HAVEN BLACK - complete

THE ANNUAL DAY OF DREAD

Chapter 21 – THE ANNUAL DAY OF DREAD

Six months had flown past since the best day of my life – New Years day, the day Jill and I shared our first kiss. And these last months had been without a doubt, the best months I'd ever experienced. My grades at school were consistently above average, the bullies had picked on other people rather than me, my music creations were progressing well, and most significantly, Jill and I were officially an item. The whole school knew we were together and miraculously Jill hadn't lost any friends as a consequence. We seemed to have the balance right between spending equal amounts of time with our friends (or friend, singular, in my case) and with each other. Yes, I was still timid and reserved, but I was no longer depressed and sorrowful. My mom was obviously still terminally ill and that hadn't changed, but Jill with her uniquely outward perspective on life had counselled and prepared me for when the inevitable day of her passing arrives. These days were blissfully spent, and I have only Jill to appreciate for it, but I'm still in the dark about why Jill is with me, after all, what is it that I bring to the table in our relationship?

The summer vacation was quickly approaching and every year there was always one last hurdle to wade through before school closed for the long summer break - Prom. There was a month's build up of sickening public shows of affection and "promposals" where everyone was trying to outdo each other. It was bad enough that this was one of the loneliest times of the year for losers like me, but it was also rubbed in my face at an intensified frequency the closer it got to Prom night. The irony is of course is that even if someone asked me to the Prom (even Jill), I'd most likely say no – it's definitely not my thing.

Walking back home after spending the middle of the day hanging out with Andy playing video games, I glanced up breaking my thoughts away from the upcoming prom, and saw that the clouds above had thickened unusually quickly; they appeared to be moving at an unnaturally rapid pace towards me. Rolling thunder sounded in the far distance from the direction of my house. Speeding up my walking to a jog, it now felt an urgency to get home before the vicious looking storm hit, but only seconds later, the heavens opened up in a fury of belting wind and stinging rain. Heavy droplets of rain soaked me thoroughly within a few seconds but I pushed harder and broke into a run.

Finally reaching my house, I rushed to the shelter under the front covered porch and almost tripped over a parcel that had been left at the front of the door, just out of reach of the pouring rain. The impromptu maneuver, to avoid tripping over the parcel, sent me sliding on my wet shoes on the slippery painted floorboards before landing painfully on my backside. I cursed sharply and glanced over at the wrapped parcel that sat innocently undisturbed next to me.

The box had been wrapped in plain brown paper and was bound together by light brown string that had a little tag attached to it that simply said.

To J, open with care.

I collected the surprisingly light parcel and carefully stood up before walking into the house fully drenched from the rain. After removing my wet shoes and socks and leaving them messily at the front door, I bolted with the parcel concealed under my arm, past my mom who sat in the lounge, and through upstairs to the upper level.

Heavy rain continually battered the roof and pelted at the window pane, sounding as if multiple pairs of hands were tapping furiously at the glass.

My wet clothes that clung tightly to my body felt nice and cool against the built up heat on the first floor of the house.

Not bothering to change out of the wet clothes, I hastily, but carefully, untied the string that held the parcel together and removed the stiff wrapping paper. Underneath the brown paper, another box revealed itself.