It's Only Gossip

36

"So this is house 79..." I fiddle with my fingers.

"Beautiful, right?" Amelia looks around in awe, her eyes glistening.

"Sure." I bite my lip.

It is a really old fashioned house. On top of the wooden floor there lays a brown carpet with the same old pattern. The wooden stairs on the right seems endless and tiring. You can just about see a transparent room upstairs with a desk and chair, looks like an office.

We enter a room with a fireplace and worn out sofas opposite. There isn't a tv so is it really safe to assume that this is a living room? Can't say that I believe there's anybody living here.

On top of the fireplace there is a shelf holding ancient photos in black and white. They are engulfed by light brown frames. I walk towards the photos and the one without a frame catches my eye. It's of a little girl with the brightest and widest eyes. Although there's no colour, I would've guessed that her eyes were green. She holds the purest smile with dimples embedded in her cheeks. Her hair is like Dora the explorer, I begin to laugh and I can hear footsteps increasing in momentum.

Amelia needs to see this picture, she's adorable.

"Am-" My mouth hangs open.

The sound of breathing gets deeper and deeper with each breath.

It's not mine.

Each step taken gets slower and slower but increases in amplitude each time.

It's not hers.

A heart racing, pleading to jump out of this situation remains intact.

It's mine.

A muffled voice screaming it's way to escape, a cry for help.

It's hers.

Eyes so luxurious in colour, enriched by heavy eye bags pierce right through my soul.

It's... I don't know. Could that be? Maybe.

"Hi." I manage to spit out.

Excuse me an invisible force was choking me, named fear.

The old, vicious man is still silencing Amelia's scream, but she doesn't surrender. He doesn't even loosen his grip as she fights back maliciously.

"Who are you?" The strange figure taunts me.

I look into his green eyes in attempts to find mercy. Then I read Amelia's eyes which spell out no. So I take in a huge gulp and take in the silence.

Normally I enjoy silences but this one's different.

His attention goes from my face to my hand. Crap, I'm still holding the photo. Instinctively, I hold on tighter.

I raise the photo, "Why isn't this one framed?" I mimic a detective.

Or somebody brave.

I want the silence back. The only thing I can hear is my heart pumping continuously. Please heart, no. I don't mind not receiving enough oxygen, it's not like I'm thinking properly anyways. What's that excess oxygen for?

"That's my dead great, grand daughter." A sharp pain stabs my head.

"Is-Was her eyes green?" I can't help but ask.

For a split second a genuine smile appeared on his face but got possessed by a frown. Finally he loosens his grip on Amelia. He takes in a huge breath and jolts towards me.

"Yes, just like mine." He nodded.

She grabs the photo from me and stares for around five seconds.