsome in his suit. His hair was combed in a nice way and immediately his scent reached my nose, overshadowing what has left from Victor. “What’s going on? Are you not well?”

     “I’m fine,” I squeezed a little smile and redirected my eyes unwillingly at the clock. “What are you doing here?” It was only ten in the morning.

     “I live here,” he made a face as if I asked something really stupid and then headed to his bedroom. “I forgot something,” he added softer on the go.

     “I see,” I straightened up and followed him with my stare. Alexandre vanished behind the door and in half a minute has strolled out with a heap of documents. In the middle of the living room he froze and raised his head listening to the music. His expression changed into a thoughtful. Then he pursed his lips in disappointment and wordlessly went away. “Okay,” I rotated and went dashing to my room. I had no ideas what I needed there, I just had an urge to go somewhere too.