In my solitude: a short story.

                                                      "  It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."   J.K Rowling

                                CHAPTER 1  the Dream..

He awoke with a bone shattering scream, the images of a dream fleeting away retreating back into his subconscious. This is the same dream that haunts his restless nights, but for some reason he cant recall it.  When he tries to remember the dream, its  becomes elusive,  it felt much like grasping at smoke.  he focused on his breathing trying to regain a regular heartbeat, he inhaled through his nose and exhaled through his mouth several times. When he managed some degree of control he put his hands behind his head in a relaxed position.

"Alex, my name is Alex". he said to himself, as if he would forget his own name like the dream that evaded him every-night. It was right there hanging on the brink of recollection, the more he grasped at it the more it evaded him, it seem like a game of cat and mouse.  He was drenched in sweat, all the bed covers where disheveled and at the corner of his bed. Alex looked over at his alarm clock, it flashed 3:30, but he knew what time it was, looking over at the clock was just a formality a ritual.  He positioned himself on his elbows looking out his window, it was still dark out and the cool fall air caressed his chest cooling him down a few degrees. " All right, time to start this madness." Alex said to himself as he lifted himself off the bed and went into the bathroom to wash up. Alex took a minute to appraise himself in the mirror, he was in very good shape a complete six pack, with that  V shape that makes up his stomach an hips, the V shape all the females will kill for just to have in their own boyfriends, but Alex is oblivious to his sex appeal, the fact is he hasn't left the house in two years, so yea, no ravenous looks from females who would like nothing more then to eat him whole. No one night stands from your local whore, no late night hook ups at the bar with that one girl you regret in the morning, he hasn't had a girl in 730 days.  

'Damn, has it really been that long"  he said as he rubbed a hand on his three day old stubble. he took a few minutes to shave his stubble and brush his teeth, as he imagined himself with a beard like a mountain man.  I should just let it grow, who am i trying to impress, he thought to himself. Alex walked out to his living room ready to begin the days routine of strengthen his mind body and soul, 3am to six am he would work out rigorously, until exaushtion, six am to ten am he would read philosophy, fiction or anything he could to help pass the time. He lived in a modest studio, his living room was connected to his kitchen, going up from that in an L shape was his bedroom and bathroom, Modest in every meaning of the word. 

                                                                                                   10:00 am

               Alex threw Dante's Inferno onto his black table, and scoffed at the book, " going through hell for some woman, yea right... not me"  he said to himself as he stared at the book with mocked disbelief " for all the trouble hes going through, she better be tighter then the virgin Mary" he said with a snicker. Alex sat on his couch a few moments tempted to put on the t.v., instead his eyes drifted up to his several trophies that sat forgotten and neglected on top of his t.v.. Seven trophies  in all, he was an accomplished swimmer once upon a time. It was a passion he picked up when he was seven years old, he became so good at it his local swim team called him flipper, yea go figure, but the name stuck. He once bragged to a friend that if giving the chance he would out swim Michael Phelps. Nostalgia set in like a splinter, it was painful to think about those days, "flipper" has been out of water for  two years and counting, he missed it.

BOOM BOOM BOOM, a loud bang came from his door like thunder, Alex jumped up so fast he knocked his reading desk down and banged his shin. "shit" he said rubbing his leg but the pain was defiant, and determined not to subside. He cautiously walked over to his front door a little more then apprehensive. "who is it" Alex said, resting a hand on the door knob, at the same time peeking trough his peep hole,. nobody was there.  Now his heart rate was jacked, it was beating faster then a rabbit on cocaine.  Alex anxiously opened the door a few inches and peered out his door, BOOM...

                   The door swung open unceremoniously and  with such force that it pushed Alex back and he fell, letting out a shrill, the sound that exited his mouth was the sound of primal fear, it was deafening, like a pig running from the farmer because it wants to live past another thanks giving. To Alex's dismay the mysterious stranger was on the floor too..... laughing with such glee that he was holding his stomach, and  on his back kicking his heels on the floor. More then a little embarrassed Alex got up brushed himself off and looked down at... his.. brother Jayson.

                 Alex pulled Jayson up off the floor " all right are you done having your fun, or do i have to wait" Alex said.  Jayson's face was beat red and he let out a sigh.. letting the last of his mirth-full glee leave his system.

"I'm done he said, but you should of  saw your face i mean who did you expect to be at the door, Jason?"    with that  little pun ,came more spasmodic fits of laughter.  

       

             

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